Business fuel cards can help you to better manage your fleet’s fuel costs. When it comes to making big changes in your business, though, it is important to look at the big picture. Many businesses are considering the move from diesel fuel to unleaded gasoline fuel instead. But is this the right move? Should you be buying vehicles running on diesel, or should you be running your trucks on gasoline? There are numerous things to consider in this situation, but what is most important is to look at your business’ particular needs.

What are the advantages of using diesel? If this is the option you are considering you will find that it can be as much as 35 percent more efficient than traditional gasoline, which could mean a significant savings to many business owners who are using unleaded right now. It means you will be filling up less often and still getting the miles you need to get the job done. Gas does have more power than diesel, though, since these engines are usually just V6 or turbo charged engines. Nevertheless, these are still very powerful vehicles to use.

On the other side, diesel fuel prices are often higher than those of unleaded gasoline prices. The amount of that increase needs to be compared locally, though. Unless the price of diesel ends up going higher than that 33 percent you will still be saving money on diesel in the long run. On the flip side, there are some benefits to using gasoline as well. For example, gas does give you more horsepower and that often means that you pay less out of the pocket. In addition, the cost of manufacturing and maintaining unleaded engines is much lower than that of diesel engines, thus making maintenance more affordable on these cars.

The biggest risk to the fleet manager is in the price of fuel. Business fuel cards can help you to get more of a grasp on those costs, of course, but it is important to note that making such a change in your vehicles can be costly. More so, the price of fuel continues to rise, due in part to the amount of concern about the economy, inflation and war. Could limitations on the availability of oil make it even more expensive to purchase the fuel your business needs? In many cases, that could happen. All businesses need to find ways to better manage fuel consumption so that they are not paying more than they have to, no matter if they have unleaded gasoline or diesel fuel running through the vehicles. You can do this with the right tools.

So, what is a business owner to do? To better manage the type of engine you have right now, utilize business fuel cards. These cards allow you to track the use of fuel by employee or by car. This way, you know if the vehicle is giving you the most fuel efficiency possible. More so, you can better monitor aspects that affect the costs related to fuel, such as the maintenance the vehicle receives. You can stop any problems that may occur before they actually cost you a lot of money in the long term. As a business owner or fleet manager, it is critical to have the information you need to make good decisions. These cards can help you to have that information and to achieve your underlying goals.

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As a business, managing fuel expenses is a necessary part of managing a fleet of cars. Regardless of the type of fleet you have, it is critical to focus on the actual cost of operation. There are numerous ways, though, to reduce those costs including the use of fleet fuel cards. Focus on finding the right methods for proper fuel management and your business will continue to turn a profit, even as the price of fuel continues to rise. Keep in mind that each business is unique and requires a unique set of methods to cut down on costs.

One of the ways your business can save is by using fleet fuel cards. Although considered a credit card, they are different from your traditional gas card. These cards allow the fleet manager to have more control over every aspect of the vehicle, from the fuel usage to the maintenance of the vehicle. Because you have better control over the expenses related to managing the cost of the vehicle, you can keep your company’s costs in line with profits. The key is to know what is happening with that vehicle.

The biggest factor in managing the cost of fuel is to know how it is spent. When you have comprehensive reporting features that tell you how well the vehicle is operating and when it is not operating at its peak, you can expect to find a significant cost savings. For example, if your vehicle begins to lose gas mileage, it is often an indication of an underlying problem. It could be the driver, but often it is the vehicle and a need for maintenance and attention. By knowing more information, you have a better opportunity to use that information to create a positive return for your group.

How can a card help you to accomplish this? In short, these cards allow your business to have access to improved costs. By working within a network of fuel companies and with a team of maintenance professionals, you can rest assured you are incurring the lowest costs possible for your business. In addition, that maintenance team will provide you with a detailed report of every transaction that is made using the credit card. Unlike a traditional gas card, these cards provide more information and more access to the business owner than ever before. Plus, a gas card can only provide you with the ability to buy fuel not provide discounts and updated information about transactions.

The cost of fuel continues to rise and there is little a business owner with a fleet of vehicles can do to keep costs lower. The key is to focus on keeping vehicles in their best working condition and to focus on fuel costs-saving measures, such as using fleet cards. Each situation is different, though. For example, it may be necessary to upgrade your vehicle to get the true financial return in the long-term for fuel usage. Most businesses also need to take steps to educate drivers to ensure they are making wise fuel cost decisions.

As a business owner, or a fleet manager, the use of fleet fuel cards makes sense financially. This provides an opportunity for your business to manage the increases in fuel costs without sacrificing your client’s needs or your company’s bottom line. The key is to continue to look for options to cut costs, including through the training and better use of your most valuable asset: your employees.

