Posts Tagged ‘Phoenix’
Fuel Prices Remain a Major Concern for Fleets
Thursday, April 29th, 2010
Fuel prices may have experienced some drops lately (diesel is down to a national average of $3.28, down from $4.76 last July), but fuel costs are still a major strain on most fleet budgets.
Kevin Knight, chairman and CEO of Knight Transportation in Phoenix, Arizona, addressed the issue of fleet fuel costs in his company’s third quarter statement.
“…Despite the decline in fuel prices, the U.S. Department of Energy national average diesel fuel price for the [third] quarter of $4.34 increased $1.44 above the third quarter of 2007 average of $2.90,” he said. “We continue to focus on improving the fuel efficiency of our fleet through reduced empty miles, decreased idle time, improved fuel purchasing, and controlling out-of-route miles.”
The issue with rising fuel costs is a general lag between any price increase and the necessary increase in a carrier’s earnings. Regardless of compensatory measures like fuel surcharges, there is an operational cost that cannot be made up by anything other than a lowering of prices. The recent drop in overall fuel prices is a good sign, but industry players warn not to get too comfortable; carrier Werner Enterprises issued a recent statement that said “If fuel prices remain stable going forward, the company does not expect the temporary favorable trend to continue.”
It’s important to do everything you can to save money on your fleet fuel costs. Learn better driving habits, adopt the most efficient technologies… and don’t forget that you can cut up to 15% out of your whole fuel budget with a fleet fuel solution from FleetcardsUSA.
Photo courtesy of respres under the Creative Commons License
Tags: fuel efficiency, fuel prices, Kevin Knight, Knight Transportation, Phoenix, Werner Enterprises
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Texting Bans Impractical, Says Arizona Official
Friday, September 25th, 2009
There’s been a lot of talk lately about the dangers of distracted driving, most notably the disturbing trend in accidents caused by text messaging behind the wheel. Legislation is being passed to make the penalty for texting while driving steeper, but one Arizona highway safety official doubts that the stricter laws will provide a real solution to the problem.
“Texting and driving is a horrendous practice,” said Alberto Gutier, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “But we also need to look at the whole issue. It’s not text messaging only; it’s all distracted driving.”
Gutier said that the city of Phoenix has only issued a handful of tickets since issuing a citywide ban on texting while driving in 2007. “I’ll support anything that saves lives, but it’s almost impossible to enforce and even less easy to prove,” he said.
The Arizona state legislate rejected a bill earlier this year that would have fined drivers 50 dollars for texting or talking on a mobile phone without the use of a hands-free device. If involved in an accident, the fine would rise to 200 dollars.
“People do dumb things while driving,” Gutier told Cronkite News Service. “A national, local and state media campaign on the dangers of texting or using the phone is as important as a law on the books.”
Make sure that your drivers know the dangers of texting and driving, and promote the use of hands-free devices while talking on a cell phone.
Tags: Arizona, Governors Office of Highway Safety, Phoenix, texting
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Nitrogen Tire Inflation Becoming Available to Fleets
Friday, June 26th, 2009
Nitrogen gas is steadily overtaking standard air when it comes to inflating tires for your vehicles, and one Phoenix based company is now offering their services to companies with fleets and the trucking industry.
In an article posted on The Auto Channel, NitrogenMan just completed installation for Safeway grocery stores to fill their vehicles with nitrogen. Tests, on tires filled with nitrogen, have shown it improves handling, fuel efficiency, and up to a 40% longer tread life.
Because Nitrogen is an inert, dry gas, it allows the tire to run cooler than with normal air, which creates a more consistent tire pressure, despite the weather outside. In turn, tests show this reduces the need for maintenance and the possibility of a blowout on the road.
The Auto Channel also reports that industry studies found that “Nitrogen-inflated tires can increase fuel economy by between 4 and 10%.”
Safeway, which is one of the NitrogenMan’s first major clients, plans on completing the conversion of the grocery store’s fleet of 320 trailers and 80 tractors by August.
Nitrogen tire inflation has not only seen an increase with truck fleets, but also with auto dealers offering the service on new car purchases.
For more information on Nitrogen inflation, check out the full article here.
Tags: fleets, Nitrogen, NitrogenMan, Phoenix, Safeway, The Auto Channel, trucking industry
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