In commercial construction, every penny counts. Labor costs, management fees, and overhead all eat into your bottom line. Conversely, even minor savings can add up to increased profits over time.
One way to save money is to cut fuel costs. But this can be difficult, especially if you are already doing everything possible to limit waste.
The good news is that there is a proven method to control diesel fuel costs without sacrificing performance: hiring a diesel delivery partner.
A diesel delivery partner will offer you the best pricing, won’t make you wait for deliveries, and will work with you to deliver the right amount of fuel, so you aren’t paying more for less fuel.
This article will break down all the ways it can help your company save money and provide better services to your customers.
Reliable Diesel Prices
Fuel suppliers buy their diesel in bulk. To stay competitive in the fuel market, suppliers will offer you the best price possible based on current fuel costs.
Retail fuel companies, on the other hand, will charge you for the convenience of on-demand fuel. For fleets that regularly use diesel, these costs can add up over time. These costs also compound with lost profit and slowed production when you wait for your delivery.
Going with a fuel supplier’s diesel can cut your per-gallon fuel expenses and save you money from day one.
Flexible Pricing Assistance
Fuel prices can fluctuate due to any number of variables, including your location and time of year. This can make it difficult to budget for your company’s fuel requirements.
Reputable oil delivery companies work hard to pass savings down to customers. But when prices have spiked, they support your business by offering payment plans so that you can lock in fuel costs. This allows you to know now exactly how much you will pay during any given interval.
Fuel delivery companies also offer bulk fuel delivery discounts. This offers you a cheaper price per gallon when you buy more.
Higher Quality Product
Beginning in 2006, more stringent regulations capped the amount of sulfur in diesel fuel to 15 parts per million (ppm).
Beyond these universal standards, there are still different types of diesel with varying levels of cetane. This determines how easy it is to ignite the fuel and how quickly it burns.
Diesel #1 (1-D) vs. Diesel #2 (2-D)
Diesel #1 has a higher cetane rating than Diesel #2. That means it has a shorter ignition delay, which helps the engine run smoother, reducing wear and tear over time.
1-D also has added lubricants and detergents that are lacking in 2-D. This helps reduce friction and extend the life of the vehicle’s fuel system parts, such as the fuel pump. It also makes the engine less likely to gum up.
Mixed Fuels
Sometimes, blending diesel #1 and #2 allows you to strike the right balance between cost and quality.
But some cut-rate fuel companies will try to cut costs by cutting their fuel with heating oil.
This is detrimental to your equipment and productivity. This diesel doesn’t have the right cetane levels or the right lubricants. It can quickly gum up equipment, causing your construction site to come to a complete halt.
No matter what grade of diesel your business demands, a reliable supplier will provide you with the right kind of fuel for your equipment and keep costs low.
Better Storage for Fresher Fuel
The quality of your diesel can dissipate over time. This is usually caused by water vapor inside the tank that holds it.
This contaminated diesel can even contain fungus or other microorganisms that can cause serious problems to engines when used.
I’ve seen construction sites storing 5 gallons of diesel on-site in plastic containers. This makes it easy for water vapor to contaminate the fuel and creates a huge risk of leaks or spills.
A diesel delivery partner will provide you with the proper storage equipment to avoid contamination and keep your site safe.
They will also help you to plan how much fuel you will use. That means you don’t have fuel lying around, susceptible to contamination. This ensures that you have quality diesel for your fleet at any given moment.
Improved Efficiency
Having diesel on-site makes it easy and fast to refuel your fleet. You don’t have to worry about traffic congestion around refueling centers. It allows you to refuel whenever you need to and set your own refueling schedule.
This is especially useful for companies that operate during atypical business hours. You no longer have to adjust routes and work schedules around when refueling centers are open.
In general, having diesel on hand means less downtime for your fleet. It allows you to plan better and avoid the precariousness of fueling off-site. Most importantly, it helps you get trucks back out on the road faster.
Diesel delivery partners also allow you to track refueling needs for further efficiency. This all translates to your vehicles spending less time getting fuel and more time carrying out the tasks your business requires.
Expertise
How much cost savings and improved efficiency is actualized will vary depending on your business.
The good news is that no matter how small or large your fleet of trucks is, reputable diesel delivery partners will help you better assess your fueling needs. They can advise you on everything from ways to improve fuel efficiency to ideal fuel storage for maintaining diesel quality.
Find a Diesel Delivery Partner Near You
Partnering with a reliable diesel delivery company is a great way to improve efficiency in your company’s operations while keeping costs down.
Sperr’s Fuel and Heating is a family-owned and operated business that offers on-demand fuel delivery to fit your schedule and your budget.
We take pride in providing the highest quality fuel and offering a range of services, including commercial oil delivery and residential heating oil delivery.
Reach out to us today for pricing or to learn more about our products and services.
