Waste Not Want Not: Being Efficient With Fuel

Anyone who does courier work will know that being efficient is a huge part of the job, but what about being efficient with fuel? If you’re yet to jump on the electric or ultra-low emission vehicle bandwagon, there are still a few ways that you can ensure you aren’t wasting fuel while driving. These tips can help both the environment and your business, so read on and get clued up!

Know Your Limits

Your van will have a specific weight limit, and abusing this can seriously affect your fuel consumption. Make sure you aren’t overloading your vehicle before you head off to do your courier work and you’re sure to see a difference in terms of how much petrol you’re using up per journey.

Easy Does It

A great way to reduce your fuel consumption is to drive at a steady pace throughout your journey. Heavy braking, sudden acceleration and other abrupt movements can not only increase the van’s fuel usage but also damage parts of the vehicle itself. Plan ahead so that you’re never in a rush and take things steady on the roads. This will make your driving safer anyway, so you should aim to take this tip on board no matter how excellent you are at keeping your fuel consumption down…

Utilise Your Gears

If you’ve been in courier work for several years, rules of the road and other driving knowledge might not be as fresh in your mind as it once was. Remember to stick to safety basics, and if you’re driving a manual van, use the gear stick properly. If you listen to the engine, you’ll know whether you need to move up or down a gear, so stay alert and you can help your van run as efficiently as possible.

Plan Your Route in Advance

Being organised and planning your route in advance can help in a number of ways. Not only will you be able to avoid traffic in busier areas (and therefore use less petrol) but you’ll also be able to find the cheapest local refuelling stations, saving you money as well. What’s not to love about a well thought out plan?

Check Your Tyres

Having the wrong tyre pressure not only eats up your petrol, but it can actually make your vehicle very dangerous to drive. Tyre pressures should be checked around every two weeks, and you can do this using either the machine at your local garage or your own inflator. It’s far better to be safe than sorry! 

Courier work involves a lot of checking, planning and general hard work – but you should be used to that by now. To save yourself a little (or even a lot of) money, try taking these tips on board and you’re sure to notice a difference after a couple of days. You’ll be able to make more deliveries without having to refuel and your bottom line will thank you.  

Author Plate

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier work in the express freight exchange industry. Numerous transport exchange businesses are networked together on their website, trading jobs and capacity through what is now the fastest growing Freight Exchange in the UK.