More than half of UK fleets are feeling the greatest budget pressure from fuel and energy costs, according to new research from Webfleet, Bridgestone’s fleet management solution.
The study found that 51% of UK fleet operators identified fuel and energy as their biggest financial concern, reflecting continued uncertainty and volatility across global energy markets. Vehicle maintenance and downtime ranked as the second-biggest pressure, cited by almost a quarter (24%) of respondents.
While fleet operators have limited control over external factors such as fuel prices and wider energy market volatility, the research highlights the significant contribution that operational inefficiencies can make to overall fleet costs.
Image: Webfleet
Fleet downtime drives unnecessary costs
More than a quarter (28%) of fleets said avoidable vehicle downtime was the inefficiency having the greatest impact on their costs. A further 23% identified underutilised vehicles or assets as their biggest operational inefficiency.
Lost driver time was another significant concern, with 16% of respondents pointing to delays or poor scheduling. Meanwhile, 13% highlighted inefficient routing and planning.
Combined, 67% of UK fleets said avoidable downtime, asset underutilisation or lost driver time had the greatest impact on their fleet costs.
The findings suggest that, while fuel prices remain largely outside operators’ control, there are significant opportunities to improve fleet efficiency through better management of vehicles, drivers and daily operations.
“Fuel and energy remain significant and often unpredictable overheads, particularly when conditions in global markets can change quickly,” said Alex Crane-Robinson, Regional Director for the UK and Ireland at Webfleet.
“While fleets cannot control fuel prices, greater visibility over consumption, driver behaviour and vehicle performance can help them reduce unnecessary fuel use and manage costs more effectively.
“The findings also show that fleets are looking closely at the costs created by lost time and inefficient asset use. Unlike many external cost pressures, these are areas where operators can take steps to limit their impact. Better visibility over vehicle use, maintenance requirements and daily operations can help fleets identify inefficiencies earlier and make more informed decisions.”
Fleet efficiency becomes a priority
Looking ahead, 55% of operators expect a greater focus on improving efficiency and productivity over the next two years, supported by better use of data, insight and automation.
This compares with 27% who believe fleets will increasingly rely on tighter budgets and cost controls, while just 10% anticipate little change in their approach.
The findings point towards a growing emphasis on using fleet data to identify opportunities for cost reduction without compromising operational performance.
“Effective cost control starts with understanding where time and money are being lost,” Crane-Robinson added.
“Using accurate fleet data to improve planning, reduce avoidable downtime and make better use of vehicles can help businesses control costs without compromising productivity, customer service or safety.”
For fleet managers, the research underlines the importance of looking beyond headline fuel prices when seeking to control operating costs. Improving vehicle utilisation, reducing unnecessary downtime, optimising routes and minimising lost driver time can all contribute to a more efficient and productive fleet.
As operators continue to face pressure from energy costs and wider economic uncertainty, the ability to use accurate fleet data to identify and address avoidable inefficiencies is likely to become increasingly important.
