Most fleet operators have a general sense of fuel spend, but right now it’s worth getting more specific. If you can look at fuel data weekly instead of monthly, you’ll spot problems faster.
Things like vehicles using way more than they should, usage that doesn’t line up with what the business needs, or sudden spikes that don’t make sense.
Across the industry there are early signs of panic buying and, in some cases, fuel card misuse as prices climb. Even something simple like reducing daily transaction limits or spotting anything unusual more quickly can help you stay on top of it.
Look at what you can control
According to EECA efficient driving and basic maintenance can stretch every tank by up to 20%. For a household that’s around $44 a fill. For a fleet, it adds up fast. A few things that make the biggest difference:
Speed: Dropping from 100 km/h to 90 km/h saves up to 7% on a light vehicle. For a heavy vehicle, the same change uses around 20% less energy. Cruise control on the open road helps. Speeding above the limit can add 10% to fuel use.
Idling: A vehicle idling for 10 minutes a day adds up to over 40 hours a year of burning fuel going nowhere. An idling diesel heavy vehicle burns around 2 litres an hour. EECA recommends switching off the engine for any stop longer than three minutes.
Tyre pressure: Every 5 psi a tyre is under-inflated adds about 1% to fuel use. On an axle set, a 10 psi differential can add 1–2%. Trailer tyres are usually the worst-maintained and worth checking as often as the cab.
Maintenance: A well-maintained vehicle uses 10 to 20 percent less fuel than a poorly maintained one. Filters, alignment, servicing on schedule. None of it is glamorous, but the maths is very different at $3.40+ a litre.
Driver training: For fleets running heavy vehicles, EECA-supported programmes like SAFED NZ (Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving) are a one-day course that delivers real savings. Worth a look if you haven’t already.
Plan ahead for tougher scenarios
If prices keep going up, or supply gets tighter, some businesses will need to make harder calls. Which vehicles are essential? Do travel policies need to change? Can some journeys be cut?
Under later phases of the Fuel Response Plan, fuel would be prioritised for emergency services, freight, food supply chains and other critical industries. Many fleets will fall into those categories, but it’s still worth planning for tighter scenarios. For organisations in healthcare, community services, or field operations, thinking through priorities now is a lot better than scrambling later.
It’s also worth having straight conversations with your drivers. The Government’s clear message is that there’s no need to top up more often than usual, and fleet managers can back that up with their drivers and flag any unusual fuel card activity early.
Think about what comes after this
Every fuel shock brings the same question back: is your fleet mix right for where things are heading? Hybrids and EVs won't fix this month's diesel bill. But the businesses that had already started shifting are feeling less exposed right now. If you've been thinking about it, this is the period that makes the long-term case pretty hard to ignore Public transport use is already shifting.
Auckland Transport reported a seven-year high in late March, with Tuesday patronage 7% above the previous week as commuters moved away from cars. Patterns are changing, and fleets that can adapt will be in a better spot when the next disruption comes.
We’re here if you need us
There’s no simple fix for a fuel crisis. But the businesses that get through it best will be the ones that moved early, used the data they had, and made good calls.
Our team works with fleet operators across New Zealand every day, and we’re right in the middle of these conversations. We’re sharing fuel reporting more often with our customers so they can see what’s happening sooner and picking up the phone where we're seeing patterns that need a chat.
If you want to talk through how this is affecting your fleet - whether that’s looking at your fuel data, improving reporting visibility, or thinking about your future fleet, please get in touch.
That’s what we’re here for.
Get in touch with the Yoogo Fleet team today. Contact Us
