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9 Secrets to Reducing your Fleet Expenses
As a fleet owner, your day-to-day costs can quickly add up. What you don’t know is there are further hidden, expensive...
Read moreGeneral freight is crucial to the UK economy, accounting for approximately 5% of the nation’s gross domestic product and employing over 1.5 million people (1). Despite its economic significance, this sector faces numerous challenges in adapting to the new sustainable transport paradigm.
In this regard, the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero states that this industry “remains the largest emitting sector in our country and is responsible for 29% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions” (2).
The good news here is, the UK’s dedication to addressing climate change is unwavering and transport was the first major economy to enact legislation aimed at ending its contribution to climate change (3). According to the law, emissions across all sectors must achieve net zero by 2050 (4), with the transport sector playing a crucial role in achieving this target.
They are therefore now faced with the significant challenge of decarbonising while at the same time ensuring that businesses stay competitive within this new zero-emission framework. Major changes need to be undertaken within the fleet itself and in the freight transport company’s culture. New strategies have to be thought out so that the company can be positioned effectively in the market and prepare for future developments.
Companies often have to navigate challenging daily routines that require:
- optimising safe and efficient routes to avoid driving extra miles
- maintaining vehicles properly
- fostering a culture of fuel efficiency
- promoting safe driving practices
- delivering innovative and outstanding customer service
- ensuring that daily operations run smoothly
- and supporting drivers remotely to prioritise their safety.
Switching to a sustainable transport model is even easier when you can enlist the help of one of the best allies that this sector has, namely fleet management technology.
Here are some key insights to support this new paradigm:
Strategy #1: 360º fleet visibility to empower driver safety and compliance
Having full visibility of a fleet is essential. It enables the freight transport company to prioritise the safety of the equipment and to monitor the development of daily operations. With accurate ETAs, you’re also able to meet the needs of customers more effectively.
In the general freight transport sector, it’s not unusual for long distances to be involved, which means the risk of accidents could be greater and it may be harder to stick to tachograph regulations (driving time as well as rest periods). One of the greatest dangers for HGV drivers is driver fatigue.
According to Brake, the road safety charity, driver fatigue is a factor in about 10 to 20% of road accidents (5) and up to one quarter of fatal and serious collisions (6).
Furthermore, “these types of crashes are about 50% more likely to result in death or serious injury as they tend to be high speed impacts because a driver who has fallen asleep cannot brake or swerve to avoid or reduce the impact”. (7)
In this context, using a sophisticated fleet management solution enables near real-time monitoring of team activities on a live map, helping to keep operations proceeding smoothly.
It also helps to control drivers’ driving times and breaks remotely to help them stay within safe and compliant parameters. While the HGV drivers are concentrating on their journeys, the solution can remotely monitor whether they are complying with the driving and rest times and can remind them when they should take a break or slow down, among other things.
Having full visibility of the fleet enables us to monitor whether a HGV arrived safely at a customer’s location, its presence at the customer’s unloading port, how long it stays on the premises as well as when the operation is complete, which is signalled by the customer signing off on the service they’ve received.
Additionally, fleets can be equipped with AI dashcams, which use artificial intelligence to monitor driver activity by watching what is happening on the road and detecting distracted driving almost instantly. Moreover, in case of accidents or fraudulent claims, the video footage can serve as a reliable record to safeguard both the driver and the company.
All of this promotes fleet safety and encourages better operation management, allowing processes to be analysed and continuously improved.
Download the eBrief Advanced Fleet Management technology for General Freight and learn more about how businesses benefit from these integrated advanced solutions.
Strategy #2: Eco-driving strategies enhance fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions
One of a fleet manager’s main objectives is to reduce their fleet vehicles’ fuel consumption and to improve the company’s economy and savings.
Eco-driving is a safer form of driving that has the potential to reduce fuel consumption as well as the amount of greenhouse gas emissions being released into the atmosphere.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, consistently and thoroughly practicing eco-driving can lead to average savings of approximately 15% (8).
Additionally, findings from the Department for Transport indicate that widely adopting efficient driving could result in substantial CO2 savings—potentially over 220 kg per car per year, amounting to up to 0.3 million tonnes annually across the UK. Financial savings for drivers are also significant, with potential savings exceeding £15 billion per year across the EU, or approximately £96 per driver (9).
In this sense, advanced fleet management solutions can be a great ally to boost eco-driving techniques, monitoring driver behaviour and enabling you to take action if bad driving is detected (speeding, harsh acceleration, harsh braking, harsh cornering). The positive results achieved by companies that have implemented advanced GPS fleet management solutions speak for themselves.
According to the latest Fleet Technology Trends survey in Europe 2025, 55% of GPS fleet management users in the general freight industry have reduced fuel consumption, 21% have reduced CO2 emissions and 42% have improved sustainability.
General freight companies are adopting more eco-efficient driving practices aimed at reducing emissions and their carbon footprint. By implementing medium- to long-term strategies, these companies stand to gain significant benefits not only when it comes to their impact on the environment, but also safety, reduced fuel consumption, and a better customer reputation.
How goods will be transported in the future
In Europe, these organisations have a bright future ahead of them, driven by increasing demand. The industry faces numerous changes, including regulatory mandates, adopting electric vehicles, and reducing emissions. Therefore, preparing for these upcoming challenges is crucial to maintain competitiveness and ensure your company thrives.
Learn more about the benefits that your general freight company can enjoy after implementing an advanced fleet management solution.
Find out how our platform gives transport companies the visibility they need for their business by requesting a free demo.
Sources UK:
