Let’s face it: fuel is vital for fleet vehicles, but costly for fleet organizations. Fuel is often one of the most costly expenses for fleets today.

Fuel really adds up, which is why an effective fuel management system is so crucial to your fleet’s success.

While you unfortunately cannot control fuel prices, there is one area where you can make a difference: fuel theft.

For the average fleet organization, fuel theft represents about 3% of the fuel budget. Just think of all the things you could do with that extra 3% in savings!

Now, just because fuel theft is a real threat to your fuel budget, doesn’t mean your drivers or other employees are ski mask-wearing criminals. Chances are, if you or your employees are manually recording fuel expenses, you’ll find some inefficiencies. Without a proper fuel management system in place, you can expect a certain amount of misallocation, or even the occasional budgetary mystery that you just can’t solve.

Check out these three tips for preventing fuel abuse or theft in your organization: 

Educate your drivers

Your organization should have policies in place that explain what exactly is expected from drivers in regards to fueling and purchasing fuel. This policy should also explain the consequences of misuse or wrongful purchasing.

You should also run through more basic fuel safety practices, like locking fuel caps, closely monitoring vehicles while fueling, covering keypad when entering PIN and only parking in safe zones.

Keep your yard secure

Fuel theft isn’t always because of your drivers. Outside thieves may break into your yard to siphon fuel from your vehicles or install skimmers into pumps to steal payment information, like PIN numbers.

Keep your yard secure with fences or walls and camera monitoring systems. Make sure to include signs advertising these security precautions to deter thieves before they even attempt fuel theft.

Invest in a fuel management software system

When it comes down to it, the only way to accurately and efficiently track fuel operations is to invest in a comprehensive fuel management software system. These systems can track fuel data in real-time, so you don’t have to pour over spreadsheets and tank levels.

Wondering if an automated fuel management system is right for your fleet organization? Contact the FuelDrive team today to discuss best practices for avoiding theft, as well as other benefits of a fuel system– including up to 15% in cost-savings!

Is your fleet organization ready to invest in a fuel management software system?

For most fleet organizations, fuel makes up a large portion of the budget. While fuel may always be a significant portion of your fleet budget, there is a way to take back control of your fueling operations: Investing in an effective fuel management software system.

With the kind of data made available by an effective fleet fuel management system, the benefits for your fleet organization are almost limitless. Here are the top 4 benefits of investing in a new fuel system:

Reduce fuel costs

Fuel makes up a large portion of any fleet’s budget. There are many factors that go into fuel costs, like ever-changing fuel prices, employee driver behavior and vehicle usage. Without an effective solution in place, it can be difficult to take control of these costs.

Does lowering your fuel costs sound too good to be true? Through increased security, precise data for billing and less fueling errors, you can save up to 15% in fuel consumption with an automated fuel management system!

Improve data accuracy

Many fleet organizations today are still reliant upon paper forms to keep track of fuel costs and expenditures. This method leaves fleets vulnerable to bad fuel data. All is takes is one driver writing down the incorrect number or one office employee misplacing a document with vital information on it for your fleet’s fuel data to become inaccurate.

With a fuel management system, your drivers and back office staff no longer have to rely on paper documents. All important fuel data is immediately integrated into the system, so you can rest easy that your data is up-to-date.

Reduce fraud and abuse

Fuel theft and abuse happens in even the most transparent fleet organizations. On occasion, your employees may fill up their personal vehicles at your organization’s fuel pump or even pass the pump to another driver without ending the transaction. While these infractions may seem small, each gallon adds up over time– and it’s your organization that has to pay for it!

Take control of your fuel with a fuel management system. A fuel system will track every gallon of fuel dispensed and the vehicle being fueled.

Embrace green fleet initiatives

For many fleets, going green isn’t an option. It’s expected.

You shouldn’t have to choose between saving the environment and saving your budget. With a fuel management solution, you can measure and secure your fuel, so you won’t waste fuel or your budget dollars. Some fuel systems, like FuelDrive, even have options for alternative fuels, so your fleet organization can go green without seeing red.