Keeping your vehicles well maintained with a system for tracking service schedules is an important part of fleet management that extends the life of your vehicles. It also pays to have a system for gas mileage tracking in place. Without this you could be losing money in every tank - and while a quarter might not be a big deal to some a quarter times 100 vehicles is an extra $125 per week for a five day work week!

Pay attention to the little things because those little things add up! Make sure that the tire pressure is checked regularly and set properly - this can save fuel as well as saving wear and tear on tires so this one thing saves you money in two different ways! Under inflated tires create drag, using more power and therefore more fuel. Besides saving on fuel and tires, properly maintaining your tires improves handling and, in turn, safety. Surprisingly, despite all these issues, tire pressure is often the last thing considered in maintaining a vehicle. Can you remember the last time you checked your vehicles tire pressure (before it became visibly low)?

Use the recommended octane level of fuel for the vehicle and pay attention to fuel caps. Missing or leaky gas caps can result in millions of gallons annually lost that simply vaporizes. With rising fuel prices, the fuel cap is the least expensive means of protecting it.

Maintain your vehicles properly! Keeping fuel properly stored reduces contamination and fuel loss, but making sure air and fuel filters are maintained is also important. Clogged filters choke off air which results in more fuel being burned. Not only does this waste fuel but it makes your engine work harder, resulting in more wear and tear on your motor. Regularly clean and replace spark plugs as needed. Dirty spark plugs don't fire efficiently, which wastes fuel. Regular maintenance can contribute to an increase of 4% in fuel efficiency. When you consider your annual fuel costs, that can really add up quickly.

The best of maintenance with the best mechanics is of less efficiency if those driving the vehicle don't do their part in maintaining safe driving practices that save on fuel. Avoid drive through windows - sitting in a drive-through means getting 0 miles per gallon. Don't leave vehicles idling, and watch aggressive driving. "Jackrabbit" starts just to brake at the next light wastes fuel. Observe the speed limit, and use overdrive if possible to reduce engine wear. An old trick for maximizing your fuel efficiency is to drive like there are eggs on the pedals that you don't want to break. Ease on to the gas and brake pedals, avoiding sudden starts and stops. A software program with a means to track fuel costs and maintenance can save a great deal of money in the long run. Consider tracking your vehicle maintenance schedules and fuel efficiency to see how much it can improve.

Avoid carrying heavy items around if not necessary - this uses more power and reduces efficiency. Use the cruise control to maintain a constant speed *except* in certain conditions. Never use the cruise control in rainy conditions or in snow. If the vehicle hydroplanes or hits ice the method of correction is to let off the gas. With cruise control you must usually tap the brakes to do so - and between the delay of reaction time and braking it can result in very dangerous and sometimes deadly collisions. Be safe - know safe driving practices and follow them. If you have a fleet of vehicles this can mean fewer accidents as well as saving fuel and excess wear on the vehicles. It may be to your advantage to have a driving class required by the company of those operating company vehicles. Some estimates credit driving tactics as a 30% difference in fuel consumption - that's worth paying attention!

Keep your fuel and maintenance logs updated and track the results. It just makes sense - and cents!