Aug 5, 2009 10:00 AM

In a technology purchase that is expected to significantly reduce fuel expenses, Knight Transportation Inc has licensed IDSC ExpertFuel. Knight Transportation, a Phoenix AZ-based truckload carrier, provides refrigerated, dry van, and brokerage services. IDSC ExpertFuel software from TMW delivers optimized fuel purchase and route plans for drivers based on best-in-class pricing and routing data.

For a carrier such as Knight, which operates more than 3,700 trucks, savings on fuel purchases can have a multimillion-dollar impact.

With the software now installed for several months, David Jackson, chief financial officer, and his team are seeing benefits. Driver compliance with fuel plans is up significantly and climbing. Drivers for the company have had input to the new fuel program as well. They have helped fine-tune tractor burn rates and highlighted the need to raise allowable tank level minimums for travel in northern states, particularly during a colder-than-average North American winter.

The company is able to use IDSC ExpertFuel throughout its 35 regional operating centers. “The software allows us to include our terminal fuel locations amongst our over the road network of stops,” said Jackson. “Using real-time pricing, the optimizer will direct our drivers to the best options. Whether diesel prices are high or low, pennies per gallon make a huge difference for our fleet.”

“As a rule, IDSC ExpertFuel customers enjoy savings of four to 11 cents per gallon, per truck. On average, customers see savings of four cents per gallon on a restricted network and eight cents per gallon on an unrestricted network,” said TMW Vice President David Schildmeyer.

“IDSC ExpertFuel can be more than a fuel purchase optimization tool. It can also provide useful leverage in fuel contract negotiations, as many of our customers have found,” said Schildmeyer. “This product integrates with all major dispatch and mobile communication platforms and works effectively with companies running 50, 500, 5,000, or more trucks.”