Fuel-Saving Tips for Waste Management Fleets

Waste management vehicles face unique challenges: heavy loads, frequent stops, and congested city routes that can all drive fuel use and costs higher. Thankfully, with practical steps and the right fuel management system, fleet managers can tackle these issues.

By training drivers, planning smarter routes, cutting idle time, and streamlining refuelling, you can cut down on fuel bills and create a more efficient fleet. And with Fueltek’s tailored on-site fuel systems and monitoring tools, waste fleets get supported with secure access controls, helpful data insights, and convenient on-site pumps, for maximum savings.

Training Drivers for Efficient, Smart Driving

Waste trucks can often idle in stop-and-go traffic. Gentle acceleration and gradual braking can help with avoiding fuel waste. Provide regular training or coaching so drivers adopt smooth driving habits, such as using dashcams to review driving techniques.

Smooth acceleration and braking: Avoid sudden starts and stops. Instead, move off gradually and gently slow down to save fuel and reduce vehicle wear.
Maintain steady speeds: Even in busy neighbourhoods, try to keep vehicle speeds consistent and within the ideal range.
Use technology: Telematics or driver coaching systems can help spot wasteful patterns, try and use these tools to your advantage where possible.

Plan and Optimise Routes

Waste management vehicles are often required to navigate urban streets and neighbourhoods. By using a route-planning or scheduling software, fleets can avoid unnecessary backtracking or traffic hotspots.

Map smart loops: Cluster stops that are nearby, so vehicles aren’t zig-zagging across town. Be sure to revisit routes seasonally to note any changes like roadworks or diversions to ensure your vehicles are taking the smartest route possible.
Time routes wisely: If possible, time your routes to run in low-traffic windows, avoiding rush hour and stop-and-go drag.
Consider on-site refuelling: When vehicles don’t have to detour to public petrol stations, they can focus on reaching their intended destinations and avoid queues at peak hours. On-site fuel systems mean vehicles can refuel without straying from planned routes.

Cut Idling Time

Idling vans and lorries can burn fuel for no mileage. Even a few minutes parked with an engine on can waste gallons. To avoid this, fleet managers should enforce an anti-idling policy, such as setting shut-off timers to kill the engine after 3-5 minutes of idling.

Auto-shutoff timers: Use telematics or vehicle settings to cut idle after a short period of time.
Driver discipline: Encourage drivers to shut off engines during long waits, even for things like kerbside pickups.

Streamline Refuelling Practices

How and where you refuel matters. Where possible, you’ll want your vehicles to fuel at your site instead of public stations. On-site diesel pumps and storage tanks avoid long queues at busy garages and allow you to purchase fuel at wholesale prices. Fueltek’s on-site fuelling solutions let waste fleets refuel quickly and safely at home base.

On-site pumps and data tags: With our data-tag systems, only authorised members can dispense fuel, minimising the risk of theft.
Track every gallon: Fueltek’s systems automatically log how much each truck takes. Accurate, real-time fuel reports mean you spot anomalies fast (such as a leaky tank). Our software collects and reports this data online, so you always know exactly who used how much.
Fuel alternatives: Fueltek pumps can handle various fuels (diesel, HVO, AdBlue, etc.), meaning we can help your business work towards its sustainability goals. Many of these integrate easily with existing diesel engines, so the switch is manageable even for large fleets.

Regular Maintenance and Checks

An easily overlooked step is simple maintenance. Proper engine checks, clean air filters, and correct tyre pressures pay off in miles per gallon. For waste vehicles, alignment is especially important. Frequent turns and heavy loads can knock wheels out of alignment, causing engines to work harder.

Tyre pressure: Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, so be sure to check tyres on a weekly basis.
Wheel alignment: Correct alignment prevents uneven wear and keeps steering effort low, which lowers fuel burn over thousands of starts/stops.
Engine service: Stay on top of oil changes, air filters, and fuel filters.

How Fueltek Helps Waste Fleets

All these tips get an extra boost with our tailored fuel management tools, which are built for tough environments like waste collection. Our secure access features mean only your approved individuals can refuel, with tracking in place to identify any issues early on. If you manage multiple sites, then our online management software is perfect for keeping track of different systems from one device with an internet connection.

We specialise in on-site fuel infrastructure, supplying durable bunded tanks, diesel pumps and AdBlue systems that fit your needs. Because our products are modular, you can pick what your fleet needs: a stand-alone pump, a complete fuel management package, or even a custom solution. The data we provide with our online system helps you plan and notice potential problems in advance. Plus, our support team will work with you to fine-tune the set up for your routing and fleet size.

To learn more about how we can help your waste management fleet and more, please contact us.