Fleet Fuel Cards Archives

Fleet Management Resources for a Positive impac on your Organization.

September 11, 201910Articles, Company NewsTags: Fleet Fuel Cards, Fleet Management, fleet manager, Impac Fleet, NAFA

A locally-operated delivery company, a mid-sized drill rig operation or a large nationally operated trucking company or somewhere in-between are all considered fleets, and the type and size will determine how you proceed with the establishment of your fleet management program.

In this article we want to walk you through a few of the basics of fleet management, some of the duties of a fleet manager and provide you with some resources to help you build or improve your fleet management program.

The Role of the Modern Fleet Manager

Fleet managers are becoming more strategic and utilizing data from connected vehicles to predict and solve problems before they happen. Their role may also include: scheduling vehicle maintenance, route planning, record keeping, compliance and adherence to all rules and regulations.

Fleet Managers are also responsible for registering, licensing and keeping inspections up to date; and working with management to meet all organizational budgets while developing procedures to maximize productivity and minimize expenses and waste.

Overwhelmed by Data?

data overload - telephone pole with hundreds of wires everywhere — data overload

Fleet Managers that are feeling overwhelmed by the data-overload can reduce stress by focusing on what matters most to them. If efficiency and environmental impact is a priority, focus on miles per gallon and emissions.

If fleet safety takes front seat, then focus more on accident and maintenance data. Learning how to analyze data to make key decisions is crucial to a well managed fleet.

Connectivity – a Trend to Watch

As we move towards year-end, some of the top trends for 2019 will continue to move forward into the new year. Fleet telematics will bring more data for fleets to manage, making connectivity the future of fleet management.

To prepare for the future and drive excitement of connectivity it’s important to understand how new technologies will benefit your fleet. Connectivity is changing the way companies track inventory, reduce cost and drive fleet productivity.

To keep up with trends and changes shaping fleet as we move into the new year – Join the discussion on Twitter @ImpacFleet or contact an impac expert today.

Fleet Management Best Practices

Managing a fleet can be expensive and time consuming, following best practices will help you control your fleet, save money and ensure that you are properly maintaining your fleet.

Maintaining your vehicles may be the most important aspect of running your fleet. Staying on schedule with your maintenance program will save money and ensure that all of your vehicles will meet the highest safety standards.

Understanding and staying up to date with industry regulations is essential to staying compliant. Some of the current rules include emission laws, driver monitoring laws, licensing and reporting laws and fuel consumptions laws.

Keeping up to date and tracking everything your fleet needs can be extremely difficult. A single fleet software system can provide you with the tools for real-time tracking, fuel monitoring and the necessary data to keep your fleet running as smoothly as possible.

To help you answer additional questions, we would be happy to schedule time to meet with you and discuss the available fleet management tools specific to your company needs.

Resource – NAFA Fleet Management Association

NAFA is the world’s largest not-for-profit membership association for individuals who manage the vehicular fleet and mobility responsibilities for their employers. NAFA propels the fleet and mobility profession through it’s world class certification, education, advocacy, and peer networking programs, and is an essential element of success for individuals involved in the profession.

The undeniable traits for which NAFA is know for are:

Integrity: Demonstrated by uncompromised dedication to being trusted, unbiased and credible source of information and expertise.

Leadership: Demonstrated by professional and personal pride in shaping the future of fleet and mobility management through education and advocacy.

Community: Demonstrated by professional and personal pride in being part of a collegial alliance of individuals with a common passion for excellence, mutual respect, shared experience and collective action.

FREE WHITE PAPER: To receive your FREE copy you will be required to sign up for their free membership. CLICK HERE to sign up and receive your FREE white paper – “Fleet Management and the Connected Vehicle” from NAFA Fleet Management Association.

NOTE: NAFA also offers a PAID MEMBERSHIPS and CHARGES for FLEET Solutions Publications, PAID GUIDES and Educational Material.

Impac Fleet is NOT affiliated with or offers any endorsements for NAFA Fleet Management Association. Impac Fleet is simply providing quality resources for Fleet Management and Fleet Managers.

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Please check out our blog page for additional real time tracking, fleet fuel card, and fleet fuel management solutions, along with other industry related articles.

