Step 13: Save money on transport

It’s an issue many of us talk about – the price of petrol, LPG and diesel seems to be getting more expensive every year.

Filling up your car, ute or truck can be a big hit on the bottom line for many SMEs.

Once you take into account depreciation, insurance, servicing, repairs, tyres and registration, as well as fuel, it costs many thousands of dollars to run a vehicle every year. And that’s even before you add parking fees and tolls!

There is good news, however. When it comes to transportation costs, there are lots of opportunities to save energy and money. This section will show you how.

Tip: When working out the fuel and running costs of your work vehicles – if you have not kept odometer readings, go over your servicing records to see if you can get an approximate odometer reading for the past year.

Money Saving Tips

NO COST / LOW COST

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How fuel-efficient driving can save money

17/06/2014

How fuel-efficient driving can save money Did you know that you can save a lot of money by adopting new driving habits and techniques? Here are some quick tips for fuel-efficient driving: Don’t leave the motor running when the vehicle is stationary. Most vehicles do not need to be ‘warmed up’ except in very cold […]
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Maintain your vehicles to maximise fuel savings

17/06/2014

Maintain your vehicles to maximise fuel savings Keeping your vehicles well maintained will optimise fuel efficiency, extend the life of engines and reduce the risk of ‘unscheduled’ or ‘catastrophic’ breakdowns on the road, which can ruin delivery schedules and be very costly! Maintenance tips: Make sure your car is regularly serviced. If an […]
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How tyres can save on fuel costs

17/06/2014

How tyres can save on fuel costs When it comes to tyres, issues of safety and performance are a priority for most people. However, not many people think about the efficiency of the tyres and their contribution to fuel usage. Tyre manufacturer Michelin estimates that tyres can account for up to 20% of your fuel […]
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Minimise loads and reduce wind resistance

17/06/2014

Minimise loads and reduce wind resistance Minimise loads – What’s in the boot of your car? Golf clubs that only come out once a week? What’s in your ute? Rarely-used tools or materials that you don’t need for your current job? Minimising the weight that you carry will improve fuel efficiency, so clear out any […]
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Organise trips to minimise fuel use

17/06/2014

Organise trips to minimise fuel use Avoid short trips wherever possible and plan ahead to combine multiple meetings or deliveries. Companies such as Linfox and Finemore structure their deliveries to maximise efficiencies and reduce fuel waste. Why not do the same? If you’re visiting clients or delivering goods, try to organise your travel into geographic […]
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How car sharing can save money

17/06/2014

How car sharing can save money Imagine if you didn’t have to carry the cost of buying or leasing a vehicle for your business? This is now possible thanks to car-sharing schemes. Membership of a car-sharing service is a good way for city-based SMEs to save a large amount of money. Cheaper than taxis or […]
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How telecommuting saves on office costs

17/06/2014

How telecommuting saves on office costs Have you thought about incorporating telecommuting into your staffing arrangements? Having staff members who don’t always have to be in the office saves you on the number of desks, phones and computers you need to buy and office space that you need to rent, thereby reducing your costs. The additional […]
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Can you get on your bike?

17/06/2014

Can you get on your bike? If you live close to where you work, why not cycle or walk there? It will keep you fit and best of all, you won’t have to pay for petrol. If you lease your work car, you may be able to combine the bike with occasional use of a […]

INVEST & SAVE

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Save money by buying or leasing a fuel-efficient vehicle

17/06/2014

Save money by buying or leasing a fuel-efficient vehicle Australians buy more than one million cars every year.[1] If you’re looking to save money, a fuel-efficient vehicle is the best choice. Here are some tips to keep in mind when buying or leasing vehicles for your business: If your business owns or leases cars, you […]
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Buying a fuel-efficient truck

17/06/2014

Buying a fuel-efficient truck If you’re a small business that uses a truck in the course of your work, then you need to visit TruckBuyersGuide.gov.au. The guide has: a step-by-step guide that helps you in the selection of a fuel-efficient truck an interactive overview that shows you what to look out for when buying a […]
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Save money on running costs with a fuel-efficient vehicle

17/06/2014

Save money on running costs with a fuel-efficient vehicle The savings that can be generated by opting for a fuel-efficient vehicle are significant. A less fuel-efficient car can cost twice as much to run as a fuel-efficient alternative. Let’s compare them. A fuel-inefficient car: can use 10 litres per 100 kilometres can cost an average of […]
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Save money on hire cars when travelling for work

17/06/2014

Save money on hire cars when travelling for work If you’re travelling, why not hire a fuel-efficient vehicle? They use less fuel, so you’ll pay less when you fill up before returning it. When customers forget to fill up hire cars, they are often charged $3–$4 per litre by the hire company to refill, so […]