Boost your fleet strategy to reduce your fuel costs

Fleet strategy is no longer just a long-term planning tool—it’s a day-to-day necessity, especially when it comes to managing fuel costs.

With rising uncertainty in fuel prices and growing pressure to improve efficiency and sustainability, a targeted fuel fleet strategy is one of the most impactful ways fleets can protect their bottom line.

Global geopolitical uncertainty, supply chain disruptions and trade policies have impacted businesses across the U.S. in terms of fuel use. While the average gas price has dropped slightly from $3.30/gallon in 2024 to $3.10 in 2025, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Short-Term Energy Outlook, ¹ gas prices are unpredictable.

In fact, the agency says it expects “crude oil and other commodities will continue to experience significant volatility.”

Without reliable pricing to help understand and maintain fuel costs, it’s imperative that owners, operators and fleet managers use a fleet strategy to find ways to save money while increasing productivity in their businesses.

Technology can help save fuel and cut costs by analyzing drivers’ behaviors, purchasing options, routes and maintenance, as well as proposing long-term efficiency solutions.

Boost your fleet strategy to monitor fuel expenditures

Fleet management technology can help businesses enact a dedicated fleet strategy to keep tabs on key factors that impact operations, including fuel use. Reviewing GPS tracking and fuel transaction data together enables fleets to identify patterns for improving efficiency and preventing misuse. Some of the areas that fleets can monitor include:

• Fuel card integration. Take control of fuel card costs with seamless fuel card integration, powerful reporting tools and near real-time fuel data.
• Fuel card reporting data. View fuel transaction history by vehicle to monitor fuel expenses and compare fuel purchases among vehicles.
• Fuel theft and card abuse. Detect fuel card fraud by viewing incidents where card purchases exceeded a vehicle’s tank capacity, or by identifying when a vehicle was not at a pump when fuel was purchased. 
• Fuel usage. Monitor the CO2 emissions and fuel usage of each vehicle to decrease your environmental impact, increase cost savings and make filing fuel taxes like International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) easier.

Download the 5 ways to reduce fuel cost eBook for more tips on increasing fleet fuel efficiency

Fleet strategy implies monitoring other factors impacting fuel economy

Fleet management technology can also provide insights into driving behaviors and vehicle functions that have a direct link to fuel efficiency, such as:

• Speed: The faster a driver goes, the more it costs per gallon. Monitor when drivers are exceeding posted speed limits and use that information as part of driver training.Verizon Connect customers who have actively used Reports and Alerts saw significant improvement in behaviors and driving practices, specifically a reduction in approximately 48% less speeding.
• Idling: Idling wastes fuel. Receive alerts when a truck is idling for too long, and use this information to encourage drivers to reduce idle times.In this area, Verizon Connect customers have achieved a 15% reduction idling. 
• Routing: Shorter routes increase fuel efficiency. Dispatchers can monitor traffic patterns so they can tell drivers the most direct route or send the closest driver to a particular job.
• Maintenance: Regular maintenance can lower fuel costs over time. Get alerts when vehicles are due for maintenance based on date, mileage and other factors.

When it comes to cutting fuel costs, a strong fleet strategy backed by the right technology can make all the difference. With visibility into how fuel is being used, where waste is occurring and which behaviors need correcting, fleet managers can take control of one of their biggest operating expenses.

Verizon Connect’s fleet management solutions make it easier to track, analyze and act on your fleet’s fuel data—so you can drive down costs while moving your business forward. Ready to see for yourself how a telematics solution can aid your fleet strategy in controlling fuel costs? Request a demo. 

Find out how our platform gives you the visibility you need to get more done.

¹U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, April 2025