Digital fuel controls become critical as diesel costs rise

Rising diesel prices are turning fuel management into a technology and operations priority for road-freight companies. Fuel represents about one-third of a haulier’s operating costs, while industry estimates put the latest increase at approximately £300 per truck each week.

The pressure is difficult to pass through the market. Research by the RHA indicates that only one in ten operators can transfer the full increase to customers. Eight in ten are absorbing at least part of it, leaving less room in already narrow margins.

From monthly reconciliation to live control

Ryan Yu, vice president of product at Samsara, says operators are examining routes, fuelling locations, idling and driver behaviour more closely. In the US, the company says it has identified $2 billion in potentially recoverable fuel expenditure. Fraud, inefficient fuelling decisions and unnecessary idling are among the sources of leakage.

The operational shift is significant: fuel is increasingly being treated as a weekly financial key performance indicator rather than a cost checked at month-end. Telematics and fleet-management platforms can help companies compare consumption, identify exceptions and connect fuel use with route and vehicle performance.

Technology cannot remove infrastructure constraints

Electrification remains a longer-term option, but replacing an entire fleet requires substantial capital. Charging provision may also be inadequate on the routes vehicles actually serve. Targeted electric-vehicle pilots on lanes with predictable utilisation, available charging and a credible cost benefit may therefore be more practical than an all-at-once conversion.

For shippers, the impact extends beyond the truck. UK-EU movements can include ferry services facing their own energy pressures, while higher war-risk charges from shipping lines and marine insurers add to cross-border costs. Consolidating loads, selecting rail or multimodal solutions where suitable, and improving visibility across the complete journey can reduce exposure.

With fuel surcharges likely to follow sustained price rises, businesses need to act before costs are embedded in contracts. Digital measurement, better carrier collaboration and selective modal change offer more immediate resilience than simply waiting for diesel prices to fall.