8 Steps Fleet Operators Can Follow To Be More Sustainable

8 Steps Fleet Operators Can Follow To Be More Sustainable

Fleet sustainability is essential for a number of reasons. Firstly, fleet operators are under increasing pressure to reduce their environmental impact. This is due to both regulatory pressures and public opinion, each of which is an important factor to consider when making decisions about the direction of your business.

Secondly, sustainable fleet management can help fleet operators save money in the long run by reducing fuel costs and maintenance expenses. However, there is certainly a "price of admission" when it comes to updating your fleet.

Finally, sustainable fleet management can also improve a company's reputation, which can lead to increased business.

The above unpacks why sustainability is key in fleet management by touching on a few high-level benefits, but as you can imagine, each can be seen as a rabbit hole into a nearly-endless world of benefits.

What Is A Sustainable Fleet Management Strategy?

"Sustainability" is a popular word in today's world and covers more ground than could ever be addressed in a single blog post. However, here is a brief summary of its role in fleet management:

A sustainable fleet management strategy is one that seeks to continuously improve the environmental performance of a fleet while reducing costs and maintaining or improving fleet performance.

The ultimate goal of a sustainable fleet management strategy is to create a "triple bottom line" benefit — simultaneously benefiting the environment, society, and the financial bottom line of your company.

8 Steps To Follow For A More Sustainable Fleet

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to improving your fleet's sustainability, as the fleet sustainability best practices that make sense for your company will depend on a multitude of factors, including:

• the type of fleet you operate
• the industries you serve
• your company's overall sustainability goals

Here are eight fleet sustainability best practices that operators can follow to be more sustainable:

1. Evaluate Your Fleet's Current Emissions

One of the best ways to set realistic sustainability goals for your fleet is to audit its current emissions and establish a baseline.

This will give you a clear understanding of where your fleet currently stands regarding emissions and will help you set achievable goals for reduction.

2. Look for Opportunities to Switch to More Fuel Efficient Vehicles

Not all plug-in, hybrid electric vehicles are created equally in terms of emissions. Selecting the most fuel-efficient and low-emitting vehicles possible for your fleet can make a big difference in your overall fleet emissions. When making electric vehicle purchasing decisions, consider factors such as fuel economy, emissions ratings, and alternative fuel options such as renewable diesel and biodiesel instead of gasoline.

Of course, replacing an entire fleet with new, low-emissions vehicles is costly, so this may not be a great solution for a quick and actionable step toward sustainability.

3. Encourage Employees to Adopt Greener Commuting Habits

One of the simplest ways to reduce fleet emissions is to encourage employees to adopt greener commuting habits. This can be done in a number of ways, such as providing incentives for carpooling or taking public transportation to work. You might also consider implementing a flexible work schedule that would allow employees to avoid commuting during high-traffic times.

4. Implement Fleet Management Software to Optimize Routes and Reduce Idling Time

Fleet management software is a tool that can be used to optimize fleet routes and reduce idling time. This, in turn, can lead to reduced fuel consumption and emissions. Fleet management software typically includes features such as GPS tracking, real-time traffic updates, and route optimization. When you have a dashboard that allows you to zone in on many different metrics that relate to sustainability, you can pinpoint your opportunities for improvement.

5. Educate Fleet Drivers on Eco-Friendly Driving Habits

Fleet drivers can have a big impact on fleet emissions, so it's important to educate them on eco-friendly driving habits. This might include things like preventing excessive idling, avoiding quick acceleration and hard braking, and following the speed limit.

Fleet drivers who are aware of the impact their driving habits can have on fleet emissions are more likely to make an effort to drive sustainably.

6. Regularly Maintain and Service Fleet Vehicles

Fleet vehicles that are regularly maintained and serviced tend to be more fuel-efficient and have lower emissions than those that are not. Regular maintenance can help to improve a vehicle's gas mileage by as much as 4 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Fleet operators should make sure to keep up with regular maintenance tasks such as oil changes, tire rotations, and engine tune-ups.

7. Recycle Fleet Materials and Fluids

Recycling fleet materials and fluids is a great way to reduce waste and emissions. Fleet operators can recycle used oil, antifreeze, batteries, and tires. Fleet operators can also recycle fleet vehicles when they reach the end of their lifespan.

Fleet recycling programs not only help to reduce emissions, but they can also save money by reducing the need to purchase new materials and fluids.

8. Monitor and Adjust Your Fleet Sustainability Goals as Necessary

As your fleet becomes more sustainable, it's important to monitor your progress and adjust your goals accordingly. This will ensure that you are making the most of your fleet's potential for emissions reduction.

Additionally, by setting and monitoring fleet sustainability plans, you can foster a culture of sustainability within your organization.

By taking these steps, fleet operators can significantly reduce their environmental impact and improve their sustainability practices.

How Telematics Can Support Sustainability Goals

Fleet operators have a big impact on the environment. The fleet management decisions they make can either contribute to environmental degradation or help protect the planet. As the world becomes more aware of the need for sustainability, fleet operators are under pressure to adopt practices that will help to reduce their environmental impact.

Fortunately, telematics can remove a lot of the "guesswork" out of your green fleet management by helping you monitor things such as unnecessary idling, inefficient routing, and fleet vehicle maintenance.

Fleet telematics is the use of technology to track, monitor, and manage fleet vehicles. Fleet telematics systems typically use GPS tracking to collect data on electric vehicle location, speed, and mileage. This data is then transmitted to a central database where it can be analyzed to improve fleet operations in a number of ways.

Getting insight into your drivers' behaviors is a major benefit of telematics that can help you highlight both the good and the bad practices with objective data in order to encourage an increased focus on safety and sustainability.

By using a robust telematics platform, fleet operators can significantly reduce gas emissions and improve their sustainability practices. Telematics not only provides fleet operators with the data they need to make informed decisions about their fleet, but they also offer a number of features that can help to improve fleet sustainability.