Greener driving made easy this Autumn

As autumn rolls in, it’s the perfect time to press pause, take stock – and make a few practical changes that could make your fleet greener and leaner for the months ahead.

You don’t need to replace your vehicles or overhaul your operations to reduce emissions and cut costs. In fact, some of the most effective changes are also the simplest: fine-tuning routes, refreshing driving habits, or tightening up maintenance routines.

It’s why autumn is the ideal time for a fleet reset – a chance to revive how your team drives, how well your vehicles are performing, and whether your fuel spend is as efficient as it could be.

Here’s how business owners and fleet managers are making greener miles part of their everyday – and how your business can do the same.

Fuel is one of the biggest operating costs for any business that uses vehicles. It’s also one of the easiest to reduce, with the right habits, planning and visibility.

In 2025, sustainability isn’t just a nice-to-have. From supply chain standards to local air quality targets, businesses of all sizes are expected to show how they’re reducing their environmental impact. 

That doesn’t mean you need to make sweeping changes overnight. But taking steps to reduce fuel use is one of the most direct, and measurable, ways to start. 

Better still, most of these actions will save your business money, too.

The way your team drives can make or break your fuel efficiency. Even minor behaviour changes can lead to big savings, and fewer emissions.

Encourage your team to: 

• Avoid harsh acceleration and braking – smooth driving reduces fuel burn
• Stick to speed limits – fuel economy often peaks around 50–60mph 
• Cut idle time – switch off the engine when stopped for more than a minute 
• Use cruise control – especially on dual carriageways or longer routes 
• Plan fuel stops in advance – to avoid filling up at expensive, high-emission stations 

You don’t need to monitor every journey. A few driver reminders and some usage data can go a long way in nudging better habits.

It’s not just how you drive, it’s what you’re driving and how well it’s maintained.

Keeping your vehicles in top condition is one of the simplest ways to improve fuel economy and avoid avoidable emissions.

Build a routine that includes:

• Weekly tyre pressure checks – under-inflated tyres create drag and reduce fuel efficiency
• Regular oil changes and filter replacements – improves engine performance
• Address warning lights quickly – even small faults can reduce efficiency
• Check wheel alignment and suspension – bad alignment = wasted fuel
• Stick to recommended service intervals – don’t push maintenance past due dates

Drivers are more likely to drive efficiently if the vehicle performs well. Plus, better maintained vehicles are more reliable too.

Unnecessary miles = unnecessary emissions. Route planning is one of the easiest ways to cut both.

Use free tools like Google Maps, Waze, or fleet telematics to:

• Avoid known traffic areas and temporary roadworks
• Reschedule to avoid peak congestion times 
• Combine jobs or visits in nearby locations
• Minimise repeat visits with better scheduling
• Reroute in real time when delays hit

Even a 5–10% mileage reduction across a small fleet can lead to huge fuel and carbon savings over a year.

Small changes are easier to stick with when you can track the impact. That’s where tracking tools and digital reports come in. With fuelGenie, you can:

• Monitor fuel use by vehicle, driver or route
• Set spend limits to prevent overuse or high-cost habits
• Compare usage trends before and after implementing changes
• Export HMRC-ready invoices for easy reporting
• Access dashboards 24/7 via the app or online

Treating autumn as your fleet reset season gives you a reason to review performance, spot opportunities, and motivate your team to make fuel-efficient habits part of their daily routine.

Even if you’re not ready to change vehicles or infrastructure, you can still make greener gains at the pump.

With fuelGenie, your team can:

• Fill up at over 1,350 supermarket forecourts which often offer cleaner fuel at lower prices 
• Use loyalty cards to collect supermarket points while saving
• Upgrade to fuelGenie+ for access to 2,200 stations, including Shell garages with 24/7 access and extended vehicle facilities

Planned fuelling isn’t just cheaper, it can also be more energy-efficient, cutting emissions across every journey.

Becoming a more sustainable fleet doesn’t have to mean a full EV conversion or major policy shift. It starts with smart, everyday choices, like driving more smoothly, keeping vehicles in shape, planning routes wisely and tracking fuel use with purpose.

And with tools like fuelGenie, these changes become easier to manage, easier to measure, and easier to stick to.