For businesses that rely on a fleet of vehicles, maintaining efficient operations is crucial. One simple yet often-missed way to reduce costs is by cutting down on driver idle time.
"Excessive driver idle time is often an overlooked cost driver in fleet operations," said Sherry Calkins, Senior Vice President, Global Strategic Accounts at Geotab. "Reducing idle time is essential not just for cost management but also for promoting environmental responsibility."
Here's how excessive idling impacts your company's bottom dollar and the environment, as well as tips to reduce idle time in your fleet.
What is idle time?
Idle time, or idling, occurs when a vehicle is on but not moving. Some common reasons vehicles idle include:
- Stopping at toll booths or in traffic.
- Keeping onboard equipment powered, such as refrigeration units for perishable goods.
- Vehicle loading and unloading, particularly when the vehicle needs to prepare for immediate departure.
- Warming up or cooling down the vehicle.
- Keeping a comfortable vehicle temperature during mandatory rest breaks.
While some idling is unavoidable, other instances of idle time can be reduced with the right tools and approaches.
[Read more: How to Track Company Vehicle Use as a Small Business]
Prolonged idling increases fuel consumption, accelerates vehicle wear, and contributes to unnecessary emissions, all of which can strain a company's budget and sustainability commitments.
Sherry Calkins, Senior Vice President, Global Strategic Accounts at Geotab
Why is reducing idle time important?
Idle time has a significant impact on business fleet expenses. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, idling for as little as 10 seconds uses more fuel than restarting the vehicle, and every hour of accumulated idle time is estimated to use a gallon of fuel. Additionally, the added runtime increases wear and tear on the fleet, adding to maintenance costs and the time trucks spend out of service.
"Prolonged idling increases fuel consumption, accelerates vehicle wear, and contributes to unnecessary emissions, all of which can strain a company's budget and sustainability commitments," said Calkins.
Along with the expense, there are health and environmental impacts to consider when excessively idling. For example, CO2 emissions from exhaust fumes contribute to air pollution and health issues like an increased risk of asthma, cancer, and congenital disabilities.
How to reduce fleet idle time
Here are three easy areas to improve fleet idle performance.
Conduct regular vehicle maintenance.
Since a vehicle's time off the road can be costly on several levels, regular maintenance checks should be a staple for every fleet.
"You'll also want to make sure your trucks are well maintained," said Jennifer Fink, Freight Factoring Operations Manager at altLINE. "It's really helpful for any repairs to your trucks to be completed when they aren't in use. Any issues that occur when drivers are behind the wheel will cost you."
Additionally, when a truck breaks down, drivers often idle while waiting for a tow or repairs — leading to lost fuel and more wear on vehicles. Being proactive with maintenance checks can prevent this and extend a vehicle's life.
Invest in the right technology.
Fleet management software offers features like idling detection and GPS tracking. With this, operations can use the data to coach drivers, expedite responses to issues, and gather reportable data on efficiency and fuel use.
"An electronic logging device is a good place to start with gauging driver idle time, [along with] other general GPS tracking systems," Fink said.
Marcus Newbury, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Driver Technologies, also recommends implementing telematics systems to monitor idling and using automated alerts for excessive idling.
Larger-scale solutions include vehicle-based idle reduction technology, such as hybrid vehicles or solar-powered auxiliary units that kick in when vehicles are stationary. Engine preheaters are another option to eliminate idling in cold winter months.
[Read more: 10 Fleet Management Tools for Small Businesses]
Provide driver training (and incentives).
Often, the most significant agent of change is simple knowledge sharing.
"It starts with educating your drivers about how their habits can directly influence margins and revenue so they understand the importance of prioritizing overall efficiency," said Fink.
According to Jeffery Benore, President and CEO of Benore Logistic Systems Inc., training your drivers on efficient practices — and setting idling thresholds — is key. Provide a clear outline of procedures, expectations, and rules around idling.
To improve morale and increase motivation, consider incentivizing and recognizing drivers who reduce their idle time. Use telematic data to see which drivers are struggling and offer them coaching.
Over time, employing these strategies can result in increased fleet efficiency, greater cost savings, and reduced environmental impact.
[Read more: How to Manage Company Vehicle Usage and Maintenance]
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