Cheaper Fuel Equals Lower Costs, Lower Prices and Higher Profits

Running a haulage business and doing courier jobs is an expensive operation, what with wages, buying and maintaining vehicles, insurance, and fuel. In fact, depending on the vehicle type and its annual mileage, fuel costs can be anywhere from 17% to a whopping 32% of your annual running costs (FTA - Fuel as a percentage of HGV operating costs).

Technology Lowers Fuel Costs

Over the years, new technologies have come onto the market that improve truck fuel efficiency. But in the highly competitive world of courier jobs and haulage, there is always a need to reduce costs in order to retain your competitive edge and provide customers with reliable and reasonably priced services whilst maintaining your profit ratio.

One method adopted by many companies includes using the services of fuel networks that provide company vehicles with fast and economic refuelling services using a fuel card rather than credit card or cash.

Allstar One Nationwide Fuel Card and App

Allstar is one of the country’s largest fuel networks, with over 7,600 sites across the country. They also have a diesel discount scheme that operates at 1,780 sites. Allstar prides itself on being more than just another fuel card and they offer their customers a wide range of logistical services that are designed to make the life of the driver out on a courier job easier.

Recently, with the advent of smartphones and cellular internet connectivity, Allstar has released an app that helps drivers find fuel stations in the Allstar network along their route.

The app, called Co-Pilot, integrates with Google Maps which acts as a satnav system that displays Allstar sites along the driver’s route. The app also has special icons to identify discount diesel stations and pop-up messages about special offers and additional discounts that help save as much as 2p per litre.

The app is available for Android, iOS and Windows platforms and is updated daily to ensure that all the latest, up-to-date information is displayed for drivers to take advantage of.

Keyfuels Passes the 2,000 Mark

Keyfuels is another leading UK fuel card company that provides services for HGV’s and the smaller LCV’s favoured by many companies doing courier jobs across the country.

Keyfuels recently announced that its national network of refuelling stations has passed the 2,000 mark, making it significantly larger than any brand-name fuel company in the market. Keyfuels’ network includes petrol and diesel refuelling stations covering the entire spectrum of petrol companies and suppliers, so your company can still use your preferred fuel but benefit from Keyfuels’ reduced prices and other benefits.

Keyfuels began operation in 1981 with just seven refuelling stations. Today, 35 years on, the company’s fuel stops can be found everywhere. What’s more, in addition to fuel stops, Keyfuel also provides a comprehensive range of fuel management services that make monitoring and regulating fuel costs easier than ever before.

Keep Running, Stay Profitable

Courier jobs are an essential part of the UK’s logistics infrastructure. Without these essential services, businesses across the nation would experience severe supply difficulties. But competition is fierce, customer expectations high and operating costs constantly increase. Modern technologies and services based on them can help you reduce fuel costs without affecting service levels or profit margins.

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Over 4,000 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.