Drivers count the cost of business mileage

New research has found that more than seven out of ten people who drive regularly for business purposes use their own vehicle. But spiralling petrol costs, vehicle wear and tear and the cost of insurance can often mean that these workers are left out of pocket as mileage rates fail to match the hikes.

The research*, conducted by Trimble, also shows that with the cost of driving to work at its peak, commuters need to work for two months, seven days, seven hours and 10 minutes to cover the annual cost of their fuel bill driving to work, a fifth of their annual net salary.

Andrew Yeoman, managing director of Trimble Fleet Solutions in Europe, comments: “Over the course of the year, the UK has witnessed the cost of running a car become even more expensive and many employees are struggling to meet these exorbitant costs.

“Employees who use their own cars for business purposes have taken the full force of these rises as companies often aren’t able to reimburse their staff sufficiently using the current mileage rates.”

Telematics technology is used by fleets around the world to help manage fuel costs, optimise routes and reduce insurance premiums. With consumers now facing a rise in the true cost of owning a vehicle, these solutions are also fast becoming an everyday tool to help reduce cost by monitoring fuel use and driving behaviour to see where improvements can be made.

For businesses asking their employees to drive for work, the advancements in technology and the potential for self-install devices could help organisations by giving them and their employees an accurate picture of how fuel is being used and indicate if a car is underperforming.

Businesses can then work with employees to identify if their behaviour behind the wheel is having an impact on fuel consumption. Speed, style of driving, braking or excessive acceleration can all have an impact on fuel usage and, armed with this information, businesses can work with individuals to regulate their driving behaviour, even offering training.
“This kind of analysis is invaluable and can help businesses and their employees keep costs down while remaining productive,” added Yeoman.

*Research conducted by Virgin Media Business in March 2011.

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