FLEET SERVICES POLICIES
687-6247
Fuel prices:
As I am sure you are aware we have seen a steady increase
in fuel prices since May of this year. Gasoline has risen from an average cost
of $1.40 per gallon to $2.86 per gallon and is expected to reach $3.00 per
gallon due to the recent hurricane that hit the Gulf. Diesel fuel was averaging
$1.30 per gallon and is now $2.76 per gallon and is expected to reach $2.75per
gallon due to the hurricane and the effects of the Florida hurricane haven’t yet
hit us.
Industry indicators suggest that fuel will spike and then
drop in the $2.50 range next year. This is Governmental pricing not pump price.
Diesel has seen the largest increase so departments that
utilize diesel equipment will see a greater burden to their budgets.
There are a few ways that we can lower the burden of the
excess costs within our fleet.
- Reduce vehicle idle time. Idling consumes a lot of fuel
in any fleet so reducing all unnecessary idle time will help tremendously.
- Drive with the AC off whenever possible.
- Check tire pressures regularly
- Carpool as much as possible
- Avoid fueling County vehicles at non-County fueling
sites.
- Reduce the miles driven per day
The above suggestions may seem insignificant individually
but as with anything there is strength in numbers.
If everyone cut one mile of travel each day that would save
100 miles which would save on average 10 gallons of fuel or $27.00 a day. For
the remainder of the year we could save about $2500.00 in fuel costs.
With winter approaching idle time increases. An idling
vehicle will consume up to 5 gallons of gas an hour or $ 11.00 worth of fuel. An
idling diesel truck can consume up to 9 gallons of fuel per hour or $19.80. The
cost to idle unnecessarily is tremendous.
Please consider the above suggestions and brief your
drivers on some of these simple ways to save fuel.
Fleet Services