How Telematics Monitors Fleet Vehicle Idle Time
May 15, 2023 | 3 min read
As rising gasoline and diesel prices drive up the cost of vehicle operation, fleet managers and administrators are looking for ways to reduce fuel waste.
One important target: Unnecessary vehicle idling. The federal government reports that U.S. passenger cars, light-duty trucks and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles consume more than 6 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel each year without moving an inch.1056 Per the U.S. Department of Energy, vehicle idling wastes up to 0.5 gallons of fuel per hour, and for each gallon of fuel that’s burned, 20 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) are released into the atmosphere.1057
Ford ProTM Telematics can monitor how much time each vehicle idles—information fleet operators can use to reduce fuel costs.
What Is Idle Time?
Some vehicle idling may be unavoidable. Drivers stop at red lights, navigate traffic jams and pull over for emergency vehicles. But idling is also discretionary. For example, discretionary idling occurs when parked drivers leave their vehicles running while making deliveries, filling out paperwork or waiting for a fast-food meal to arrive in a parking lot.
Unnecessary idling is a big and growing expense for fleet operators, too. The federal government estimated in 2020 that the average car uses 474 gallons of fuel a year, the average light truck or van uses 660 gallons of fuel a year and the average delivery truck uses 1,899 gallons of fuel a year.1058 Applying a university study estimate that 6% of fuel may be wasted through discretionary idling, the average car burns more than 28 gallons of fuel a year through unnecessary idling, and the average delivery truck wastes more than 113 gallons of fuel the same way.
“The program gives you a breakdown of fuel costs per vehicle, and it also breaks down your idle time,” said Stephanie Vassallo, office administrator at Bevill Vineyard Management, which uses Ford ProTM Telematics for fleets. “Here in California when the gas prices went really high, we were able to identify certain drivers that had the most idle time. It gave us the chance to even go in on the live map and see where those events occurred.” Bevill Vineyard Management is participating in a paid sponsorship with Ford Pro.
Unnecessary vehicle idling is a large and growing expense for fleet operators.1059
Helping Preserve Precious Fuel
Ford Pro recently introduced new features to help managers better understand how every vehicle in a fleet is used. And, because non-Ford vehicles can be fitted with Ford Pro Telematics,867 telematics software can be used across different types of vehicles—gas-powered or electric.
Ford Pro Telematics867 systems also enable fleet monitoring beyond idling. The goal of telematics systems is to help fleet operators maximize uptime and manage total cost of ownership by identifying potential issues and scheduling maintenance before a mechanical breakdown forces a vehicle out of service. Administrators can use the software to schedule safety inspections, oil changes and other routine maintenance on the company’s schedule, without idling a vehicle or its drivers.
Ford Pro Telematics867 can also monitor fuel consumption and driver behavior. The Ford Pro Telematics867 driver behavior dashboard tracks things like harsh braking or acceleration, speeding, safety belt use and idling time.
All these issues can affect operating costs, but one thing is clear: Idling vehicles reduce productivity. Every gallon of fuel burned in unnecessary idling can affect a company’s bottom line. By using Ford Pro Telematics,867 fleet managers can keep track of each vehicle’s idling time, an important step in helping to reduce fuel waste.
Learn how Ford ProTM Telematics software can help your fleet business.
Disclosure(s)
“Idle Reduction.” U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center. https://afdc.energy.gov/conserve/idle_reduction_basics.html
“The Benefits of Vehicle Idle Reduction.” National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/articles/vehicle-idle-reduction.htm
“Average Annual Fuel Use by Vehicle Type.” U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center. 2020. https://afdc.energy.gov/data/10308
“Fuel Prices.” U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center. https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/prices.html
Available on vehicles with embedded modem or equipped with approved plug-in device (PID). May require modem activation. Ford ProTM Telematics and Ford ProTM Data Services require a purchased subscription. Terms and conditions apply. Telematics service and features, and access to vehicle data, depend on subscription and compatible cellular network availability. Evolving technology/cellular networks/vehicle capability may limit functionality and prevent operation of connected features.