3 Immediate Ways to Improve Fuel Efficiency with Telematics Tools

Summary: Fleets looking for ways to improve overall fuel efficiency should consider optimizing these three important areas in operations: improving driver habits, optimizing truck routes, and keeping equipment in top condition through predictive maintenance. Telematics data and fleet management software increase situational awareness, improve access to fleet data, and automate processes to make this possible.

Fuel management is an ongoing top concern for fleet managers, with fuel costs representing up to 60% of a fleet’s budget. With prices in early 2026 up almost 30% year over year, fleets are doing everything they can to manage and improve fuel efficiency.

The good news is there are several ways fleets can do this, including using their own data and telematics information.

1. Improve Driver Habits

Improving driver habits not only supports safer fleets but can have a direct impact on fuel efficiency. A recent MIT study showed that aggressive driving behavior — such as speeding and rapid acceleration and braking — can lower fuel economy by 15%–30% at highway speeds and 10%–40% in stop-and-go traffic.

How Can Fleets Support Fuel-Efficient Driver Habits?

One of the most effective ways fleets can improve driver habits associated with fuel efficiency is by monitoring driver habit metrics in real time and sending immediate feedback to the cab. Telematics tools in the truck can make this easy, as sensors can alert the driver when they observe repeated harsh braking, speeding, and near misses.

Recent studies on advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in commercial trucks showed that experienced drivers did respond immediately to safety alerts, and that the frequency of alerts actually decreased as the shift went on, suggesting improved driving for the rest of the route.

Telematics data also offers managers increased insight and notifications on any driver concerns trending during a shift. This allows managers to coach as needed in real-time, or to address ongoing habits later for additional training. Driver habit data trends can also allow management to highlight top performers with positive reinforcement, improving driver morale and building a culture of safety.

Finally, ongoing and easy-to-access driver training can be informed by fleet telematics data, highlighting which topics may need increased attention. Training can cover updated regulations and requirements, and ensure drivers know how to utilize fleet safety tools, software, and features. Flexible training options, such as mobile-device accessible lessons, gamified learning, and easy-to-navigate modules, allow drivers to complete their training remotely or during breaks, making it easier to stay compliant.

Related Reading: 3 Ways to Make Training a Positive Experience for Your Drivers

2. Optimize Truck Routes

According to recent estimates, an average commercial driver spends about 1,000 to 1,800 hours per year idling, burning precious and expensive fuel. By utilizing automation tools for route planning, fleets can drive down idling hours and make more efficient use of fuel.

How Can Fleets Optimize Truck Routes to Improve Fuel Efficiency?

In addition to creating the most mile-efficient routes, telematics data and fleet management automation software can help fleets optimize routes to avoid areas of high congestion and construction that lead to excessive idling. Additionally, automated forms and billing processes can reduce time wasted idling at a customer delivery yard, creating small fuel savings that add up over time.

Route optimization can also automatically route trucks towards the best-priced fuel stops, or to preferred arrangement locations. Additionally, fleet software and telematics can keep a closer, automated watch on fuel levels to alert on any sudden drops, irregular use patterns, or unauthorized siphoning, helping fleets prevent fuel theft.

3. Keep Equipment in Fuel-Saving Condition

Trucks that are well-maintained and in top condition are the most fuel efficient, as small maintenance issues like under-inflated tires can slowly steal from your fleet’s fuel efficiency. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.2% for every 1 psi drop in the average pressure of all tires, which, across multiple trucks in a fleet over time, can add up to impact your fuel spend.

Additionally, using the properly manufactured-recommended motor oil can actually increase your gas mileage by 1%-2%, and motor oil with the "Energy Conserving" API performance symbol contains friction-reducing additives that can further improve fuel efficiency.

How Can Fleets Improve Truck Maintenance for Better Fuel Efficiency?

Telematics data and fleet management software help fleets better maintain their equipment and improve fuel efficiency by implementing preventative maintenance best practices.

Automated shop scheduling optimizes the process and timeline of keeping all fleets inspected and maintained based on manufacturer recommendations. This helps ensure your maintenance team is not overloaded, and that trucks are only pulled out of service exactly when they can be inspected, rather than sitting around in the yard. This keeps your maximum number of earning trucks on the road and helps reduce impact on your drivers as well.

Additionally, telematics data and smart sensors on the trucks improve situational awareness for your drivers, helping them notice warning signs of parts malfunctioning. Alerts based on tire pressure, coolant temperature, oil pressure, system voltage, pneumatic system performance, and more can all be sent directly to both the driver cab and the back office. Some systems even recommend next steps to the driver based on the severity of the alert.

Finally, telematics data can speed the maintenance process by improving communication between the driver and the maintenance team from the road, especially by utilizing eDVIRs during daily inspections. These electronic forms can be shared via the cloud to the fleet system, allowing drivers to add photos and notes from the field that help inform the maintenance team on possible repairs needed soon. This helps them have the right parts on hand and get the truck back to top condition and back on the road faster.

Related Reading: How AI Improves Fleet Longevity

Small Improvements Add Up to Bigger Fuel Savings

In a tight economy, every improvement counts, and fleets that take these small yet important steps towards fuel efficiency are helping their organization squeeze every mile out of each tank of fuel. Telematics data and fleet management software offer the insight and the automation needed to make these improvements a reality.

Platform Science Solutions & Fuel Efficiency Add-Ons

Platform Science is an all-in-one fleet management platform that brings together ELD fleet management, integrated driver apps, and insightful back-office tools to help drivers and fleets thrive. We offer specialized tools that aid in route optimization, inspections, maintenance, and more, all seamlessly integrated for easy user interfaces for drivers, back office, and management.

Additionally, our unique Virtual Vehicle Marketplace available to our customers offers additional add-on third-party apps that deliver extra focus and features in certain areas, including fuel efficiency. These apps are pre-vetted and approved to integrate seamlessly into the Platform Science environment, allowing fleets to further customize their solution.

Some of our Fuel Efficiency add-apps include:

• True Fuel® by Tenstreet: True Fuel combines real-time, in-cab driver coaching with automated, precise, and easy-to-use fuel efficiency data to help fleets and their drivers get the highest possible MPG from every vehicle and driver. Fleets save between 3-10% of their annual fuel spend starting immediately after deployment.
• CabRank by Transpoworks Inc.: Monitors five core metrics including MPG, Time in Cruise, Over Speed, Idle Time, and Hard Braking; Displays instant and current trip average MPG; gamifies performance with a leaderboard based on driver performance.
• Idle Smart: Automatically manages idling in Class 8 trucks; automatically controls engine idling and cabin temperature to ensure driver comfort, protects against no-starts from dead batteries or fuel gelling, and reduces engine wear.
• Doran 360 TPMS: Displays all tire positions with color-coded pressure and temperature status, and delivers real-time alerts for low pressure, FastLeak, and high temperature conditions — plus email notifications and daily summary reports.
• Aperia Halo Drive by Aperia Technologies: Automated pre-trip tire inspection tool that delivers comprehensive tire health insights to drivers; allows two-way communication so necessary tire service can be scheduled conveniently and economically.
• DriverAssist™ with TPMS by Phillips Connect: Sends real-time tire pressure updates to the cab, allowing drivers to monitor tire health and address maintenance needs proactively and utilize actionable insights

Platform Science is an all-in-one fleet management platform that brings together ELD fleet management, integrated driver apps, and insightful back-office tools to help drivers and fleets thrive. Contact Platform Science today to schedule a demo, or explore our product offerings online now.

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