Go green – Environmentally friendly businesses can have a tangible impact on your bottom line. Therefore below are 4 tips that can help your business keep up with industry trends, and maintain that friendship with your wallet.
1. Go Paperless
Take a moment to think about all the costs associated with using paper…ink; equipment (copiers, printers, etc.) and their maintenance; paper… How many reams have to be kept on hand? How much money and space have you spent on the storage of paper and paper accessories? What about the labor costs of managing paper? Searching for files, re-creating lost data, double entries, making copies, all of which can be easier and faster through paperless means.
Switching to a paperless system, not only cuts down on landfill contribution and paper waste, it can help cut down on your costs, while increasing efficiency and revenue.
2. Efficient Routing and Scheduling
Once you’ve taken your routing and scheduling into the digital realm, you can focus on creating the most economical and at the same time eco-friendly routes. With the assistance of a routing program you can help eliminate redundancies, reduce wear on vehicles, and even improve customer service.
Dispatchers and schedulers can stop creating route sheets by hand, and will be able to adjust routes in real-time. More streamlined dispatching will help keep the drivers from driving out of their way, or doubling back over the same route. You could see huge increases in productivity! Think of the savings you’ll see on fuel, labor, and CO2 output when you make the most of that time spent on the road.
3. Increased Fuel Efficiency
There are quick and easy ways to increase fuel efficiency in your vehicles. Simply keeping your tires at the right pressure can cut fuel consumption by up to 3.3%. Regular maintenance, like keeping air filters clean and the engine properly tuned, can reduce drag and slow down fuel usage.
You can also focus on identifying and cutting down on poor driving habits. Coaching your drivers to ease up on the accelerator will help save you money on fuel and maintenance. And the environment will also thank you for cutting down on emissions and fuel consumption.
4. Cut Down on Idling
We’ve all sat in the car and listened to the radio at some point. But do any of your drivers keep the vehicle running during that time? Do any of your drivers idle for 10 minutes while they let their vehicle warm up? Today’s vehicles actually warm up more quickly when you ease into driving, rather than sitting and waiting. Turning the key to Accessory Mode (rather than turning the engine on) will allow you to listen to the radio without wasting fuel and money.