Idle Delivery Vehicles: How Does It Affect Your Bottom Line?

Drivers who idle at stoplights and sit in traffic waste both time and fuel. Using eLogii means less time and fuel wasted by delivery drivers waiting at stoplights or stuck in traffic.

"Idling" is when a vehicle's engine is running but the vehicle isn't moving. This can occur in traffic jams or when waiting at red lights.

Managing a delivery team with eLogii helps reduce idling for better efficiency.

Why is this important?

Nobody enjoys being stuck in traffic, especially your delivery team. They aim to complete their deliveries swiftly and wrap up their day.

As a manager or dispatcher, it's crucial to focus on driver efficiency.

Swift delivery completion reduces the likelihood of delays, keeping customers satisfied.

Fast deliveries = happy customers = beneficial to your business.

(Here's a hint: This is just one method to enhance delivery service).

Idling not only squanders gas but also raises fuel expenses. Trimming down idling time can lead to savings on fuel costs.

Additionally, idling is detrimental to the vehicle's engine, which might shorten its lifespan.

We'll outline the precise amount of fuel lost due to idling and offer guidance on how to assist your driving team in avoiding it.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Idling: A Fuel Consumption Boost
• Idling: Potential Harm to the Vehicle's Engine
• Idling Leads to Fewer Deliveries
• 3 Methods to Decrease Idle Time for Your Drivers
• Boost Your Bottom Line with eLogii: Decrease Idle Time

Idling: A Fuel Consumption Boost

When a vehicle is idling, the engine consumes fuel even when the car isn't in motion.

This is an unnecessary gas depletion, representing a significant expense for businesses employing delivery drivers.

But just how much fuel does idling consume?

Namely, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control suggests that idling for only 30 seconds wastes more fuel than restarting the car. 

When idling, the amount of fuel a car uses varies based on factors like the vehicle's weight, engine size, fuel type, and fuel economy, which measures gas mileage or miles per gallon (MPG).

There isn't a single answer to how much gas a car consumes while idling.

Yet, one thing is clear: Idling is wasteful because the car burns fuel without going anywhere.

This adds to carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions, leading to air pollution.

Additionally, since it squanders fuel, idling also wastes money.

Certain calculations propose that one hour of idling each week could amount to $65 in annual costs for a delivery business per vehicle.

If you have ten drivers on your team, that's a total of $650 each year.

And keep in mind, this estimate is from a time when a gallon of gas was only $2.50 (remember those days?).

Fuel Usage in Idle Vehicles and Non-Diesel Engines

One factor influencing the amount of gas consumed by an idling car is whether it's equipped with a diesel or non-diesel engine.

This distinction is significant to note, particularly because many delivery teams use larger vehicles with diesel engines.

As of June 2022, the average price for regular unleaded gas in the US stood at $5.01.

Thus, 10 hours of idling per week would amount to $8.016 (10 hours x 0.16 gallons/hour = 1.6 gallons → 1.6 gallons x $5.01 = $8.016).

That's $8.016 weekly for just one vehicle.

If you have five vehicles, the weekly cost climbs to $40.08.

In a month? That's $171.77.

And in a year? $2,089.89.

Fuel Usage in Idling Trucks and Diesel Engines

As per the Department of Energy, a diesel truck idling consumes approximately 0.8 gallons per hour.

In April 2024, the average price of one gallon of diesel in the United States was four U.S. dollars.

This marked a decrease compared to the previous month and was also lower than the price recorded in the same month of the previous year.

Yet, 10 hours of idling per week would amount to about $32 (10 hours x 0.8 gallons/hour = 8 gallons).

8 gallons x $4 = $32

Once more, that's per week for just ONE vehicle.

In short, the costs can escalate quickly.

Idling: Potential Harm to the Vehicle's Engine

Keeping the engine running when the vehicle is stationary is detrimental to the engine.

During idling, motor oil deteriorates at a faster rate.

Motor oil plays a crucial role in reducing friction between vital engine components such as cylinders and pistons.

If the motor oil degrades, the likelihood of engine friction rises, leading to wear and tear on these essential engine parts.

Idling can also result in the carbon residue accumulation in the truck's engine, ultimately reducing its lifespan.

Furthermore, idling vehicles also deplete other components, such as the battery, responsible for powering functions like lights, air conditioning, and windshield wipers.

A depleted battery could render the car unable to start, requiring the driver to either jump-start it or call for a tow truck.

For delivery managers, minimizing vehicle maintenance costs is another crucial aspect of reducing overhead expenses.

In 2023, drivers spent an average of 9.83 cents per mile on maintenance, repairs, and tire replacement.

For instance, if a car covers 20,000 miles in a year, the maintenance expenses accumulate to $1,966 annually for one vehicle.

However, it's essential to note that exact maintenance costs can vary based on other factors, such as the type of vehicle.

Idling Leads to Fewer Deliveries

Idling hurts your business by raising overhead expenses such as fuel and vehicle maintenance.

Moreover, it leads to inefficiency among your drivers.

When drivers are stuck idling in traffic or at stoplights, they're not finishing their deliveries as fast as possible.

This could result in late deliveries and, potentially, unhappy customers.

3 Methods to Decrease Idle Time for Your Drivers

1. Create straightforward rules for delivery drivers to decrease idling

For instance, establish a company policy against "warming up the engine." 

Another suggestion is to turn off the engine after idling for more than 10 seconds.

There's a common misconception that turning off and restarting the car is less fuel-efficient than letting it run continuously. 

But in reality, this isn't true.

2. Think About Buying Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) 

You can further cut idling by purchasing auxiliary power units (APUs). These units power trucks while they're parked, cutting down on fuel usage.

This way, your drivers can still use amenities like the air conditioner without wasting gas.

3. Make Routes Smarter to Dodge Traffic 

Improving delivery routes is another way to decrease vehicle idling.

Route optimization involves finding the quickest sequence for delivery stops.

For instance, effective route optimization groups deliveries in the same area, so drivers don’t need to backtrack.

In the past, managers used traditional tools like maps and Excel sheets for route planning.

Today, route optimization software such as eLogii does the job swiftly.

eLogii utilizes digital maps and real-time traffic data to plan the fastest route sequence for drivers.

It takes into account common obstacles like traffic jams and roadwork that slow down drivers and cause idling.

As a result, drivers operate more efficiently, reducing idle time and completing more deliveries.

Delivery route software not only saves time but also cuts down on expenses like fuel.

Boost Your Bottom Line with eLogii: Decrease Idle Time

Idling spells trouble.

It wastes fuel.

It harms the environment.

It harms the engine of the vehicle.

AND it lowers delivery efficiency — causing potential delays and customer dissatisfaction.

Various factors influence the amount of fuel (and money) idling consumes, from the vehicle's size to the type of fuel it runs on.

But one fact remains: Idling is wasteful.

The good news is that we, as delivery managers or dispatchers, can take steps to cut idling.

We've discussed several options earlier, such as setting guidelines for our driving team to reduce idling, investing in auxiliary power units, and optimizing driver routes to avoid traffic.

Use eLogii to streamline your driver routes. This route planning software efficiently navigates drivers from point A to point B, ensuring they reach their destinations swiftly.

eLogii leverages real-time traffic data to steer drivers away from typical sources of idling, such as traffic congestion and construction zones.

With eLogii, your drivers can maximize their time on the road and minimize fuel consumption, ultimately cutting down on your business's expenses for fuel and vehicle maintenance.