During the recent surge in gas prices that resulted in dramatic increases in fuel costs across the U.S., Nelson Rivera decided not to raise service charges to offset rising operating costs. The owner of three New Jersey PuroClean damage remediation company franchises instead dealt with elevated prices at the pump with some in-house changes. “We implemented a culture that challenges our techs to make smart route choices,” says Rivera, whose company has a fleet of seven vehicles and provides 24/7 emergency restoration and mitigation services for water, fire, and mold damage and biohazard clean-up. Rivera noticed his technicians weren’t making efficient route choices when he installed tracking devices in company vehicles in May 2022. Once he pointed this out to his team, they responded by making changes to their routes. The company decreased fuel consumption and cut down on time spent driving. To further cuts fuel costs, Rivera also found it necessary to avoid accepting jobs requiring long-distance travel. "Servicing customers outside of our immediate territory has always been something we love to do," says Rivera. "We traveled as far as Houston in 2021 during their unfortunate freeze event, but that trip would cost thousands more today." What Can Small-Business Owners Do When Gas Gets Expensive? While gas prices are currently dropping, geo-political circumstances and other factors can result in volatile oil prices. For that reason, it’s a good idea for small-business owners to make gas-saving practices routine. Consider raising delivery fees to cover fuel costs. [...] Your customers will most likely understand this increase, as they are also affected by this global challenge. —Amanda Royle, co-founder and personnel supervisor, Imgkits Maintain Company Vehicles Keeping cars well-maintained can save a significant amount of gas. Research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that properly inflated tires can reduce fuel costs by up to 11 cents per gallon. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, keeping your engine in tip-top shape saves gas. For instance, having your company vehicles tuned up can improve gas mileage. Fixing a serious maintenance problem can increase miles per gallon even further. Using the recommended oil for your car also saves gas, as does energy conserving motor oil. Check for the Best Gas Deals “Use a gas app,” suggests Zachary Colman, CEO of the sports marketing company Creatitive. “Such apps locate the cheapest gas you can get near you.” Using an app that tracks travel and how much gas is being used per vehicle can give you the information you need to determine what drivers and vehicles are using more gas than others. Then you can set goals for conserving gas. Also consider signing your company up for a gas rewards program. “Many companies provide discounts for joining their gasoline card program, which may save you money in the short and long run,” says Steve Anderson, CEO of Junk Yard Near Me. “Consider using this method to lower the cost of gasoline on your company's entire fleet budget.” Watch Your Driving Habits “Consider how you can cluster deliveries and appointments so there is no backtracking and you reduce the number of trips,” says Colman. If your company reimburses for mileage costs, "take a close look at your business model and ask yourself if there are ways you can reduce the amount of driving you or your employees do,” says David Lee, founder, and CEO of Inyouths LED Mirrors. “For instance, can you allow employees to work from home one or two days a week? Or make more use of video conferencing for meetings? Every mile not driven will save money on gas.” Certain driving habits can also affect the amount of gas used. For example, speeding increases fuel use and decreases fuel economy, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Using cruise control saves gas because accelerating uses the most energy. Avoid idling, as that also burns excess gas. “Some modern fleet vehicle models include an autonomous start-stop technology that switches off the engine when the driver comes to a stop but re-engages the engine when the driver wishes to continue,” says Anderson. Driving during extreme weather and heavy traffic also raises fuel costs. If your company has a fleet of vehicles, using a fleet management system can also help you operate more cost effectively when it comes to fuel consumption. Such systems feature software that provides alerts regarding dangerous driving habits that also consume gas, such as speeding, hard cornering, and braking. Consider Alternative Forms of Transportation Use alternate forms of getting around, such as public transportation. At the moving company Allied Van Lines, SEO manager Shannon Steinberg notes that the company has started using bikes for short-distance trips. Switching to hybrid, electric, or hydrogen vehicles can also save a great deal on gas. Your business may qualify for federal or state tax credits to offset the cost of new company cars. Increase Your Delivery Fees “Consider raising delivery fees to cover fuel costs,” suggests Amanda Royle, co-founder and personnel supervisor at Imgkits, an AI image processing company. “Your customers will most likely understand this increase, as they are also affected by this global challenge.” If you’ve been offering free delivery, it may be time to start charging for the service. Photo: Getty Images