It doesn't seem that long ago when fleet managers were emphasizing the importance of preventing gelled fuel during the winter months. But summer is already on its way and fleets will soon switch their focus to preventing the season's biggest threat to their operation: overheated engines. Fortunately, as long as fleet managers and drivers closely obey a predetermined maintenance schedule, truck engines can survive the summer heat just fine. Below are three essential maintenance focus points fleets cannot afford to neglect this summer.

The first step to preventing breakdowns induced by overheating is through routine maintenance of the fleet. The regrowth of life in spring and the dry months of summer generally lead to an exorbitant level of particulates in the air that can cause engine lubricants to become a sludgy abrasive. As small particles get through the oil and fuel filters, the oil itself begins to take on a stickier, thicker consistency that negates the primary reason for utilizing petroleum based oil as an engine lubricant. This dirty oil progressively wears down piston heads and all other enclosed, moving parts of an engine. Regular oil changes throughout a summer will reduce extraneous heat from building in the engine block caused by tainted oil.

With oil changes occurring on a regular schedule, the next step to assuring a fleet is summer fit is through filter changes. There are three filters that are crucial to a strong diesel engine: Air Filter, Oil Filter, and Fuel Filter. It is generally accepted practice to change the air filter every other oil change. However, depending on air quality of fleet location this interval should be increased or decreased. The oil filter prevents many of the larger airborne particles from entering the enclosed engine environment so that the lubricant has a longer lifespan; these should be changed at every oil change, a more frequent changing of these will extend the necessary time between summer oil changes. The fuel filter for diesel engines is often overlooked, but with some of the low quality diesels that are being refined at higher temperatures, the filters are getting blocked at a much faster rate than in decades past. This is an issue because it limits the flow of fuel to the injectors which will push air into the fuel system; one of the most damaging things that can occur to a diesel fleet.

The final step that is absolutely the most important for summer fleet care is making sure the cooling system is in ideal working order. With a reliance on high temperature combustion provided by extreme air compression, a diesel engine operates at a higher temperature than its internal combustion counterpart. Due to this characteristic in conjunction with the warmer ambient air temperature, the cooling system of a diesel motor is pertinent to prevent a breakdown during the busiest season for a fleet manager. Don’t make this fleet manager mistake and overlook cooling system maintenance.

Overall Summer Fleet Care Focus Points:

~  Oil Changes

~  Filter Replacement

~  Cooling system maintenance

As the thermometer rises, Fleet managers need to be aware of the inherent risks that this new season presents to their vehicles. Managers need to be in constant contact with the Fleet drivers in regards to necessary on-road vehicle maintenance. A good fleet management service can help with this coordination. With the proper care, fleets will be cruising around the country this summer in top-notch condition.

Fleet operations depend on proficient guidance from fleet management as much as vehicles depend on fuel. Yet fleet managers must balance many challenging responsibilities, such as overseeing maintenance, financing and telematics details for vehicles, as well as monitoring fleet driver performance, safety conditions and fuel usage. The most successful fleet managers, therefore, are those who keep all of these tasks skillfully under their control.

Fleet managers can employ one of the most powerful fleet service tools available for managing fuel costs and controlling budgets: the fleet fuel card.

Fleet fuel cards are designed to give fleet managers control over spending through carefully engineered features. For example, fleet managers can restrict the types of purchases cardholders make, and regulate the day of week and time of day fleet cards can be used. They can even take control of critical situations remotely with the ability to stop the flow of fuel at the pump in real-time!

Yes, Fuelman customers have actually stopped fuel at the pump to prevent drivers from accidentally adding unleaded gas into a diesel-powered vehicle. Fleet managers can avoid this type of simple mistake, which can cost companies thousands of dollars to fix, and ensure vehicles stay active on the road by being alerted before the mistake occurs.

With fuel prices in constant fluctuation, fleet managers frequently feel the pinch of economic turbulence. They know how critical it is to make every dollar count. Fleet fuel cards help to budget and track every dollar spent on fleet fuel and fleet maintenance, and allow fleet managers to control and monitor spending – even in real-time.

For more information about fleet cards and how they can help your company, check out our fleet cards FAQ page, contact our fleet fuel professionals at (800) 633-3271, or start your fleet card application today!

Here’s a fact: excessive amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the earth’s atmosphere contributes to global warming.   Day after day highway vehicles burn fuel that leads to the creation of carbon dioxide.   Why should you as a fleet manager care about how much CO2 your fleet emits?  Because you can not only use this information to determine how much your fleet impacts the environment, but you can make better, well informed decisions about vehicle maintenance and vehicle purchases.

How 6 Pounds of Gasoline Creates 20 Pounds of Carbon Dioxide

So just how much CO2 are we talking about?

A gallon of gasoline weighs roughly 6.3 pounds. It seems unlikely that a gallon of gas could create 20 pounds of carbon dioxide when burned. Interestingly enough, the weight of the carbon dioxide doesn’t come from the gasoline itself but from the oxygen in the air.

When gas burns, carbon and hydrogen separate. The hydrogen combines with oxygen to form water (H2O) and carbon combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide.