Truck and Car on Highway how to manage a Fleet Program.

Understanding Fleet Management and Fuel Programs

September 5, 201900Articles, Company NewsTags: Fleet Fuel Cards, Fleet Management, fleet manager, free fuel card comparison

An organization that owns, leases or relies on some form of commercial transportation for their business is engaged in some form of fleet management. The purpose of fleet management is to improve efficiency by reducing the overall costs of transportation and staying in compliance by keeping up-to-date with legislation changes and new regulations.

The responsibilities of the Fleet Manager can include vehicle maintenance, driver management and route planning. Managing a fleet can be a real challenge and can include implementation of a fleet management software or vehicle telematics.

To help fleets streamline customer service they can implement telematics with navigation and transport management systems to track real-time deliveries and report an accurate ETA – Estimated time of arrival to the customer. Click Here to schedule a time to see what impac can offer for your specific industry.

Key Telematics and TMS Integration:

Safety and compliance reporting
(HOS) Hours of Service
(DVIR) Driver Vehicle Inspection Reporting
Route optimization
Real-time navigation
IFTA tax reporting
Vehicle diagnostics
Driver behaviors

Why Should You Use Fleet Management System?

A well designed and implemented fleet management system can:

Save on fuel consumption
Reduce road accidents
Improve driving habits
Track and recover lost vehicles
Reduce cost of insurance
Prevent unauthorized use of vehicles
Improve on-time deliveries

Where Do I Start if I Want to Implement a Fleet Management System?

Start by getting organized. Get every piece of information you can – invoices, VIN, purchase records, etc. Do your homework, research, research, research. Meet with the drivers, discuss the importance of gathering accurate and timely data. Encourage feedback and participation, be clear on everyone’s specific responsibilities and the expected outcomes that come with them.

To help you answer additional questions and make sure you are on the right track, we would be happy to schedule time to meet with you and discuss the available fleet management tools specific to your company needs.

Fleet Management Challenges

As your fleet grows in size fleet managers will face more and more new and complex challenges. The modern day manager is tech savvy, business-minded and has to have an insight into fuel efficiency, federal and state regulations, driver safety and vehicle maintenance.

Some of the more complex concerns can be simply trying to cope with information overload. The selection and use of fleet software, tracking, integration of fleet data and making sure all assets are being fully utilized.

Another challenge is solving problems on the fly while effectively directing assets and keeping drivers safe on the road. Time management, safety education programs, driver productivity, proper use of technology and finding and hiring experienced drivers with clean records, are just a few of the challenges of the fleet manager.

TIP: Keep-up-to-date. Communicate and share your experiences and challenges with fellow fleet managers – utilize blogs and industry groups on social media sites like LinkedIN & Facebook. Sign-up for industry news.

LinkedIN Tip: in the search field at the top of the LinkedIN page type #fleetmanagement, this will bring up article posts from fellow fleet managers and fleet companies.

Fuel Programs

One of the quickest ways to minimize fuel spend is to integrate fuel cards with your fleet management program. With the right fuel card system you can compare actual fuel consumption to the amount of fuel a vehicle can hold and see exactly how much each driver spends on fuel. Check out our article “How Do Fleet Managers Reduce Fuel Spend?” for more fuel saving tips and to compare our fleet fuel cards.

To ensure a true customized solution, it is important to set the restrictions and controls of the fleet fuel cards that are ideal for the drivers and vehicles that make up a specific fleet. Check out our article “4 Purchase Controls Fleet Fuel Cards Offer“.

If you enjoyed our article please subscribe to get the latest articles, ebooks, research and impac fleet happenings delivered to your inbox each week.

Please check out our blog page for additional real time tracking, fleet fuel card, and fleet fuel management solutions, along with other industry related articles.

Photo Courtesy of Skitterphoto via Pixabay.

How Do Fleet Managers Reduce Fuel Spend?

August 30, 201910Articles, Company NewsTags: Fleet Fuel Cards, fleet fuel management, impac, universal fleet card

There are several ways a fleet manager can reduce their fuel spend and waiting for fuel prices to go down is NOT one of them. In this post I’m going to answer several questions and share some of our best strategies to save money on fuel, understanding fuel management and fleet fuel cards.

