Drivers, therefore,
must be trained and motivated to minimize their use of
fuel on an ongoing basis. This presents a much greater
challenge to management than technical decisions about
vehicle design. The development of an effective fuel
management programme is, however, potentially much
more rewarding, not simply in terms of the direct fuel
savings, but also through spin-off benefits such as
reduced wear and tear on vehicles and lower involvement
in accidents.
In designing a fuel conservation programme, transport
managers must recognize that there is a close interrelationship
between fuel efficiency measures. The main
skill lies in tailoring the package of measures to a firm's
particular transport operation and setting targets which
staff consider to be realistic. As the need to conserve fuel
becomes ever more pressing, this is a skill which all
transport managers will have to acquire.