A carbon atom weighs 12 amu (atomic mass units), and each oxygen atom weighs 16 amu, which means each single molecule of CO2 weighs 44 amu (12 from carbon and 32 from oxygen).

Therefore, to calculate the amount of CO2 produced from a single gallon of gasoline, multiply the weight of the carbon in the gasoline by 3.7 (44 ÷ 12).

Since gasoline is about 87% carbon and 13% hydrogen by weight, the carbon in a gallon of gasoline weighs 5.5 pounds (6.3 pounds x 0.87).

When we multiply the weight of the carbon (5.5 pounds) by 3.7, our total is 20 pounds of CO2!

Bottom line—fuel-efficient vehicles not only save your business money but they help protect the environment from harmful CO2.

Sources: Physical and chemical properties of gasoline: Department of Energy (DOE), Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), http://www.afdc.energy.gov/pdfs/afv_info.pdf.

Millions of people nationwide live in monitored   areas with unhealthy air pollution levels.

It’s no secret that highway vehicles contribute significantly to air pollution in the U.S. by producing 26-62% of key chemicals that cause smog and lead to serious health problems.

Recent government-mandated regulations enforce federal emissions standards for all new vehicles, but pre-regulation-era vehicles continue to pollute the air, especially those with poor fuel economy.

That said, fleet managers looking to add vehicles to their fleet have another reason, beyond cost savings, to choose options from among the most fuel-efficient on the market. Below are two helpful tips for choosing either used vehicles or new green technology.

Choose a Green Vehicle

The EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide provides information to help you choose the cleanest used vehicle that meets your needs, including emissions data and vehicles equipped with advanced technology or alternative fuel capabilities.

Choose Green Technology: Stop-start

“Stop-start” technology is a newer alternative that also helps reduce fuel costs and air pollutants. The system eliminates engine idling by shutting off the engine when the vehicle stops and immediately restarting when the brake is released or when the vehicle begins to accelerate. Stop-start vehicles improve fuel economy by 5–10% and help fleets meet strict Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, which will increase to 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016 and 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.

Johnson Controls reports that 97% of American consumers are interested in and ready for stop-start technology. Best of all, fleet managers who take advantage of stop-start technology can save on fuel costs without sacrificing performance.

Environmentally friendly vehicles can be found and added to today’s fleets, provided managers stay persistent with their search. The most fuel-efficient fleets will reduce their fuel costs and do their part in reducing air pollution. It’s a win-win arrangement.

Data sources:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/airpoll.shtml

http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/content/us/en/about/our_company/featured_stories/start-stop_battery1.html

Population exposed to air pollution: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air & Radiation website, accessed August 15, 2008.

Highway vehicle emission shares based on EPA's National Emissions Inventory (NEI) Air Pollutant Emissions Trends Data. (Highway vehicle shares calculated based on 2006 total emissions, excluding "miscellaneous" sources such as fires.)

A recent video detailing the Distracted Driving incidents faced by two Kentucky Power Company workers sheds new light on the growing problem of distracted driving:

As you can see, distractions come in a variety of forms on the road, yet the discussion of distracted driving has remained largely defined by cell phone use or texting behind the wheel. Drivers can be distracted at any moment by common occurrences that are found along common routes. Remind your drivers that paying attention doesn’t mean just staying off the phone. They must keep their eyes on the road at all times, avoiding many other distractions:

• Adjusting the frequency of a CB radio, or even the vehicle’s radio dials

• Picking up dropped objects from the floor

• Reaching for objects in the back seat

• Straining to read billboards or other business signs

• Changing a CD

• Searching for documents in the console or glove compartment

• Eating or drinking

• Fidgeting with vehicle controls

• Entering information into GPS systems

These behaviors and more can take your drivers’ eyes off the road and put them at risk for an accident. Being distracted for even a few seconds can mean your vehicle is barreling down the road for hundreds of feet without a chance to stop or avoid hazards. It is important to stop drivers from texting or talking behind the wheel, but fleet safety goes much further than that. Encourage good driving habits and costly accidents won’t be a part of your fleet budget.

Photo courtesy of Endlisnis and re-used under the Creative Commons license.

Making sure that your vehicles are ready for summer will help to avoid costly repairs and delays. Perform these checks on your fleet and keep your cool all summer long!

Photo courtesy of comedy_nose and re-used under the Creative Commons license.

With the extreme weather conditions that have hit the country hard over the last few months and tornado season still in effect across the nation’s heartland, it’s a good time to think about educating your drivers on what to do if a tornado hits while they are on the road.  Pass along the following tips from Automotive Fleet to your drivers:

-A "tornado warning" means a twister is developing or is actually on the ground. It is more severe than a "tornado watch," which means conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms, which may or may not spawn tornadoes.

-Tornadoes can toss cars and large trucks around like toys. Never try to outrun a tornado.

-If you see a funnel cloud or hear a tornado warning issued on the radio or by siren, get out of your vehicle and seek a safe structure.

-Seeking shelter indoors is best, if possible. A basement is safest. Closets or small interior rooms are preferable. Get under a sturdy piece of furniture or mattress and stay away from south and west walls and all windows.