Will Improved Driving Behavior Help Increase Fuel Efficiency?

Yes, this could be one of the most important ways to reduce your fuel spend. Educating and monitoring your drivers to eliminate speeding, reduce idle time and avoid accelerating too quickly is all key to reducing your fuel usage.

Does the Type of Tire Impact Fuel Consumption?

Yes, a great option is low rolling resistance tires. These are specifically designed to improve fuel efficiency, and don’t forget to check tire pressure. A study by the U.S. Department of Energy found that for every one psi (pounds per square inch) drop in the tire pressure of your tires will lower gas mileage by 0.4%.

Does Fuel Grade Matter?

Yes, check the vehicle owner’s manual to determine the lowest fuel grade suggested by the manufacturer. Then let the drivers know the type of fuel to purchase.

Will a managed fleet fuel program reduce fuel spend?

Yes, the substantial savings associated with a properly managed fuel program far outweigh the cost of the program.

Managed Fuel Programs and Fuel Cards

While vehicle maintenance, tire choice and driver behavior play a critical part in fuel conservation, understanding how to implement a fuel management program can be like putting all the puzzle pieces together to get the big picture.

At impac we use a collaborative, consultative approach. The goal is to help the Fleet Manager be more informed when it comes to making decisions in the following areas: controls and fraud reductions, compliance, fuel and maintenance transaction integration, discount merchant networks and ease of reconciliation & payment.

Our impac fleet fuel card program is designed around the need for a single-source provider for all card issuance, billing, payment and customer service. impac brings it all together for a complete and comprehensive fuel and maintenance fleet solution. Click Here for a comparison of our universal card and truck stop fleet fuel card.

Best in Class, Individualized Fleet Fuel Management Solutions

Control costs and significantly reduce the risk of fraud for your fleet
Set fuel and maintenance limits using a wide variety of hard and soft controls
Fleet managers can review all fuel and maintenance purchases online
Unmatched and dedicated personal support & customer service
Customized solutions and recommendations
Receive a consolidated invoice and cut one check for all fleet fuel card purchases
Over 25 custom and standard reports giving you the information you need

With impac – it’s like having your own fuel management department.

Route Tracking

Another key element to monitoring fuel spend is route tracking. Tracking the routes that the fleet drivers take on a daily basis has become easier with the development of telematics and software.

Having a good GPS device and routing software will save on fuel usage and help maximize the most efficient routes, cutting down on out of route miles driven. With the right setup you can separate personal miles from work miles and allocate some of their fuel spend to the personal use category.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, aggressive driving can reduce highway fuel efficiency by 33% and city efficiency by 5%.

Labor Day 2019 Fuel Prices

“For Americans who bookend summer with road trips, they will find gas prices this coming weekend that are cheaper than this past Memorial Day and last year’s Labor Day holiday,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “At the start of the week, two-thirds of all states have gas price averages that are nearly a quarter cheaper than last year.”

Want to learn more about how impac can help you reduce your fleet’s fuel spend? We would be happy to schedule time to meet with you and discuss a custom designed program specific to your company needs.

Fleet Challenges Telematics Can Fix

June 20, 201900Articles, Company NewsTags: Fleet, fleet challenges, Fleet Fuel Cards, GPS Tracking, reporting, Telematics, Telematics Data

Fleets are used in diverse industries to fulfil various demands and purposes. This means that each fleet has unique safety and efficiency fleet challenges. However, many of these challenges can be addressed by telematics, yet few fleets have implemented this technology.

Here are four fleet challenges telematics can fix:

1. Safe Driving– Safe driving is high on the list of fleet challenges. With telematics, managers can not only continuously monitor driving behaviors through automatic alerts but collect data that can be used for future safe driving discussions. Telematics has been proven effective in improving driver safety on the road.

2. Fuel Economy – Driving behaviors, such as speeding and off-route driving, can lead to wasted fuel, creating various fleet challenges. Telematics help reduce or eliminate those behaviors, leading to better fuel economy and lower fuel costs.

3. Asset Management – Other than the vehicle itself, fleets tend to have expensive equipment on board. Telematics can help track the real-time location of assets. It can also be used to review which assets are underutilized. Accurate asset tracking and management is a critical way that telematics help fleets save money.

