Gassing Up: Monitoring Fuel Purchases and Vehicle Maintenance
July 02, 2012
Suzanne Benzion, Senior Business Consultant at PHH Arval
In the last few weeks we’ve seen some much needed relief at the pump, but gas prices continue to be north of $3.50 in many areas, and are not expected to drop much further anytime soon.
So, what does this mean for your fleet, and what can be done to ensure your drivers are getting the most for the company dollar when filling up the tank?
Monitoring fuel purchases and requiring drivers to keep up with regular vehicle maintenance can assist with minimizing fuel costs.
When it comes to fuel, it is a best practice to establish a policy that limits driver fuel purchases to regular grade gasoline or the grade specified in the vehicle’s operations manual. You can enforce this policy by monitoring reports in PHH’s online information management system, PHH InterActive, to assist with identifying potential abuse, such as drivers who make multiple transactions per day, high gallon purchases and premium grade gasoline purchases.
With regards to vehicle maintenance, company policies should hold drivers responsible for servicing their vehicles in a timely manner. Repairs and preventive services should be performed by pre-approved and convenient national account suppliers to ensure necessary and quality repairs. Drivers should always seek proper authorization before scheduling repairs.
So with gas prices hovering above the $3.50 per gallon mark, why not do what you can to minimize your company’s fuel spend. Taking these steps, or finding a knowledgeable partner that can implement the right fuel management programs, can help your company better manage its fuel and maintenance spend.
Stay tuned for our next entry where PHH will discuss fuel saving tips that fleet managers can share with drivers to further reduce costs.
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