-Do not seek shelter in a mobile home. These structures, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes and should be abandoned.

-If you are caught in the open, with no indoor buildings available to you, find a ditch, ravine or low-lying area and lie flat. Stay away from roadway overpasses. Cover the back of your head and neck with your hands; keep alert for flash floods.

-In general, whenever you're driving during a storm, remember that wet roads mean poor traction. Conditions are most dangerous during the first 10 minutes of a heavy downpour as oil and debris wash away. Driving on wet roads in the rain is just like driving on ice. Take it easy and allow extra time.

Keep these tips in mind and be safe on the roads!

Photo courtesy of Donald Lee Pardue and re-used under the Creative Commons license.

When fleet operators choose vehicles for their fleet use, several factors influence the decision.  Among the most important attributes fleet managers look for is long-term reliability, ensuring that vehicles will not have to be replaced until absolutely necessary.  But when is it time to upgrade or replace your fleet vehicles?  With changing automotive technologies and workloads, knowing when your fleet may need refreshing can be difficult.  Consider the following guidelines to see if your fleet could use a change.

1. Keep current.

If your fleet is still stocked with a number of older model years, you may be missing out on features that not only make your work easier, but can also increase safety.  Newer vehicles have better environmental standards and utilize new technologies to assist your drivers in the course of their daily work.  For example, voice-activated GPS and telephone features in newer cars put your drivers at less risk for distracted driving, keeping them safe.

2. Keep an eye on costs.

Holding on to a vehicle may make sense to avoid the price of purchasing a new vehicle, but older vehicles can come with a whole set of other costs.  Wear and tear makes maintenance a much more frequent and costly operation, and the lower fuel efficiency that comes with an aging vehicle costs you more money on fuel. When repair bills start piling up, it may be time to reconsider purchasing a new vehicle.

3. Invest in Efficiency.

Newer vehicles are more fuel-efficient, from new gasoline engines to hybrid vehicles and alternative fuel technologies. It may cost you more in the short term to purchase a hybrid vehicle for deliveries around town, but the fuel savings will help to pay for the cost of that vehicle within just a few years.

4. Use Vehicles that Work for You.

Invest in fleet vehicles that work best for your business, even if they cost a little more. If you are making daily deliveries but purchase vehicles with low capacity due to cost, you may find yourself making two or three times as many trips per day, spending far more than the price difference in fuel costs alone.

5. Wait Until You’re Sure.

While it is important to reinvest in your fleet from time to time, you should make sure that you really need new vehicles before purchasing or trading in.  Making changes too early and too often will put a strain on your company’s bottom line faster than any inefficiencies or repair costs.

Keeping your fleet current, well-maintained and running smoothly will keep your company working well into the future.  Make sure that your fleet stays on the right track with good buying habits.  And, as always, don’t forget good fuel management!

Photo courtesy of Jeff Weese and re-used under the Creative Commons license.

Summer is here, and that means that your drivers will find themselves working in hotter conditions. Exposure to extreme summer temperatures can cause major health issues, including heat stroke. If any of your vehicles have broken air conditioners, your drivers are at an increased risk. So here are some tips to keep cool without AC, courtesy of WikiHow.

       Plan your travel times. Early morning is often the coolest time of the day, and if you are not on a fixed schedule, to work, for instance, you can plan on doing as much driving as possible before the heat is unbearable. 
 
       Work with the traffic flow. Avoid "rush hours", when people are on their way to work, or home afterward. This event may cause you to be stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic hardly moving along at all.

      Look for shady routes to your frequent destinations. If you drive in a north or south direction, tree-lined streets and roadways are often shady for much of the day.
 
       Roll down the windows. If you have a fan operated fresh air vent, open it, turn on the fan, and open a rear window enough to draw a draft through your automobile. A sun roof or sliding back window will draw a lot of fresh air, even when you are barely moving.

       Install reflective window tinting on the windshield and windows. This can offer a substantial reduction in direct sunlight coming into your car. (Note: check with your state to ensure this is legal. Some states do not allow this practice.)

      Put a fan on the dashboard or hang it from the visor. There are a number of inexpensive 12-volt fans available at auto parts stores and retailers that plug into a cigarette lighter plug to move air.

      Dress down. If you have a long commute to work or school, you may be able to drive in short pants and a tee shirt, then change in a restroom or locker room at work, leaving you cleaner and cooler for the day ahead.
 
      A 10lb block of ice on the floorboards under a vent will help cool things down. This was “Arizona AC” in the 40's and 50's.The ice block can rest in a plastic pan or baking tin. Opening a window a little will help with airflow.

      Take a cooler. Pack a cooler with enough ice to keep your drinks cold. For the extreme, drink the melted ice water!

      Bring a cold pack. The night before work, put a cold pack in the freezer. Before you leave the next morning, take it out and wrap it in a towel. It will last a while.

Use these helpful tips to keep your drivers cool, comfortable, and safe in the months ahead.

[via WikiHow]

Photo courtesy of shellorz and re-used under the Creative Commons license.