4. Vehicle Maintenance – Most fleets perform maintenance when something breaks. Telematics proactivity alerts fleets when there’s an emerging engine issue that needs to be addressed, eliminating possible fleet challenges. Fleets can then schedule repairs during off hours to keep vehicles on the road.

According to Automotive Fleet, smaller fleets reported an up to five-times return on investment, from crash reduction and better asset tracking. Larger fleets accrue more benefit from fuel economy improvements and better vehicle maintenance. However, all benefits from safer driving.

Impac offers innovative GPS systems that provide tracking and managing solutions of critical mobile resources, such as vehicles, movable assets and employees in the field. Reliable and easy-to-use, telematics data collected from these systems can increase business efficiencies and cut costs.

To learn more about our systems, contact Impac today.

How Fleets Are Reducing Fuel Spend

May 31, 201900Articles, Company NewsTags: Fleet, Fleet Fuel Cards, fuel prices, fuel spend, reduce costs, technology, Telematics

With fuel prices on the rise, it is important for fleets to find ways to reduce fuel spend within their business. In the fleet industry, effective vehicle selection, driver behavior and modern technology are major components that can impact fuel spend.

Vehicle Selection

Considering the vehicle types that a fleet incorporates into its overall operations has major impacts on fuel spend. For example, a fleet utilizing smaller vehicles may spend less on fuel as a result of mpg differences. Therefore, fuel costs rely heavily upon identifying the vehicles that are best suited for an organization’s needs and those that provide better fuel economy.

Driver Behavior

Driver behaviors can have a significant impact on a fleet’s fuel spend, including ineffective routing, excessive idling, aggressive driving and fraudulent activity. Due to these things, many fleet managers are reviewing and altering fleet policies. Improving driver safety through company-wide programs may also have a positive effect on reducing fuel costs.

Modern Technology

Telematics and fleet fuel cards have become the most effective tools to reduce fuel costs within a fleet. Fleet fuel cards provide a more detailed analysis of employee payments, while telematics provides helpful reports of driver behaviors. With a high level of technology available, a fuel management strategy should be put in place to reduce fuel spend.

In addition to these methods of reducing amounts spent on fuel, other techniques include implementing low-resistance tires, active grill shutters, smaller engines. and light weighting of frames and parts.

Impac offers both telematics/GPS solutions and fleet fuel card programs aimed to reduce a business’ fuel costs. To modernize your fleet, contact Impac today.

Mitigating Fleet Risk: How to Set Fuel Card Limits

April 25, 201900Articles, Company NewsTags: Fleet, Fleet Fuel Cards, Fleet Management, fuel card limits, limits, mitigate risk, Purchase controls

Setting fuel card limits can increase business productivity and help mitigate fleet risk. The automotive fleet industry benefits from implementing company regulations on driver purchases. Below are steps to choosing and setting up fuel card limits to best fit a company’s needs.

Determine How to Assign the Fuel Cards

A company can either assign the fleet card to an individual driver or to a vehicle. If employees drive different vehicles each day or a company has high turnover rates, it might be best to assign fuel cards to a vehicle. To do this effectively, the company should assign each employee a unique pin number usable on every company card. This identifies what driver fueled the vehicle registered to the card.

If an employee drives the same vehicle daily, it is best to assign the fuel card to the driver. Assigning the fuel card to a driver allows management to easily monitor spending habits of employees.

Setting Up Fuel Card Controls

Making sure a fuel card has limits set in place keeps drivers from making unnecessary purchases and expenditures. A company can enforce limits to restrict suspicious activity but still allow drivers to travel efficiently.

First, ensure the fuel card is only able to purchase fuel. This keeps employees from purchasing convenience store items with company money.

Other basic fueling controls include gallon or dollar limits per transaction, time of day or day of week, limits number of transactions per day and fuel type. Controls should reflect the needs of a company, giving management to impose stricter or relaxed limits based on employee spending habits.

It is important to note the controls are tied to the driver, regardless of if the card is attached to the driver or vehicle. Management is responsible for enrolling all drivers in the program with correct controls to mitigate risk.

