Latest Fuel News

One of the key aspects of choosing the most suitable Fuel Card  for your company is the Management Information / Cost Center reporting services that the Fuel Card supplier offers. Another of the main features of running a Fuel Card account regardless of type and normally of supplier too, is the additional information which should available as standard to the account holder.

Features such as breakdown by vehicle in showing the registration and mileage at the time of the transaction cannot be demonstrated by any other purchasing method, including credit card.

This makes life far easier for businesses that need to break down costs by individual or vehicle in order to help manage their fleet efficiently.

VAT breakdown is also an very useful feature for your accountant or accounts department and will save you money alone as it means you won’t need to trawl through mountains of receipts working out the VAT element!

If you’re running a larger fleet of vehicles, you may need to break the standard transaction reports down further into cost centres to enable different parts of the business to show their individual costs.

Examples of this may be separating out different office or depot locations or departments within one location such as sales, engineering, manufacturing and admin etc.

Many Fuel Card providers don’t have the technology available to meet these requests and in the case of those that do, will charge for it in most instances.

Forecourt Fuels offer this additional service completely free of charge on a bespoke basis and would be happy to discuss your business fleet’s requirements.

To open a Fuel Card account with no hidden costs or set up fee and take advantage of the only fuel price saving guarantee on the market, visit www.forecourtfuelcards.co.uk

A recent survey by ALD Automotive has revealed that a quarter of large businesses have identified cutting spending on fleet fuel as their number one priority

Business drivers are also taking measures to reduce costs, a separate ALD survey found.

In order to save fuel, over two-thirds were reducing speed and driving more smoothly. Half reported shopping around to find the cheapest deal and a fifth said they were cutting down on mileage.

ALD Automotive managing director Keith Allen said: “As the fuel price continues to rise, it has become increasingly important for fleet management suppliers to work in partnership with their customers and their drivers in helping deliver initiatives that can help deliver cost savings from improved fuel management.”

Fuel prices have surged in recent weeks, leaving many businesses reeling from the effects.

High prices may explain some of the decline in fuel as a benefit in kind, demonstrated in recent HMRC figures which showed the benefit to be in the sharpest decline.

In other news,  Is your fleet fuel bill giving you nightmares?

Did you know we can save you a guaranteed 3 pence per litre on diesel pump prices when using one of our fuel cards?  

Visit www.forecourtfuelcards.co.uk  for more information.

Fire and Rescue Services from all over the UK will be taking part in a National Fire and Rescue Service Road Safety Day to highlight to drivers the dangers they face on the nation’s main roads and motorway network.

The event is being co-ordinated by the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA), and takes place on Friday, July 6, from 10am until 4pm.

Staff from more than 40 fire and rescue services from across the country will be involved on the day, and will be placed at strategic locations in their own service areas all over the country to deliver succinct road safety messages.

These locations will involve motorway service stations, larger petrol station sites on dual and A roads, city and town centres, including major retail parks and supermarkets over the country – anywhere where there is the opportunity for firefighters to engage with the driving public.

Martin Dowle, community safety manager for the Fire and Rescue Service, said: “A highly visible road safety presence will take place across the country on this day to highlight the dangers drivers face on our major roads and motorways.

“Our unique brand and ability to engage with all groups and ages in our society places us in an enviable position where we can make a difference by working with others with the same aims of creating a safer society.

“This multi-agency approach will demonstrate regional partnership working at a national level.”

To find out which Fire Services are involved and where they will be Click Here

In other News, How Fleet drivers can be safer behind the wheel on long journeys.

Achieve added control over your fuel purchases.
www.forecourtfuels.co.uk will help you to manage your account and transactions for optimum efficiency and convenience.

Driving can be stressful, tiring, and demanding on the mind and body, yet little thought is given to the physical wellbeing of employees when they are behind the wheel.

At-work drivers are almost 50% more at risk of accidents than other motorists, even with higher mileage taken into account. They account for a third of all collisions, or 1,000 deaths and 13,000 serious injuries each year in the UK and, according to RoSPA, many of these could be avoided by explaining the benefits of a healthier lifestyle more clearly.

We’ve looked at some of the key health areas affected by driving and how motorists can improve their mind and body, to be fitter and safer behind the wheel.

