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Effective and efficient routing is one aspect of driving that most drivers simply don’t consider. They may not realize how much additional fuel is consumed on each trip by not planning ahead to minimize travel that literally wastes fuel. This is often avoided if drivers have to pay for gas or diesel first and then be reimbursed, but this also contributes to paperwork in the office and problems for employees if they are on the road constantly. A better option is to consider the use of credit cards for gas or fleet cards that allow the employee to have the option to use the card for fill ups while still giving tracking capabilities to the fleet manager.

There is a difference between credit cards for gas and fleet cards that is important to know. Fleet cards provide a much more detailed report of the vehicle at each and every fill. They can be pre-set to require the driver to input the mileage with each fill, plus the date and other relevant information is provided in real time on the report that fleet managers can access online in real time. Credit cards for gas, on the other hand, don’t reflect use in real time but typically the information is available when the charge is actually posted. This can be several days to a week or more depending on the specific service station used. Gas cards also only allow fuel charges while fleet cards can be set up to allow different repair and maintenance charges at the discretion of the business fleet manager or supervisor.

Having some way to track where employees filled up with fuel and where their route is will help you discuss ways to increase fuel efficiency within the company. In general, both types of cards, credit cards for gas or fleet cards, are very effective for this type of assessment and evaluation. Having each employee review the route with you including the stops for fuel and average miles per gallon for efficiency of each part of the route can be a true education for drivers.

Many drivers don’t stop to think about the fuel that can be wasted in idling and sitting in heavy traffic. Planning routes that include city deliveries and travel in off-peak hours can save thousands of dollars a year. This is particularly true in the summer months with air conditioners that are being used in the vehicles while they are idling. Switching to suburban or out of city travel in the morning and evening commute is a great time and cost saving routing change. This may mean reversing routes or alternating delivery schedules to ensure the least amount of traffic stops along the way.

Routing logically is another consideration. You don’t want drivers backtracking or criss-crossing through the same areas multiple times per route. Sequential loading of trucks for easy unloading in order is going to be critical to ensure that drivers don’t have to go back to prior delivery areas. Having the loading dock staff aware of the routes and loading in the correct order will require coordination between the drivers and the loading staff through the fleet manager or dock supervisor.

Finally, using credit cards for gas can also help you determine which drivers get the best gas mileage. Talking with these individuals and learning what they do to keep gas mileage in the best range can provide insight into changes that may need to occur company wide and with all drivers in the fleet.

Technorati Tags: credit cards for gas, fuel cards

Since the New Year is just about upon us, I thought that I would take some time to catch up on some light reading.  Sure, I could just pick up the newspaper and read it, but I thought that I would see what has been happening in the world of computers and technology.

I have a few blogs that I like to read, and they keep me up to date with the recent developments on the technology front.  This not only gives me an edge when I am out shopping, but it also lets me know about things on the horizon, so I can make an educated decision whether to buy something or not.

This habit of keeping up on technology worked out well for me when I was in the market for an SD multimedia card.  I was going to rush out and buy one, but after reading an article or two, I realized that I should just wait a month and get the latest and greatest thing at the time: an secure digital high capacity card.

So, I think I will read for awhile and see if there is anything new coming out that I might just have to buy.  I better find something soon before this money that I got for Christmas burns a hole through my pocket.

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Since there are no gun ranges here in my home town, I have been left with no options to practice my shooting.  Ever since I was a child, I have been working on becoming a better marksman, but I find my current lack of practice facilities kind of limiting.  Instead of complaining, I decided to do something about it.

So, I have invested in some airsoft guns and some soft targets so that I can setup a range in my own home.  My wife was kind enough to let me have one room and hallway in the house to setup a suitable set of targets that I can use to practice with.

But as for picking a weapon of choice, it has been hard.  There are so many KWA guns to choose from, that I found myself hard pressed to pick just one.  Sure, having a short target range in my home made the choice a little easier, as having a sniper style weapon made no sense, but if you look at the possibilities, they are just about endless.

So, I have a few pistols at the moment and I am looking forward to picking up an assault rifle or two and maybe an uzi.  I guess I will have to try a few of them out before I can know which ones are the best matches for my indoor range – but that is part of the fun!

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After many years of living out in California, I decided for myself that 2010 was going to be a year of change for me.  Even though I love the state of California, I could feel the gypsy blood in me calling me to move – so that was exactly what I was going to do.

But before I made the move, I wanted to make sure that I had work lined up in my new home.  I do have some savings, but I am not one to live on them, so a new job was a prerequisite of moving.

I looked through the national papers to see if I could find work that I would be interested in.  I noticed an ad for an instructor for one of the countries’ most prestigious chef schools and I decided to apply.  That was back in August.

I received a phone call and did a telephone interview in October.  A week later, I was hired.  This put me in the position of needing to find a place to live, but as it turns out, I mentioned my need for lodging to a friend of mine, and they have a condominium that I can stay at out there free of charge.

So, all I have to do is pack my last few things and make my trek across country to my new home and job which starts on January 4th.  Next year is looking like it will be full of new experiences and adventure.  I can’t wait!

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