how does Fuel Management System work?

Welcome back to Fuel Management System 101 – in this post, we will answer the question “How does a fuel management system work?”.

Let’s start with a history lesson!

Fuel management is the process of controlling fuel usage and fuel cost. Fleets have been managing fuel for many, many years. Before they used computers, fleets relied on manual controls. This mostly meant that fleets collected data through pen and paper.

Then, when computers arrived, fuel management became a lot easier. Fleets used spreadsheets and ID chips to record fuel data.

Of course, in today’s generation, fuel management systems became even easier. The arrival of the Internet allowed fleets to not only collect data but also to collect it in real-time. Fleets can then store the data and create cool reports to measure and reduce fuel expenses.

The Modern Fuel Management System

How does a fuel management system work with modern technology? Not all fuel management systems are alike.

Some systems are still quite basic and are limited to using fuel cards and spreadsheets. Other systems include black box devices that allow fleets to dig deeper into fuel data.

How does a fuel management system work to provide these savings? Let’s explore some of the most powerful reports.

Trended Exception Reports

A huge part of managing fuel is to understand its consumption. Fuel consumption can be reduced by cutting down on bad driving habits.

Fuel management systems capture driving data and compare performance from driver to driver. Managers can create exception reports based on a fleet policy. These reports then tell managers which drivers need additional training and which vehicles need maintenance service.

Fuel management systems monitor how much fuel was purchased and when and where it was purchased. This information is then compiled in a report, where fleets can use the information to find the best places to fuel and to find suspicious transactions.