Get Access to Purchase Information

How is the Fleet Industry Changing in the New Year?-Impac

Purchase alerts allow a company to stay updated with a driver’s spending. These alerts send notifications if a driver attempts to make an unauthorized purchase. For example, if a driver tries to purchase more gallons than assigned, Impac’s customer service team notifies management with text and email alerts.

Being able to monitor all purchases online is also crucial. This allows a company to check spending in real time, taking action to increase productivity and cut unnecessary costs.

The Bottom Line

Fuels cards are an easy and effective way to mitigate risks associated with money. At Impac, our comprehensive fuel card program offers customizable limits for fleet companies and notifies managers of unauthorized behavior. Impac’s customer service team helps determine ideal limits of individual companies and customizes restrictions based on need.

In the next article of our series, “How to Run an Efficient Customer Service Department”, you can discover how to implement strategies within the customer service department to increase efficiency.

5 Ways to Minimize Distracted Driving

February 22, 201900Articles, Company NewsTags: distracted driving, drivers, Fleet Fuel Cards, Fleets, Fuel Card, gps systems, GPS Tracking, Safety

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately nine people die each day as a result of distracted driving.

As safety is an ongoing effort within the fleet industry for both large trucks and small, it is important for fleet managers to have their drivers practice safe driving.

Here are five ways to help fleet drivers eliminate unnecessary driver distractions:

1. Don’t Multi-Task. When on the road, many drivers can be tempted to do other things and multi-task. However, drivers should only be focused on the road to avoid an accident.

2. Don’t Eat. Eating or drinking while driving can be a huge distraction. Therefore, drivers should eat before or after their trips on the road. If necessary, they can pull to the side of the road to eat in a safe place.

3. No Phones. If a driver must make a phone call, they should pull over to make the call. Although hand-free talking is available within many vehicles, it can still result in an accident. In addition, drivers should never text. To accomplish this, keep all electronics out of reach.

4. Get Organized. Driving with unnecessary clutter all over a vehicle can result in distracted driving. Drivers should organize all paperwork, baggage and gear prior to heading out on the road.

5. Adjust Before. To avoid distracted driving, drivers should set GPS systems, climate control, mirrors and seats before getting on the road.

With safety in mind, Impac offers reliable fleet fuel card programs and innovative GPS tracking and reporting systems. With access to specialized telematics data provided by these technologies, driver behavior can be properly reported, monitored and handled accordingly.

To take a step towards reduced distracted driving within your fleet, contact Impac.

The Effects of Late Implementation of Fleet Fuel Cards

February 14, 201910Articles, Company NewsTags: Fleet, Fleet Fuel Cards, fleet industry, tracking and reporting

It is no secret that fleet fuel cards have transformed the fleet industry in many ways. However, to this day, a number of fleet companies fail to implement the technology that is available on the market–like fleet fuel cards and others.

Fleet owners do not realize the negative effects that late implementation of fleet fuel cards can have on their business.

If a company is late to the connected-vehicle game, here are three downfalls of late adoption that may persuade a switch:

#1: Wasted Fuel. Fleet companies constantly strive to lower overall fuel costs within their operation. Whether a manager has tried economically-powered vehicles, optimized routes and a strict drier policy, an electronic record is key to accurately track and determine fuel spending.

Fleet fuel cards provide detailed reports, analyses and real-time alerts when unauthorized behavior may be a possibility.

#2: Insurance Claims and Rates. When fleet drivers are involved in an accident due to a behavior such as distracted driving, there may be a long-term cost.

With fleet fuel cards, fleet managers can carefully monitor driver behavior–including speeding and rapid acceleration. This data provided by the cards can help fleet managers reduce the risk of future accidents.

#3: Maintenance Lag. Proper maintenance is an important component of achieving productive fleet management. With that being said, poorly maintained fleet trucks can drain fleet budgets.

Fleet fuel cards can help keep all trucks up-to-date through a strict maintenance schedule and alerting fleet managers when diagnostic trouble arise. These cards can also produce comprehensive analyses to eliminate overuse.

Impac offers a fleet fuel card program that are tailored to the unique accounting needs of each fleet company within the industry.

At Impac, our flexible point of sale prompting, card level exception reporting, purchase control parameters and innovative reporting products allow fleet managers to manage their fuel programs with ease.