Optimising Fleet Operation for Winter
The HGV industry confronts considerable obstacles during winter, including severe weather and heightened activity that increases accident risks daily. Being obliged to operate on public roads, HGV drivers encounter many drivers grappling with winter’s harsh conditions. Consequently, there’s a staggering 20% rise in vehicular accidents during winter, affecting commercial and personal road users. Read our guide below to streamline your fleet’s operations.
Anticipate Increased Business
While Christmas usually signals a flurry of commercial activities, those in the trade-centric haulage industry may experience relative calm. Studying prior years’ data unveils key periods of high demand. Such forecasting aids in tailoring your fleet management strategy.
Prescient preparation, embracing advanced workforce planning and business logistics, enhances your capacity to handle the surge and augmented demand. Consider fuel management systems and On-site fuel provisions to ensure a fully prepared fleet daily, fostering streamlined routes and punctual deliveries.
Adapt to Adverse Weather
A paramount responsibility for fleet managers during the winter season is weather adaptation. Persisting operations in severe conditions, such as floods or intense snowstorms, puts lives at risk and may compromise your entire fleet. It also risks cargo safety, emphasising the cruciality of vigilance for optimal fleet management.
Challenging scenarios like ice-covered paths or torrential rain may hamper visibility. These unexpected changes pose substantial delays to your fleet. So, regularly monitoring adverse weather conditions reassures your drivers of their safety, encouraging stronger manager-employee bonds. Yet, most importantly, it avails real-time insights into potential road conditions. Using this knowledge, you can strategise effectively or allocate additional travel time for drivers.
Avoid Disruptions With Proactive Maintenance
Cold and extreme weather conditions exert greater pressure on engines than milder periods. Winter influences several engine components, including batteries, pipes, and radiators, potentially impacting your fleet’s wellness. Some problems may surface gradually, while others precipitate immediate consequences.
One crucial indicator of potential engine difficulties is your vehicle’s fuel consumption. If hindrances impair its optimal operation, an engine must exert more effort. A swift spike will signify a critical leakage requiring repair, but moderate fuel usage boosts can result from one engine part compensating for another’s underperformance. If you manage a fleet taking consistent routes, a rise in fuel usage becomes detectable, particularly with support from our fuel monitoring systems.
Fuel Efficiency Tips for Winter
Fuel economics reduces during winter, a stark contrast to summer’s more favourable climate. This decrease is attributed to several weather-related factors that provoke a fuel-usage intensification.
For example, cold weather largely affects air pressure in tyres. When temperatures drop, so does the internal air pressure of the tyres. This decline increases rolling resistance—the friction and deformation tyres encounter when in motion. So, vehicles must use more fuel to maintain speed during this increased resistance, escalating fuel consumption.
Strong winds, another winter weather characteristic, present a challenge as well. The force of these winds resists a vehicle’s movement, contributing to the engine’s work and fuel usage. Also, current driver behaviour contributes to the fuel usage hike in winter, as most drivers allow their vehicles to run idle as they warm up—resulting in further fuel expenditure.
These are inevitable variables that fleet operations must work around to stay efficient. An efficient fuel management system became a necessity during this period. By providing real-time data regarding fuel usage, managers can identify trends and make informed decisions to maximise efficiency.
With a plan informed by data, managers will strategise to mitigate unnecessary fuel usage by arranging routes to minimise exposure to headwinds or to take advantage of the tailwind. They could also set guidelines for the acceptable idling time, ensuring drivers only warm up their vehicles for an optimal duration.
Incorporating data-driven solutions will maximise your fuel management and lower the overall fuel usage across your team. Thus, the relevance of a competent fuel management system to fleet operations, particularly in winter, is underlined. It’s not just about fuel savings—it’s about promoting optimal operation, safety, and productivity. After all, an efficient fleet is a successful fleet.
Optimising Winter Fleet Operations With Our Complete Fuel Management Package
For us at Fueltek, the challenges of winter, Christmas, and the New Year mean a fresh opportunity for your fleet to operate efficiently. We’re here to support this transition by introducing our Complete Fuel Management Package, a comprehensive solution designed to ensure optimal energy and work efficiency during peak and off-peak seasons.
The investment in this popular package is an investment in the new year’s success. Battling adverse weather and maintaining operational efficiency can be daunting, but our package springs into action to make the winter journey smoother and more productive. Contact us today to discover what we can provide for your business. For us at Fueltek, your fleet’s productivity is our passion—we’re here to help you embrace the cold to fuel hot results.
