27

28RMIPetrolissoconcernedthat,aftermonthsofintensiveevidencegathering,ithasmadeaformalsubmissiontotheOfficeofFairTradingaskingforanurgentnewstudyintotheUKfuelsmarket.Inthemeantime,fleetsneedtobeasefficientaspossiblewhenitcomestofuelspend.Choosingthemosteconomicalvehiclescangosomewaytoprotectingbusinesses,butexpertsgenerallyagreethattherealdifferenceismadeontheroadbyminimisingwastedmileageandmakingsuredriversareasefficientaspossible.Effectivelymonitoringfuelspendisthefirststageofmanagingcosts,but40%offleetswithmorethan25carsandvansarenotusingfuelcards,accordingtoresearchintofuelbuyingbyMIBDataSolutions.Alternativesincludedriverpayandreclaimandcreditcards,butthesedonotprovidethedirectinsightintofuelspendthatmayberequiredtopreventwasteandimplementcost-savinginitiatives.Fleetsusingcreditcardsorpay-and-reclaimhavenowayofeasilyseeingwherefuelisbeingbought,howmuchdriversarepaying,whoisusingexcessfuelandevenwhetherfraudisoccurring,theysay.Instead,usingfuelcardsisthefirststeptowardseffectivelymonitoringcostsandensuringeverypennycounts.WhycompetitioncanbringsavingsToensuredriverssupportinitiativestoreducefueluse,somehealthycompetitionbetweendriversordepartmentscanbringsavings.Fueleconomyleaguetablescanidentifythemostefficientdriversordepartmentswithinabusinessandthesehavebeenusedveryeffectivelybysomebusinesses.However,inarecentFleetNewspoll,only17%offleetssaidtheyhadconsideredthem.GeoPostUKhasbeenusingaleaguetableapproachforthepastfouryearsandclaimsthatithasdrivena5%improvementinmpgasaresult.Thefleetdepartmentarguesthatasthedriveristhebiggestinfluenceonfuelconsumption,itmakessensetomakethempartnersindrivingdownfueluse.