Survive the Gas-Pump Squeeze
Posted May 28th, 2008 by ybo
With gas prices expected to exceed $4 per gallon this summer, the cost of transportation is likely accelerating significantly for you, your employees and your business-especially if you rely on a fleet of vehicles or trucks. Some firms are even forced to downsize, eliminate benefits, or raise prices to offset higher gasoline costs. But before you take any drastic measures, consider these simple ways to find savings at the gas station and on the road.
Find the lowest gas prices. Sites such as GasBuddy.com and GasPriceWatch.com update local gas prices throughout the day to help you find the best deal in your area-all you have to do is type in your ZIP code or city.
Buy at the right time. Plan to fill your vehicle when the sun is down. Whether it’s late at night or early in the morning, gasoline is denser in cooler weather. Because gas pumps measure volumes of gasoline, not fuel density, you’ll get more for your dollar, according to GasPriceWatch.com. And prepare to pay more cash on the weekends than you do midweek. In fact, buying Wednesday morning prior to 10 a.m. is best.
Know where you’re going. Planning your driving route before you or your employees hit the road allows you to cut down on wasted mileage caused by backtracking, making extra trips, or getting lost. Limit the number of trips your vehicles make by combining errands and deliveries-and encourage carpooling to worksites and meetings.
Drive smart. Making a few key moves while you’re driving can reap considerable fuel economy savings-as much as 38 percent, according to Edmunds.com. For starters, driving 55 mph on the highway rather than 70 mph can yield 20 percent more miles per gallon. Speeding, rapid acceleration and quick braking waste gas, while smoother driving improves gas mileage. And remember that idling wastes fuel as well-if you plan to stop for more than 30 seconds, turn off the engine (contrary to popular belief, idling wastes more gas than restarting).
Maintain your vehicles. Frequent tune-ups are worth the time and money. A properly tuned engine can improve mileage by 4 percent. Be sure to have air filters, spark plugs, fluid levels and tire pressure checked regularly. Check the alignment of your vehicles too, as poor alignment can drastically reduce fuel economy.
Carry less weight. This may be a tall order for companies that transport heavy equipment or make deliveries. But hauling an extra 100 pounds in your vehicle can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 2 percent-which means it’s worth it to lug those extra boxes of inventory to the office rather than driving them around just in case you need them.
Park it. Look for ways to cut back on driving without hindering your business operations. Rather than going to an out-of-town meeting with a client, can you set up a conference call? Instead of meeting with customers in person, can you communicate by email or phone? Be considerate about employee expenses as well. What about offering employees the option to telecommute once a week? Cutting down on the miles you and your employees drive in the first place is the best way to minimize the impact of rocketing fuel prices on your bottom line and your employees’ budgets.
Learn more about ways to improve fuel economy from the U.S. Department of Energy at www.fueleconomy.gov.
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