How small businesses can save thousands on fuel as gas prices rise: expert
President Donald Trump sits down with FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo to discuss the escalating conflicts in the Middle East, his warning to Iran about nuclear weapons and why he believes gas prices will drop in the medium term.
High gas prices continue to weigh on small businesses across the US, but cutting one costly habit can help owners save big.
New data from Ford Pro, the commercial vehicle division of Ford Motor Company, shows that unnecessary idling — leaving a vehicle running while parked — can cost fleet operators thousands of dollars each year, cutting directly into the bottom line at a time when fuel prices are consistently high.
According to the US Department of Energy, the average fleet vehicle operates between one and two hours per day, burning two gallons of fuel per day per vehicle. With gas prices rising, those costs can add up quickly.
As of Sunday, the national average price of natural gas stood at $4.04, up from $3.88 just a month ago, according to AAA.
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Ford Motor Co. trucks. An F-150 is displayed at a car dealership in Orland Park, Illinois, on September 27, 2019. (Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
“You can burn one to two gallons of gas doing that,” Matt Krukin, head of software and digital growth at Ford Pro, told FOX Business. “So if that happens a day … that’s $8 a day that doesn’t do anything.”
For businesses that use a lot of vehicles, the impact can be significant. 20 cars operating for two hours a day can waste more than $160 in fuel every day, according to Ford Pro.
Excessive idling is more common in North America, where about 29% of fleet vehicles idle unnecessarily, compared to 10% in Europe, Krukin noted.
To help solve the problem, Ford Pro is investing in data-driven software and tools.
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Someone throws gas in the car. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Its newly launched Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistant allows fleet managers to monitor vehicle behavior in real time, identify inefficiencies and coach drivers to implement fuel-saving practices.
Ford Pro says customers using these tools have seen measurable improvements, including a 52% reduction in idling.
While reducing idling is one of the easiest ways to cut costs, other driving behaviors — such as speeding, braking, and speeding — can also increase fuel consumption and wear and tear on vehicles, according to Krukin.
The system can limit acceleration, while in-cab alerts provide real-time feedback.
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Cars are seen moving on the main road. (Jonas Walzberg/photo alliance via Getty Images/Getty Images)
“It’s like the captain is there to coach them along the way,” Krukin said.
Users also saw a 25% decrease in acceleration, a 16% decrease in hard braking and an 11% decrease in acceleration, according to Ford Pro.
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“We don’t just recommend solutions for that,” Krukin said. “… At the end of the day, it’s about putting it all together, so that these fleets have an enjoyable experience with the tools and technology coming together.”
