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Are you in fleet management using GPS software to track engine idling? Did you just say no? Though a large number of companies are answering yes, there is an even larger number of companies that have still not calculated the savings GPS software provides when tracking idling. In an economy when every penny counts, this is a huge factor in fleet management when you consider the true impact idling has on a fleet vehicle. Engine idling increases fuel consumption and engine wear, which negatively impacts the mpg rate of the vehicle. Using GPS software to track idling among your fleet vehicles will improve the fleet management bottom line by providing data to improve gas mileage and reduce unnecessary vehicle wear and tear. Reduce Fuel Consumption Fleet management companies, both foreign and domestic, are turning to GPS software solutions to manage increased fuel consumption caused by idling. Knowing if an employee is idling while waiting at a stop light or idling while waiting to drop or pick-up a load, means a difference in saving or spending billions of dollars in fuel expenses annually and provides a more accurate picture of employee driving habits and behaviors. Depending on your engine size and if you use the air conditioner or not will determine if your vehicle will burn a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour of engine idling. In an article on "Reducing Vehicle Idling" FuelEconomy.gov stated that, "idling in the United States uses more than 6 billion gallons of fuel at a cost of more than $20 billion EACH year." Imagine what this figure is when you factor in fuel consumption in foreign countries. How much does your fleet management business spend on fuel consumption annually? What about the impact engine idling has on engine wear? Effects of Engine Idling on Engine Wear When an engine is running, the parts are powered to do their various tasks. Gears are moving, fluids are flowing, and sparks are firing. All of these actions take energy. If one extra hour of idling is said to be the same as 64,000 miles of engine wear, imagine the effects on a heavy-duty truck that averages four hours of idle time in a regular work day. Reasons for engine idling may include: Stop Light Traffic Unloading/Loading Stay Warm/Cool Power Electrical Items The effect of engine idling on engine wear can greatly affect maintenance expenses from bumper to trailer on any fleet vehicle. Fleet Management Solutions to Engine Idling using GPS Software Using a solid GPS software along with a reliable GPS tracking device will provide a cost efficient solution to fleet management companies looking to manage overhead related to idling and fuel consumption. Providing data to determine vehicle location, stops, starts, and idling creates real-time insight fleet managers need to instantly improve productivity and begin reducing expenses wasted on the effects of engine idling.
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