Fleet costs aren't just about the vehicles anymore. For anyone managing logistics, haulage, or company cars, fuel is a growing pressure point. With prices still fluctuating and 2025 set to bring fresh regulatory changes, keeping fuel spend under control is about more than just cutting corners. It means having a proper strategy. One that works across the board, from HGVs hammering down the M1 to delivery vans zigzagging through city centres.
You can't control prices at the pump, but you can control how often you're there. And when you’re there, you’re almost guaranteed to get a better deal with a fuel card.
This guide walks through what you can do, what’s working right now for UK fleet operators, and what small changes are giving companies big wins in reducing fuel costs.
Start with smarter route planning
Let’s be honest, bad routing is just wasted money with a steering wheel. If your drivers are doubling back, hitting congestion, or constantly topping up from out-of-network sites, your costs will quietly pile up.
Use route optimisation tools that factor in real-time traffic, low-emission zones, and access to preferred fuelling stations. Telematics helps here. It’s not a black box spying on your drivers. It shows you how they move, where delays happen, and how much it’s costing.
Better routes reduce mileage, cut idling time, and most importantly, they help in reducing fuel bills without needing to slash services or delivery zones.
Fuel cards: still underrated
Most operators have fuel cards. Not all use them well. If you’re still picking cards based on brand loyalty or because “we’ve always used them”, you’re probably leaving savings on the table.
Right Fuel Card, for example, offers discounts of up to 9p per litre with zero hidden fees. But the real gain is control. You can track spending, set limits per driver, and avoid admin headaches. Plus, you're not stuck with one brand of filling station. The wider the network, the less detour, the more you save.
Tip: Educate drivers on where they should be fuelling. It sounds obvious, but the cheapest station on your network map means nothing if they never use it.
Trim the weight, boost the savings
Extra weight burns fuel. It’s that simple. The roof rack that's doing nothing? Junk in the boot? Unused tools or pallets? They all cost you money every mile they move.
Encourage drivers to travel light. Regular vehicle checks can help catch this stuff. Some fleets even run ‘light load audits’. A bit over the top? Maybe. But it’s cheaper than burning diesel, dragging around dead weight.
Reducing unnecessary load can lead to a noticeable improvement in fuel efficiency, especially over the long term.
Fleet maintenance: it’s vital
Tyres underinflated by just a few PSI can bump up fuel consumption fast. Poorly serviced engines work harder. That costs you.
Have a strict servicing schedule. Remind drivers it’s their job to report warning lights, tyre issues, or anything that sounds off. Consider incentivising it. A driver who keeps their van in good nick is saving you fuel, downtime, and bigger repair bills down the line.
A well-maintained fleet is essential for managing overall fleet fuel cost.
Encourage steady driving habits
Harsh acceleration, speeding, braking too late — it’s a fast track to burning more fuel. And it wears out your vehicles quicker.
With telematics, you can spot these patterns. But don’t just monitor, train. Give drivers feedback. Show them what smoother driving looks like and what it saves.
Some businesses are gamifying this, running monthly driver leaderboards for efficiency. Turns out, a bit of friendly competition cuts costs better than nagging ever could.
Steady driving habits are one of the simplest ways of reducing fuel costs across your entire fleet.
Go electric? Or not yet?
Everyone’s talking about EVs, and for good reason. But are they cheaper? Sometimes. It depends on the type of work your vehicles do, how far they go, and where they charge.
In some urban settings, EVs make huge financial sense, especially when you factor in reduced maintenance and no congestion charge. But for long-haul? Maybe not yet. Hybrid options or switching part of your fleet could still bring savings without full commitment.
It’s not all or nothing. Test the waters. Look at EV charge card solutions too, so you’re not guessing your costs. And make sure you’re planning routes with charge points in mind, not just petrol stations.
Even if you’re not fully electric yet, looking at alternatives is part of reducing your long-term fuel cost exposure.
Know your data, act on it
Data is everywhere, but it only helps if you use it. Fuel cards, telematics, vehicle tracking — it’s all pumping out info. But are you reading it?
Create simple dashboards. Set alerts for unusual spending. Compare vehicles, routes, and drivers. Data should be telling you a story. One about what’s working, what’s not, and what to change next.
Make someone in the team responsible for fuel data, not just finance. Someone who knows the fleet, the drivers, and the day-to-day grind. Context matters.
This kind of attention to data is exactly how smart companies are reducing fuel bills consistently without cutting service.
Crack down on fuel fraud
You wouldn’t let someone dip into your company bank account without permission. Fuel’s no different.
Use fuel cards with PIN protection, location tracking, and limits. Cross-check receipts and refuels. If a van’s filling up on a Sunday afternoon, 30 miles from where it should be, that’s a problem.
The good news is, once controls are in place, fraud tends to drop fast. Most people are honest. But systems stop the odd dodgy one from draining your budget.
Fuel fraud adds up and drives up your total fleet fuel cost — even a small leak over time creates a big hole in the budget.
Bring drivers into the process
Here’s something people forget: drivers know things. They know which routes are a nightmare, which vehicles are less economical, and where fuelling is a faff. If you never ask them, you’ll miss out on easy wins.
Hold quick monthly feedback sessions. Ask what’s costing time, what could work better. Some of your best fuel-saving ideas are probably sitting in the cab right now.
It’s not just about saving fuel, it’s about building a culture that values awareness, responsibility and cost-efficiency.
Don’t ignore policy
Sometimes the biggest gains come from policy, not tools. Think about company car schemes, fuel reimbursement rates, or whether your policies reward or discourage efficient driving.
Review the bigger picture. Is your mileage policy encouraging unnecessary trips? Are people rewarded for using more fuel just because it’s reimbursed? These things add up fast.
Align your internal policies with your goal of reducing fuel costs — the systems behind the scenes shape daily behaviours more than you think.
Final thought: every litre matters
2025 won’t be the year when fuel gets cheaper. Let’s just be honest about that. But it can be the year where you take control.
Small tweaks, applied consistently, are what make the difference. Smarter planning, tighter controls, better communication — that’s how the best fleets are cutting costs without cutting corners.
Start with one of these tips. Put it into practice this week. Then next month. Fuel savings don’t come from magic solutions. They come from paying attention to the stuff you can control.
And right now? You’re in control.
To find out more, contact our team or request a free call so that we can talk through the best options for you and your business. Alternatively, you can see what other options we have available by using our handy comparison tool.