The problem of a tired mind on drivers

Symptoms: Although alcohol is commonly perceived to be the biggest cause of accidents, sleep deprivation can actually impair driving more than being over the legal blood/alcohol limit. A lack of deep sleep causes the brain to process information more slowly, delaying reaction times and reducing the driver’s ability to concentrate or make decisions.

Effects: A recent study by Loughborough University showed fatigue was a contributory factor in 20% of fatal or serious motorway crashes. Tired drivers are also 50% more likely to be seriously injured or killed than those who are properly rested, because in many cases they don’t make an attempt to avoid the crash. Yet research by the Department for Transport showed over half of respondents had driven while they were tired, adding that the figure was limited because it only covered those who admitted to it.

Cure: Short naps of up to 15 minutes are the best way to boost alertness. Caffeinated drinks can be helpful too, but research in America has shown the effects are short-lived, with slow reaction times returning within an hour. Naps and caffeine should be seen as emergency solution, though. The best cure is to plan drivers’ duty cycles to avoid extended working hours.

Caffeine is a one-hit fix, but not a cure

Energy drinks are good as a quick fix, but they’re no substitute for regular breaks. Having a high-caffeine drink is a one-off hit – you can’t repeat it, as this type of drink does not produce the same effect in a couple of hours’ time.’

Big meals burn energy and cause tiredness

Symptoms: During digestion, the brain diverts blood to the gut to absorb nutrients into the bloodstream, causing a drop in oxygen to the brain itself. The larger the meal, the more energy is required to digest it and the more drivers will feel drowsy as a result.

Carbohydrate-rich meals, such as chips or pasta, can also be problematic. The high glucose content of these foods causes the body to release insulin to speed up absorption into the body, but causes a rise in the levels of a chemical called tryptophan in the brain. When it reaches the brain, tryptophan is converted to melatonin, which is a hormone that promotes sleep.

Effects: The period between 2pm and 4pm is the second most common time for fatigue-related accidents, and these are often caused by the after-effects of eating a large meal.

Cure: Drivers should avoid stodgy lunchtime meals in favour of lighter snacks and salads to kerb early-afternoon drowsiness and stay hydrated to maintain concentration – the brain relies on water to function properly. Taking a break after a large meal can also reduce the risks.

Take a packed lunch rather than stock up at services

Jill Joyce, senior policy and research adviser at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), recommends taking sandwiches, bottled water and a flask of coffee or tea for long trips, avoiding the temptation to rely on whatever fat and sugar-rich snacks are available at motorway services and fuel stations en route.

Stress causes bad decisions to be made

Symptoms: The feeling is caused by the ‘fight or flight’ mechanism that prepares us for physical challenges. Under pressure, this causes the brain to release adrenaline, a stimulant, which increases heart rate, tenses the muscles and changes the way we process information.

Effects: While this allows us to make decisions more quickly, which is ideal for responding to immediate threats, stress usually means they’re not considered fully, which can be dangerous when driving a car. Drivers under stress make decisions because they are thinking instinctively and short term, a sort of “tunnel vision” and not planning and assessing their actions over longer term.

Prolonged periods of stress are also very tiring for the body, and over time leads to the same slower brain functions as fatigue.

Cure: Stress is caused by not feeling in control, so preparation for every journey can help at least take that element of uncertainty out of the equation. Neil Greig says: ‘Knowing what to expect ahead in terms of delays, giving yourself plenty of time for the journey, having fuel in the car, knowing the car is in good shape mechanically and knowing your route etcetera will all help reduce worry.’

Music has also been shown to calm drivers. Softer tunes can slow brainwaves, which in turn lead to a reduction in the heightened heart rate and breathing caused by stress.

Work is stressful, and driving doesn’t help

RoSPA says 85% of motorists find driving itself stressful, regardless of other pressures, so ensuring drivers are fully prepared, trained and relaxed for the journey is vital.

The problem of poor posture on the body

Effects: Long periods of being sat in badly adjusted seats puts stress on muscles and joints, leading to long-term neck, arm, leg and back pain.

Cure: Many companies give advice to avoid poor posture while using computers, heavy machinery or other office equipment. But it’s just as important to ensure drivers adjust their driving position appropriately too: RoSPA advises fleets to consider work vehicles in the same bracket as other heavy machinery. At the very least, a decent demo session should be undertaken, especially for long distance drivers before they commit to a car for three or four years.

Most cars now offer heavily adjustable seats, rake and reach adjustment for steering wheels and headrests which can be fixed to prevent whiplash in an accident – if they don’t, should they be on the choice list?

www.forecourtfuels.co.uk can show you the best deals based on your individual requirements, from your estimated fuel spend to the size of your fleet.  

Chancellor George Osborne has announced that fuel duty will be frozen for the rest of the year, cancelling a planned increase in August.

Fuel duty was due to rise by 3p a litre in August. Hauliers and motoring associations had called on Osborne to cancel the hike in his budget earlier this year.

At the time the Chancellor insisted the hike would go ahead, so his U-turn on Tuesday is yet another plank of the Budget to be reversed. It follows policy reversals on the Pasty Tax and the Charity Tax.

The government says its series of freezes on fuel duty mean that petrol is 10p cheaper than it would have been if all the rises had been introduced.

The Treasury said the U-turn was triggered by the deteriorating economic situation and said senior ministers had been considering the move for some time.

They rejected claims that the move was in response to calls from Labour’s Ed Balls earlier on Tuesday, who said the £500m underspend at the Olympics should be chaneled into a petrol tax cut.

Speaking in the Commons shortly after the announcement Balls told MPs: “We’ve now had U-turns on pasties, churches, caravans, skips, and today a U-turn on fuel, which we welcome.

“It would be interesting to know at what point the decision was made and if the transport secretary was told,” Balls went on, calling on the chancellor to perform further U-turns on tax breaks for millionaires and the so-called Granny Tax.

Did you know we can save you a guaranteed 3 pence per litre on diesel pump prices when using one of our fuel cards?  

Visit www.forecourtfuels.co.uk for more information.

The Competition Commission is to investigate the private motor insurance industry following an initial study by the OFT.

The study concluded that there was evidence that the motor insurance industry operated in a “dysfunctional way that could push up premiums for drivers by £225m a year”.

The inquiry could have benefits for fleets: they are vulnerable to increased claims cost if they have a collision with a privately-owned vehicle.

The focus of the investigation is how insurers handle third-party repair and replacement car costs. Although the at-fault driver’s insurer is responsible for picking up the tab, the no-fault insurer usually has control over who provides these services.

Consequently, some companies are using expensive referral schemes or pre-existing arrangements with price control when organising repairs and courtesy cars.

Fleet insurers have long warned fleets to report incidents immediately as this gives them the best chance of taking control of such costs which can minimise the impact on the fleet’s insurance premiums.

Larry Smith, MD of Towergate Insurance, said: “It is inevitable that any positive change brought about by the Competition Commission review of the private motor insurance sector will be looked at by the other motor sectors including fleet.

“The fleet sector shares many of the same issues as private motor with personal injury and credit hire costs inflating third-party claims, which in turn are having a negative effect on premiums. Any action to help reduce these costs will be very welcome.”

Insurers have long complained that credit hire and repair has been a source of excessive costs which do not benefit insurers or consumers.

An Aviva spokesman said: “There is no quick fix and it is our hope that the Competition Commission will bring fundamental reform which will help reduce cost pressure; we would also like to see the ban on referral fees that will apply from next April extended to include credit hire firms.”

The OFT has concluded that the insurance industry should be competing on the basis of price and service but instead is “focusing on gaining the competitive edge through raising rival insurers’ costs” and increasing their own revenues.

Andrew Moody, managing director of Retail Motor Law, who used to work in the body repair industry before becoming a solicitor, undertook a two-year study for OFT which he believes was instrumental in its findings.

“The whole industry needs to be looked at as this will affect fleet customers as well as private motorists,” he said. “Fleets must put something into practice to minimise third-party claims.”

He suggests that fleets investigate having their own contract with one of the national networks to handle third-party repairs and replacement vehicle hire without the expense of a third party organising it.

He says if fleets can offer a reasonable service at lower cost to the no-fault party, they can limit their liability.

The other party has a legal duty to mitigate costs wherever possible, so choosing a more expensive alternative for repair may not be acceptable.

