Telogis, a telematics provider, has identified five key areas that affect fuel costs: excessive speeding, idling, vehicle maintenance, delivery schedules, and fuel slippage. The company provides two tips drivers and fleet managers can use to reduce fuel costs.

Kick the idling habit. According to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Air Pollution Control Program, engine idling will waste one gallon of fuel per hour. Some of the ways idling leads to increased fuel usage include: warming up the engine longer than necessary, leaving the engine running during stops or deliveries, and keeping the engine running in order to operate radios and equipment in the vehicle. Fleet managers can coach drivers on best practices for reducing idling and reward drivers who show improvement. A location-based software solution can help identify where excessive idling is an issue and can help reduce it.

Set, and keep, vehicle maintenance schedules. Keeping vehicles in shape can improve gas mileage by an average of 13 cents per gallon, according to FuelEconomy.gov. Some important maintenance areas drivers and fleet managers should remember with regard to fuel economy are: maintain proper tire inflation pressure and check tire wear; replace fuel filters at the proper intervals; keep all axles aligned to minimize rolling resistance; repair vehicle body damage; and use recommended grades of motor oil.