If you operate a fleet of vehicles, you’re well aware that fuel prices are on the rise yet again. With rising fuel costs, all eyes begin to look inward for opportunities to conserve fuel and save money across the entire organization. Below you will find five ways you can reduce your fuel costs per mile.

1. Improve Your Maintenance Management

Scheduled maintenance is one of the most important tools in your arsenal when it comes to combating fuel costs. It helps to reduce the amount of fuel consumed per mile your vehicle is in operation by helping it operate more efficiently. Not only does this save your business when it comes to fuel costs, but also helps to eliminate unnecessary breakdowns and downtime as well.

2. Create Fuel-Efficient Policies for Drivers

Driver behavior is another driving force behind mile-high fuel costs. While the costs of diesel and gasoline seem to rise as a matter of course, wasteful actions of drivers can have an even greater impact on fuel costs to your organization. In fact, some action can really ramp up your fuel consumption and usage.

Read the rest of this entry »

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) collected statistics on stolen boats. In 2017, 4,864 watercraft were stolen, according to the NICB. This represents a five percent decrease over watercraft thefts in 2016 but remains a much higher number than any boat or watercraft owners likes to hear. The top three counties and cities for watercraft thefts all happen to be in Florida, according to the crime bureau report.

Most Common Types of Watercraft Targeted for Theft

There are many different types of watercraft available to consumers today. Some present more attractive targets for thieves, like these types of watercraft which are the most frequently targeted by thieves.

• Personal watercraft. Otherwise known as jet skis, these craft accounted for 1,180 thefts with a recovery rate of 27 percent meaning that only 321 of them were recovered.
• These fun boats accounted for 618 thefts but offer more favorable recovery rates with nearly 43 percent, or 268 of them being recovered after their thefts.
• Utility boats. Accounting for 285 thefts in 2017 and 109 recoveries, representing a recovery rate of only 38 percent.
• 185 of the boats stolen in 2017 were cruisers. These boats though, offer a more favorable recovery rate than many others with 56 percent of them, or 103 of the stolen cruisers recovered.

Read the rest of this entry »

GPS-tagged seabirds called razorbills were used in a recent study to track the Irish Sea’s currents. A team of biologists compared the resting bird’s movements on the water surface with a mathematical model laying out the currents. They found the birds offered them good information on the direction and speed of the water flow.

The researchers believe similar research using data they received from the resting seabirds can help locate locations for harvesting renewable tidal energy.

The seabird’s GPS tracking data could help the researchers get closer to being able to harness the energy in the shifting tides.

Read the rest of this entry »