Fleet Overspending? 3 Things You Should Be Tracking Right Now
Fuel budgeting only works if you're tracking the right data and most fleets aren’t.
Knowing your overall fleet costs isn’t enough. You need to know where that money’s going, why it’s being spent, and how to catch waste before it adds up. Unchecked fuel habits, idle time, and missed maintenance don’t always show up right away, but they can quietly drain thousands every month. For truck drivers, owner-operators, and fleet managers, tracking three core areas: fuel, maintenance, and driver behavior can expose hidden losses and give you a clear path to better control.
Here’s where to start:
1. Fuel Consumption and Efficiency
Fuel is the biggest ongoing cost for most truck drivers. If you’re not tracking it at the vehicle and route level, you're likely missing fuel savings that could add up to thousands per year.
What to Track:
- Fuel used per truck and per route
- MPG across trips
- Idle time and off-route fuel-ups
Pro Tip:
Use a truck fuel card with mobile app support to access real-time fuel pricing, control spending instantly, and reduce unauthorized transactions. Our Full Tank Services fuel card offers up to $1 per gallon in diesel discounts at over 5,000 locations across the U.S. and Canada. Paired with the WEX CardControl app, drivers get real-time visibility, and admins get full oversight through a web dashboard with IFTA reporting, invoice billing, and 24/7 customer support built in. It’s one of the easiest ways to find cheap diesel for truckers and take control of fuel expenses.
2. Maintenance and Repair Costs
Most fleets track repairs but not patterns. The real losses often come from repeat issues that go unnoticed or vehicles that quietly become too expensive to keep. If you're not calculating cost-per-mile for maintenance, you may be holding on to trucks that are draining your bottom line.
What to Track:
- Maintenance spend per vehicle, per 10,000 miles
- Frequency of unscheduled vs. scheduled repairs
- Total downtime per truck, per month
Pro Tip:
Track fuel in real time, stop unauthorized spending, and see your savings before you fuel.
The Full Tank Services card gives drivers diesel discounts of up to $1 per gallon at over 5,000 truck stops across the U.S. and Canada. With our secure mobile app, drivers can check live pricing by location, while fleet admins manage card limits, monitor transactions, and generate IFTA-ready reports from a single dashboard. Setup is fast, support is available 24/7, and every transaction gives you full control over your fuel expenses.
3. Driver Performance and Behavior
Most fleets monitor compliance but the real cost shows up in patterns you might miss. Hard braking, late shifts, and inconsistent driving routines all impact fuel efficiency, vehicle wear, and risk exposure. The difference between a high-performing driver and a high-risk one can be thousands per month even if both stay within the speed limit.
What to Track:
- Frequency of harsh events (braking, acceleration, cornering) per 100 miles
- Hours-of-service (HOS) compliance trends, not just violations, but close calls
- Crash incidents and near-misses, including associated downtime and repair costs
Pro Tip:
Use a mobile app for drivers with real-time feedback and a web dashboard for admins to coach smarter, not harder. Pair that with telematics and dashcam data to detect patterns before they become claims. Tools that give you instant card control, integrated performance reports, and 24/7 support help both sides stay accountable. When combined with fuel and maintenance tracking, this gives you a clear view of how each driver affects operating costs, vehicle lifespan, and overall fleet efficiency.
Why This Matters
Fleets that track these three areas consistently see:
- Up to 16% lower fuel costs
- 22% fewer accident-related expenses
- 16% savings on maintenance and labor
Smart tracking only works if it’s easy to use. With real-time fuel data, IFTA reporting, diesel discounts, and instant card control, you can manage fuel, drivers, and maintenance from one place.