A Q&A with Santa, and Fleet Manager Mrs Claus, of North Pole Inc
In order to improve fuel consumption, we need methods to accurately measure fuel performance.?? But in the real world of fleet management, eliminating error from actual fuel measurement is easier said than done.
Quoted MPG figures rarely reflect real-world fuel consumption figures, as fuel economy figures are established under controlled laboratory conditions, hardly reflective of real life driving situations. Regulations governing these tests date back to the 70s and, while updated since, are unrealistic. They are short in length, involve long periods of idling, slow acceleration and low engine loads.?? Average real world fuel consumption figures for new vans and trucks are between 15- 25 per cent below those quoted by vehicle manufacturers. Fuel efficiency or MPG data can be skewed based on numerous factors.
Filling the tank until the pump stops, for example, may not give you the exact same amount every time, because the pumps are not always accurate or consistent.?? Other measurement methods also have varying levels of accuracy. Hubometers and odometers have a measurement uncertainty of ??2% to ??4%. This is partly because they measure tyre rotations and as tyres wear, they become smaller. In-service monitoring of fuel use has a margin of error typically ??3 to ??5% if averaged over five or more fills, as long as the truck's tank is filled to the same level each time. Fuel weighing has a margin of error of less than ??0.5% and flow metres have a margin of error better than ??1%.
However, many fleet managers are being convinced to measure and track MPG in an effort to reduce fuel consumption. Newer engines and vehicle designs boast lower fuel usage, but most companies are using their older vehicles longer and have very few new, fuel-efficient vehicles. So a common request among many fleets is to leverage on-board computers and fleet management systems measure MPG not only by vehicle, but also by driver. Their goals are to identify drivers that violate established acceptable standards for MPG for training purposes or potential replacement.?? But is this a valid measurement??? Can accurate data be gained with KPIs that track MPG per driver?
Consider these questions: Are the drivers using the same vehicles every day? Are the drivers driving the same routes every day? Are they delivering the same cargo every day? Are they driving the same routes at the same time each day? Are they driving the same routes on a weekday vs. a weekend? Are you alerting drivers when they are exceeding MPG goals?
It is common knowledge that the fuel figures being reported are not accurate; therefore, accessing a driver's capability based on this data would be flawed.
Driver Performance
When it comes to deploying telematics to boost driver performance, it helps to think like a football manager. Drivers ??? just like football players ??? need an on-going series of "stats" in order to accurately map out where they are and where they want to go in terms of improving their game, which, in the case of drivers, relates to things like fuel economy and safety.
You need to take a driver's specific information, how they are doing in terms of fuel efficiency, engine idling, route compliance, etc., and graph their averages against the fleet's averages.?? Football statistics serve the exact same purpose, drawing from a breadth of player performance measures and on pitch variables to gauge a player's performance and contributions to his team.
The issue becomes more difficult in fleet businesses because, unlike in football, the fleet doesn't get to physically meet with drivers every day. Drivers aren't like football players, gathering for practice or working on skills under the watchful eyes of coaches and managers every day. Instead, drivers are spread out over hundreds, if not thousands, of miles delivering freight, only making contact through voice or text communications as needed.
Needed a way to push information out to them on a daily, if not hourly, basis to show them how they're doing, to give them a tool to help them get better. It's about getting the driver's personal pride involved; just like football players, they want to be the best at what they do.
Telematics is being tasked to help out with decidedly more human-focused issues as well, specifically to measure and, if needed, alter behaviour behind the wheel. Telematics solutions do more than capture and manage disparate fleet operating data. They can now be used to identify anomalies in driver/fleet performance and provide the intelligence needed for driver monitoring and measuring technology to improve their safety profile, for example
Fuel Savings Simplified
Fleets really need to focus on three goals when it comes to using telematics technology: better fuel management, improved route management, and burnishing the company's safety profile. If fleets can use this technology to accomplish those three things, then they are way ahead of the game. The key is to get the information in real-time and then be able to slice and dice it as you want to provide drivers with good feedback.
The critical thing fleets must remember is not to use such information to "beat drivers up" over negative metrics, such as MPG. Taking that approach won't get drivers to embrace telematics. Professional drivers want to get better at what they do; they just need a formula to help them do so. It's all about showing them how they are performing now and then showing them ways to improve ??? backed by the information compiled by telematics. You not only need to use this information in a positive manner, but also use it to highlight your best performers as examples for the rest of your drivers to follow.
To find out more about how you can reduce fuel burn at your business click here.