[June 20, 2011] — As compelling as the physics are, there are some very good reasons not to try drafting (like the race car drivers and long haul truckers do) and why you should look for other ways to save on fuel. Like a GPS fleet management system. Much safer.

If you have ever watched any car racing sports, such as Formula 1 or NASCAR, then it’s more than likely that you are familiar with “drafting”, the technique used by drivers to increase speed. Drafting doesn’t increase speed per se, rather it decreases the amount of energy required to cut through the air resistance. By following closely behind another vehicle, the air resistance is decreased and for the same amount of fuel the car can travel longer and faster.

Semi-trailers are big, heavy, diesel hungry machines. A typical truck travels 150,000 miles each year, and at $4.00 per gallon of diesel, the annual cost of fuel can easily reach a half million dollars! Some truckers use the drafting technique to increase fuel efficiency, but outside the racetrack the practice is very dangerous. To reap the benefits of drafting, you would have to tailgate constantly. Unlike the racetrack, real life traffic is very random. Not everyone drives the maximum speed, and you never know what is on the road ahead that might cause the vehicle in front of you to brake suddenly. In real life, often use of brakes offset the benefits of drafting.

To increase fuel efficiency, and to prevent and monitor risky driving habits such as drafting or tailgating, companies have continued to rely on GPS technology. For over a decade, FleetBoss GPS has offered GPS solutions to help companies keep track of their fleets. With GPS systems, businesses can monitor speed, idling time, and manage routes.

The bad news is fuel prices will continue to increase, and companies are forced to seek cost-savings technologies for their vehicles. The good news is that the technologies are already available and they will only get better. It’s just a matter of deciding what fits your needs.

Give FleetBoss GPS a call today at (877) 265-9559 to learn more and to start saving money on your business fleet. You’ll be glad you did!