The transportation sector accounts for a major percentage of Carbon emissions every year. It is estimated that an average passenger car emits about 4.6 metric tons of CO2 per year. For any fleet, this number becomes even more staggering.
If you are managing a delivery fleet, you’ll appreciate the benefits a green fleet can bring to your business. Apart from being better for the environment and air quality of the area, environmentally aware delivery fleets can enjoy the following business benefits:
- Reduction in variable costs
- Improved operational efficiency
- Improved market standing among the customers
The role of electric vehicles in delivery fleets
Using electric vehicles is perhaps the best way of significantly reducing your fleet’s carbon footprint. However, it is not as simple as it sounds. Electric vehicles have numerous advantages, but the technology is currently under development and has some severe limitations. As a fleet manager, you’ll need to consider many essential factors before deciding to use electric vehicles for your delivery fleet. If you live in similar places like us (Queensland, Australia), where most energy comes from coal power, you actually aren’t doing the environment any favours if you go electric.
In the following sections, we’ll take a look at some other actions you can take to reduce your fleet’s carbon footprint.
5 tips for ensuring a greener delivery fleet
The best way to tackle any major issue is through taking small – but meaningful – changes. These changes are easier to implement, consistently maintained, and do not require any significant investment. Determining the major reasons behind your carbon footprint and taking targeted measures work well on a personal level. Scale that up for an entire fleet, and you can stimulate a significant change.
Here are the 5 best solutions you can easily implement in your delivery fleet to reduce its carbon emissions.
1. Improve vehicle utilization
How you use the vehicle in your fleet is the biggest determinator of your carbon footprint. So naturally, you have to make effective utilization a priority. Spend time analyzing the current routes and practices to come up with ways to ensure the same service level but at a reduced cost.
An effective fleet management system can help you achieve your goals in the shortest time. You can use real-time analysis to look at the biggest sources of inefficiencies and focus on them. A proper fleet management system can help you keep an eye on variables like
- Distance
- Tolls and other costs
- Total time breakdown
- Pump prices
- Other key indicators you may need
2. Reduce idling time
Most delivery fleets operate in urban environments that are often congested. Through effective route optimization, you can significantly reduce your delivery fleet’s overall idling time and create a difference.
3. Ensure peak performance condition of every vehicle
If you do not maintain your fleet’s vehicles, you are bound to have several inefficiencies that increase your carbon footprint. A proactive approach to maintenance may sound boring or unnecessary, but it can save you a lot of money in the long run.
Generally, aged vehicles in your fleet will be the biggest gas guzzlers and, in many cases, replacing them would be the best option. However, you can use the following tricks to improve their performance.
- Ensure correct tire pressure
- Keep an eye on fluid levels, brake condition, and other mechanical components
- Modify and repair the exhaust of your vehicles
- Use appropriate tires for an urban environment
- Improve the aerodynamic profile of trucks with after-market parts
4. Optimize the delivery mechanism
Consider your delivery model. If your fleet operates on a case-by-case basis, it means that there are a lot of inefficiencies in the system. You can instead use batch deliveries, which allow you to transport larger loads in fewer trips. Similarly, adopting a hub-based model and tracking your miles can create a noticeable difference in your fuel consumption, resulting in better emission numbers.
5. Train your drivers
Finally, driving patterns are another area where small improvements can lead to big changes. As a fleet manager, you need to train your drivers to prioritize fuel efficiency while driving. Following simple measures like maintaining a consistent speed, avoiding congested roads, and not accelerating too much can significantly differ.
Data shows that following these simple steps can increase the fuel efficiency on highways by 33%. Now consider a fleet of delivery vehicles with a full load; the difference you’ll make will be monumental.
Effective fleet management can make all the difference!
Reducing the carbon footprint and actively looking for ways to curb your business’ environmental impact is now necessary. Whether you run a delivery fleet or any other fleet, effective utilization of the available resources can both save costs and make you a responsible member of your community.
We, at Fleetyr, can help. Our data-driven approaches, along with state-of-the-art analytic tools, help you create a cleaner, safer, and more cost-effective fleet. Get in touch; we would love to see how we can help.
