Skip to main content

Fuel Cost Cutter Disclaimer

The savings calculator is a tool for estimating how much fuel, money and greenhouse gas emissions might be saved by implementing various measures to an HGV or fleet of HGVs. It is based on a wide range of general assumptions and evidence gathered from various studies but should be used for indicative purposes only. No two HGVs or fleets are exactly the same, driven in exactly the same way on exactly the same routes, so the savings estimated by the tool are inevitably subject to some uncertainty – savings each measure achieves in the real world, in your specific application, will depend on your specific circumstances and may be higher or lower than those indicated by the tool.

The measures available within the tool are divided into four categories, as follows:

  • Driver behaviour – driver training is widely acknowledged to be one of the most cost-effective means of reducing fuel consumption and emissions. With good quality monitoring and other related initiatives, such as discouraging unnecessary engine idling, savings of 10% or more are often achievable.
  • Tyre management – using the most efficient tyres and ensuring they are at their optimum operating pressure can reduce fuel consumption and extend tyre life. Savings of 5-10% are often feasible.
  • Route management – fleet management tools and connected in-cab displays can help companies and their drivers to plan the most cost-efficient delivery routes, improve productivity by reducing empty running and avoid congestion. Working with stakeholders to reschedule freight deliveries into off-peak periods can offer further significant fuel and emission savings. In the right circumstances, 5-10% fuel savings are possible through optimised route management.
  • Aerodynamics – using an optimised set of aerodynamic aids can dramatically reduce vehicle drag, particularly at high motorway/trunk road cruising speeds and therefore save fuel. There are a wide range of options available, some quite often applied already such as cab roof fairings and side panels but also more innovative options such as boat tails and “teardrop” trailer designs. In the right applications, improving aerodynamics can reduce fuel consumption by around 10-15%.

There is a fifth option, telematics, which is included in the tool by combining the driver behaviour and route management measures. Telematics systems typically address many aspects (and deliver the combined savings from) both sets of interventions.