Donna Scully, chair of the Motor Accident Solicitors Society (MASS), said: “The scale of the problem with the repair and replacement vehicles is immense and it remains to be seen what more will be uncovered.

“Money is clearly being made from consumers behind their backs and MASS would welcome full disclosure of specific fee income on every case.

“Insurers, solicitors, government and regulators need to stop blaming one another.

“We urge the Government to bring all parties together, not just insurers, to find a solution that is right for consumers and protects genuine accident victims.”

The Association of British Insurers has welcomed the OFT’s decision, saying it has long called for an investigation into inflated pricing for credit hire vehicles and excessive hire periods.

The insurance industry has cited personal injury claims as the cause of rising premiums and this remains a problem.

Although road accidents fell by 23% between 2005 and 2010, to just 154,000, the number of personal injury claims in 2010-11 has risen by 70% to 791,000, costing insurers more than £2bn.

In other driving news: The Transport Secretary warns of fuel duty to rise in August.

Fuel cards give your fleet drivers an easier and safer alternative to cash or plastic at the pumps. 

Check out www.forecourtfuels.co.uk to see which package best suits your fleet’s needs.   

Motoring experts Haynes have revealed top tips that if followed could save Fleet Managers a potential £200+ per vehicle per year, encouraging fleet vehicle drivers to carry out simple maintenance jobs themselves.

There is a widespread misconception that modern cars are too complicated to do your own maintenance. That is simply not true and research shows that huge savings can be made by taking on simple tasks, like replacing windscreen wipers or changing a light bulb.

This list comes to coincide with the launch of Haynes Online Manuals which will see the firm’s 50 top vehicle care guides made available anytime, anywhere and on any internet or mobile device.

A further 50 titles will be added at regular intervals throughout 2012-13, and the electronic manuals will also be available for purchase via trade customer websites as the programme rolls out.

Vehicle maintenance is often seen as something too complex and challenging for anyone other than an experienced mechanic, but following these simple tips from Haynes could save Britain’s 31 million motorists over £200 each.

1. Change engine oil and filter at least once a year.

The engine is the heart of your car, and it’s essential that you look after it. Changing the engine oil is the single most important thing you can do to prolong engine life, and is easy enough to be done by anyone. Potential saving: £20

2. Fit your own windscreen wiper blades.

A garage could charge you £40 plus to fit new windscreen wiper blades, but they can be bought for just £10 and are very simple to fit, it’ll take less than a minute. Potential saving: £30

3. Use a proper screen wash additive.

People often try and save money on screen wash by using water, and although this will work pretty well during the summer months, that is not the case in the winter. Plummeting temperatures could cause the water in the washer reservoir to freeze and split the reservoir, so it is essential to buy a screen wash additive with antifreeze. Potential saving: New reservoir and pump, £30+.

4. Fit new front brake pads

Having reliable brakes is essential to keeping you and your family safe on the road. Fitting new brake pads is not difficult providing you are patient and follow instructions to the letter. Potential saving: £49.95

5. Fit new direction indicator bulb

You wouldn’t call an electrician to your house to change a light bulb – why get a garage to fit a new bulb to your car? How to change the light depends on the make and model, but most exterior light bulbs are easy to replace once you know how. Potential saving: £88.50

Total saving: £218.45

Haynes manuals have been helping motorists perform these simple tasks and much more for over 50 years, and the new Manuals Online include all the content from the printed manuals with the additional benefits of a glossary of terms, searchable menus, quick links and ‘how to’ videos.

In other news, Fixed Penalty Fines May Rise

Did you know we can save you a guaranteed 3 pence per litre on diesel pump prices when using one of our fuel cards?  

Visit www.forecourtfuels.co.uk for more information.

Rising fuel prices are putting the pinch on businesses everywhere. Many businesses and fuel procurement offices assumed that if they could weather a few tough years, fuel costs would eventually stabilize. That assumption is providing to be incorrect. For better or worse, high oil prices are here to stay.

For fleet managers and independent owner-operators everywhere, effectively managing fuel costs will be critical to maintain profitability in 2012. Luckily, companies have a few options on the table to help coping with the rise in fuel prices. Here are three strategies that companies can use to minimize the impact of high fuel prices on their bottom line.

