Pest Management Professional, July 2016

here are 10 easy to adhere to tips for getting the most from your fleets fuel consumption By Will nePPer Senior Editor 1 Weight conscious Take an inventory of what your vehicles are carrying to get a gauge of whats unnecessary Non essential extras that do little more than take up space can be a drag on your fuel efficiency Likewise stow inside your vehicle any bulky tools currently occupying your roof rack if they fit The less aerodynamic the vehicle the more gas youre burning in transit 2 not ideal to idle Dont let your vehicle idle for more than a minute You burn more fuel during 60 seconds of idling than you do when you turn off the engine and restart it 3 Fine tuning Its no surprise that regular tune ups extend a vehicles life But all vehicles are different Check your vehicles owner manuals to see the manufacturersuggested tune up schedule specific to what youre putting on the road Simple oil changes air filter changes and spark plug replacements mean more than a longer life for your fleet vehicles Tune ups increase fuel efficiency and minimize emissions 4 cruisin Do your vehicles have cruise control functionality If so employ it when driving longer distances to increase miles per gallon efficiency When used correctly cruise control also minimizes rapid acceleration which in addition to abrupt stops lowers fuel consumption 5 Playing it cool When possible park in the shade to minimize the evaporation of fuel on hot days 6 no need For sPeed Busy days with a full roster of accounts to service can make for lead footed drivers regardless of whether they realize theyre speeding But keeping a moderate pace saves money Pedal to the metal starts at green lights and higher speed driving increase fuel use 7 KicKing the tires Properly inflated tires can have a significantly positive impact on fuel consumption Also investing in low rolling resistance LLR tires helps diminish drag 8 re assess routing Are your planned routes as efficient as they could be Are you sure about that The more time you take planning each vehicles route the more likely you are to hit as many accounts as possible before tanking up again But dont be a slave to your routes GPS and radio traffic reports can help you avoid jams and congestion caused by road construction or accidents 9 Paying at the PumP Keep a few things in mind while gassing up at the station First choose the right octane for your vehicle based on its owners manual Additionally dont top off your tank when filling it Finally check your gas caps and make sure theyre tightly sealing not damaged A loose gas cap means faster fuel evaporation 10 a critical looK Think about the vehicles you own Can you build a more fuel efficient fleet Ask yourself whether your vehicles are the right size for the job and downsize if they are too large Consider replacing any vehicle that is frequently out of service because of mechanical problems Choose a lighter vehicle with a smaller engine to conserve fuel 46 July 2016 Pest Management Professional mypmp mypm net more online The tips here were compiled from a variety of sources but primarily from the Transportation Research Board trB org IllustratIon Istock com mIpan Fuel For thought