Tips To Efficiently Manage The Rising Fuel Cost

The construction industry might be the most substantial consumer of fuel among all. According to a study by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), it uses up to four times as much fuel as other industries. The fuel cost, on the other hand, keeps fluctuating. Hence, the increasing cost of fuel has a great impact on the construction industry, especially the operation of heavy equipment, like crawler cranes, loaders, road paving machines, and dump trucks. The cost of diesel is more than gasoline, making it expensive for construction companies to run heavy equipment daily. The price varies depending on the location but it still is influenced by global prices and it affects regional values as well. 

However, by taking some precautionary measures, you can manage fuel consumption and reduce the operational cost of your heavy equipment. Let’s find in this article, how can you reduce operational costs and manage the rising cost of fuel. 

  1. Invest in fuel-efficient machinery

The first thing you should consider when investing in your machinery is fuel efficiency. If possible, you should always go for the most fuel-efficient machinery possible so that you can save on fuel costs. Most construction companies use diesel generators and gasoline-powered forklifts for sale to do their heavy lifting, but these aren’t very efficient at moving materials around. They also use up a lot of fuel — they can cost anywhere from $60 to $150 per hour just to run.

  1. Equip machines with auxiliary power units

Heavy equipment can be expensive and difficult to run, and a lack of fuel can make even small delays costly. The best way to save on operating costs is by installing a heavy equipment auxiliary power unit (APU) in your machine. An APU provides additional horsepower and energy for long periods so that you can work longer hours before needing to stop for fuel. They work the same as generators but are designed for use by construction equipment. They can run on diesel, gasoline, or natural gas and can be used to run all types of equipment, including power tools, cranes, and other heavy machinery. These are great investments for your company because they can help you stay competitive in the market by offering increased productivity at no additional cost to your bottom line.

  1. Minimize non-productive travel time

Unnecessary and longer routes can consume more fuel and increase operational costs. It is important to minimize the non-productive travel time of your equipment, as it consumes resources and results in increased fuel costs.

The first thing you should do in this instance is to review your routes and find out where your fuel consumption is at its highest. You can make an alternative and short route plan which requires less yet safe traveling. This will help you determine if there are any obvious areas where you need to make changes to improve efficiency.

  1. Embrace technology

The technological adoption in construction equipment can help you save money on fuel. you can use telematics and other automatic systems in the machine that can efficiently shut down the equipment when not in use. You can set the alarm and other indicators to give an alert on your phone as well. 

Final thought

If you’re in the construction industry, you know that fuel costs can be a major expense and a source of stress. Whereas fuel prices keep fluctuating and sometimes dramatically rise. In this case, you are always looking for ways to reduce your fuel costs on your forklift for sale. In this article, you may find some useful tips to manage the rising cost of fuel and reduce the operational cost of your equipment.

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