Improve Fuel Purchasing - In addition to the price of oil rising, the market has also become increasingly volatile. Swings of five pence per litre in a day are fairly common these days. Building some predictability into fuel procurement can help fleets make smarter buying decisions. There are a number of options to accomplish this but one that can help smaller fleets is the Forecourt Fuels Fuel Card. This card offers a guaranteed 3pence per litre off pump prices at over 5000 stations nationwide. If you are looking to lock in fuel prices, 360 offers a fuel price protection program that can also help you save thousands at the pump.

Drive slower and smarter - Easing your foot off the accelerator is a guaranteed way to reduce expenses. Every 5 mph you drive over 60 costs you an additional 24p per litre, the Department of Energy estimates. That’s because the faster you go, the more work your engine has to do to propel your vehicle.

The sweet spot for fuel efficiency on the motorway is about 55 mph. But slowing from 70 to 60 can help a lot. Doing so on an average 20-mile motorway commute saves about 1.3 litres of Petrol / Diesel in a five-day work week, according to the A A.

Drive more smoothly around town, too — avoid fast acceleration and quick stops. Aggressive driving can lower a vehicles fuel economy significantly.

Plan Routes More Intelligently - A final way to save on fuel costs is to better plan the way that shipments are delivered. This boils down to delivering along more efficient manner routes as well as shipping loads more efficiently. There are a variety of route planning technologies available in transportation management systems. One of my favorite examples of how effective route planning technologies can be is how UPS saved on fuel costs by minimizing the number of left-hand turns drivers make. While this was just a minor change in the way UPS delivered their packages, it ultimately wound up saving them more than 10 million litres of fuel.

Skip premium fuel - Unless your vehicle absolutely requires premium petrol / Diesel, don’t spend the additional 15 to 30 pence per litre.

Consumer Reports says motorists should not waste money on premium if their owner’s manual says the vehicle takes regular — the car won’t run better. The higher-octane fuel is designed to improve performance.

“In most cases, using a higher-octane Petrol / Diesel than your owner’s manual recommends offers absolutely no benefit,” according to the Trade Commission. “It won’t make your vehicle perform better, go faster, get better mileage or run cleaner.”

An exception would be if your engine starts to knock or ping when using a lower-grade fuel.

These are just a few ideas on how to save on fuel costs. What strategies are you seeing work ?

In other news, RAC survey announces that drivers are risking lives checking social media at the wheel.

www.forecourtfuels.co.uk can show you the best deals based on your individual requirements, from your estimated fuel spend to the size of your fleet.  

The Leading UK-based Fuel Card company, Forecourt Fuel Cards, has today announced the results of a survey of business drivers whose attitudes towards fuel consumption has changed, in light of spiraling fuel costs.

The findings clearly show how fleet managers and drivers attitude towards fuel consumption has evolved sharply to accommodate the recent fuel price hikes.

With UK fuel prices at record highs, the survey highlights the changes that UK business drivers have made to reduce their overall spend on fuel.

The survey found that out of the UK business drivers we asked, 50% shop around for the cheapest fuel prices, 20% reduce their driving miles and 65% have adopted economy driving as a way of containing such hikes. 85% of Delivery drivers are now making sure that their vehicles are making the most out of every delivery and filling their vehicles top capacity. The survey also showed a rise in the use of Fuel Cards that offer money off each gallon of fuel bought.

The results highlight a big shift in driver behavior to improve fuel consumption. Commenting on the survey results, Nick Staples, managing director of Forecourt Fuel Cards, said: ‘People have had to get organized in order to survive in the current climate of fuel price hikes. By using Forecourt Fuels fleet management fuel purchase reporting, fleet managers are able to collect concrete data and implement changes that will have a major impact on reducing fuel expenses. We also offer an exclusive invitation to take advantage of our unique 3 Pence Per Litre price guarantee, you can now ensure that you pay a competitive, commercial rate for your diesel week in, week out thus eliminating the monotonous chore of having to shop around for the best rate and the lowest pump prices week in week out.’

In other news, Volkswagen release emissions guide for Fleet Managers

Let www.forecourtfuels.co.uk show you the best deals based on your individual requirements, from your estimated fuel spend to the size of your fleet.