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There are many different ways in which fleet vehicles can be modified to match a specific need. These modifications may be very costly or they can be relatively low cost, depending on the design and the modification desired. Business fuel cards that allow repairs and maintenance to be charged to the card can help you budget and plan for necessary modifications that will make your fleet much more efficient over time.

The major advantage to using business fuel cards over cash or direct invoicing types of programs for vehicle modifications and customization is that the cards allow options for rebates on service repairs or they may offer a points or rewards incentive. These programs give you cash, points or credits back on every dollar that is spent with the service companies that are included in the card program. Business fuel cards are a type of loyalty program for the service companies that allow them to offer lower rates on many types of customizations and repairs. In turn they are assured that your company fleet will only use their service technicians, a true win win situation for all involved.

Modifications to fleet vehicles that are covered by business fuel cards can be vastly different based on each company and fleet managers particular needs. The cards can be set up to only allow specific types of modifications or customization, or they can be limited to dollar value on the repairs per day, month or even based on the mileage. Often these modifications are a one time customization and they may not occur on every vehicle in the fleet. Having the flexibility of controlling the options for the cards provides protection for the fleet manager with regards to use of the cards by the drivers, plus it also ensures that the drivers aren’t out of pocket or waiting for confirmation of a modification when they take the vehicle in.

Typical changes or customization in fleet vehicles will vary depending on the type of use of the vehicle. For example, construction or landscaping vehicles may be modified with ladder racks, extra tool boxes or specific types of brackets for mounting equipment and tools in the bed of a truck, the back of a van or box truck or even in the cab of a truck. Cars tend to have fewer options for cosmetic types of modifications but storage in the trunk or even in the backseat can be added as needed.

Modifications can also be used to increase the fuel efficiency and performance of the vehicle. This can include changing specific engine components to high performance parts or adding fuel efficiency components to the engines. Many companies are looking at engine modifications to use alternative fuel sources or to convert vehicles to use biodiesel or hydrogen to help boost fuel mileage and save money. These types of modifications may also qualify for specific grants and programs, which is well worth investigating with small or large fleets.

Slip tanks or additional fuel tanks are commonly added in the back of light trucks. These can also be filled using a business fuel cards and the mileage and information recorded to accurately reflect when and how this fuel is being used. Since the cards can be set to either charge diesel or gas the fleet manager can control the type of fuel that can be purchased on the card, greatly reducing any concerns of theft or fraudulent use of the card by employees.

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Managing to keep your fleet on the road in this economy is a small feat in and of itself; but are you doing everything you can to keep your nationwide travel as affordable as possible? Imagine that, with just a few little changes, you can stop trying to survive and start to really thrive in spite of the gloomy economic forecast. Nationwide fleet managers around the country are using these simple strategies and tips to make a difference in their bottom lines - can’t you do them too?

Start using gas cards - Gas cards are the future of efficient fleets everywhere. They eliminate the messy cash, check, and receipt log system and provide managers with the tools they need to accurately and discreetly monitor their fleet’s fuel consumption and costs. Gas cards allow you to place restrictions on how much gas can be used, when it can be used, and even what time of day it can be used and deliver up to the minute statements for you to peruse online in real time. Cut down on exaggerated cost reimbursement and often get a sweet little per gallon discount every time your fleet fuels up.

Make your gas card a fleet Mastercard - Signing up for gas cards for your fleet that are Mastercards as well means you get all the control of a gas card with all the benefits of a tricked out credit card. Fleet Mastercards give you points on every dollar your fleet spends, meaning you can start turning those points in to give your drivers some perks for their great service.  Can someone say “awesome holiday party“?

Review the routes - Access roads, highways, and cut throughs are changing all the time; is your fleet using a route that has been outdated by the massive highway revamp of the last twenty years? Check with each of your drivers and remap their routes using an up to date atlas. Is there a faster way for your fleet to get where they need to go? Can you talk them out of going ten miles out of their way to hit that favorite diner? Are there fueling stations en route that are more convenient than the ones they normally stop at? Fleet drivers tend to be creatures of habit when it comes to their routes. Asking the question “is there any way we can get you there faster?” can make a big difference in your overall fuel and time costs.

Update your rigs - Are your trucks as modern as they can be? Would a thousand dollar upgrade potentially save you a few thousand in operating costs? Rig technology is advancing every year, and the recent enthusiasm in energy efficiency is making some simple things, like head light lamps and heating systems, cheaper to maintain than ever. Spending a few bucks now to deep clean your engine lines or fuel injector system can help reduce fuel waste and allow you to get the most mileage for your buck.

Most managers today are so focused on keeping everything from falling apart; they are missing golden opportunities to advance their fleets to the next level. There has been no better time in recent memory to trim the fat and send your nationwide drivers out on the road with the most affordable rigs and routes possible. While everyone else’s bottom line is wavering, why not use this time to strengthen yours? Making small changes now can determine who is the leader of the pack when the economy levels out.

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