Overall Fuel Usage Key To Incentive Programs

Efficiency Solutions, Inc., has added a new performance measurement fuel consumption to monitor and reward mixer truck drivers. While industry standard

Efficiency Solutions, Inc., has added a new performance measurement Û fuel consumption Û to monitor and reward mixer truck drivers. While industry standard measurements include gallons per yard, gallons per engine hour and miles per gallon, the company’s Employee Incentive Program tracks gallons per man hour Û a parameter that more accurately reflects employee input Û to better motivate drivers to reduce overall fuel consumption for monthly cash bonuses. Benefiting both company and employees, system developers affirm, the tool provides an incentive for drivers to optimize fuel use by reducing their trucks’ engine idle time, driving skillfully, and maintaining vehicles in top mechanical condition.

Discussions with client producers led Efficiency Solutions software specialists to conclude that standard measurements do not provide the most effective employee incentives: Miles per Gallon and Gallons per Yard, for example, are negatively affected by local terrain, distance, and load size. Among these factors, load size has the greatest impact on standard measurements; and, if a driver is reducing engine idle time, little effect is noted on Gallons per Engine Hour. By contrast, measuring reduction in fuel usage by recording Gallons per Man Hour involves only two main variables Û driver hours and gallons of fuel consumed. Load size has negligible bearing on the measurement.

In comparing Gallons per Yard to Gallons per Man Hour from December thru April 2009 for a producer with six plants, data indicated that as Average Load Size decreases, the Gallons per Yard figure increases despite a reduction in Gallons per Man Hour. Thus, even if a driver is attempting to reduce fuel consumption, his Gallons per Yard can be negatively affected by smaller load sizes or a longer travel distance. [See accompanying Fuel Usage Comparison Chart].

Accordingly, measuring and rewarding employees on the basis of Gallons per Man Hour was determined to be the fairest and most effective method to achieve fuel conservation. Efficiency Solutions’ Dave Weber emphasizes, It is especially important to have a measurement that is fair to employees, or they will not buy in to the concept. As drivers rewarded for decreasing fuel consumption see the impact of their efforts, he adds, the company will benefit due to overall lower fuel costs contributing to a healthy bottom line. Û www.efficiency-solutions.com