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Drive Down the Cost of Business Motoring
LTSBA says there are many easy but highly effect ways of driving down the cost of business motoring.
Steve Osborne, Head of Fleet Management, says: “Sometimes it is the simple things that can help businesses keep down their motoring costs. The importance of journey planning is something that can easily be forgotten in the hectic everyday world of business but is a cost-effective activity that should be promoted throughout the workforce.”
Here, Autolease offers five journey planning tips that firms can pass onto their employees to help reduce motoring costs.
1. Avoid the daily jams
Employers should encourage drivers to look at the routes they frequently take and assess whether there are less congested roads that they could use. This will not only save time, but if it helps to cut out stop-start motoring, it will also save money.
2. Don’t get lost
When setting out on a journey to a new location, planning your route can save companies valuable money. The Energy Saving Trust estimate that drivers add 5% to their fuel costs due to getting lost. Drivers should be encouraged to use satellite navigation or online route planners, and, in case of emergency, always keep a map in their vehicle. On the day planning is also vital; employees should check local and national weather forecasts and listen to the radio/look online for up-to-date travel information.
3. Shop around for the cheapest fuel
Employers should encourage drivers to research local fuel prices before filling up, to ensure they find the cheapest fuel prices in the area. The website www.petrolprices.com lists up to date costs at nearly 10,000 UK forecourts. Filling up before setting off on a long journey means employees can avoid paying overpriced fuel at motorway service stations.
4. Reduce Mileage
For short journeys employers should promote leaving cars behind and walking or cycling, car sharing incentives are also a great way of saving money whilst also easing congestion. Many businesses are unaware that the Inland Revenue provides a Passenger Payment allowance for each passenger carried on a business journey of up to 5p/mile. For long journeys to highly congested cities with premium parking prices, travelling by train can often save both monetary and staff time costs.
5. Embrace new technologies
Teleconferencing, online webinar software and video conferences are a great substitute for a business meeting that is miles away from the office, saving on travel time and fuel costs. LTSBA have implemented this practice across their business and estimate that they save £150,000 per year in fuel, lost time and expense claims by using telephone and video conferencing between their company sites.
To download our free best practice guide on reducing all costs, please visit www.ltsba.co.uk/cost
