By Conor Proud - July 28th, 2010
A lot companies set up deals with their fuel vendors through what is known as “direct billing”. With direct billing you are paying a certain vendor directly at the end of the month or biweekly instead of through your fuel card provider. The benefits of this can be a couple of things such as:
- Setting up discounts with your vendor
- Bypassing transaction fees and other charges
- Avoiding third party
If there are any negatives to direct billing it would be the confusion it may create. I’ve noticed with some of my clients they get confused between their direct billing vendors and their other vendors who they pay through the card provider. With confusion increases the possibilities of mistakes. Something I’ve come across with a client is the AP department paying the incorrect amount on the invoices. There usually is a gross amount and then the net amount on invoices. The gross amount would be what anyone would pay at their site that day. The net amount would be that amount minus whatever discounts you have agreed upon. Without knowing anything about your fuel program your AP department could be posting the gross amount and missing out on the discounts that have been created for your fleet.
Who’s checking your invoices? Call Sokolis Group at 267-482-6155 in order to have our fuel management team help manage your fuel.
Posted in Fuel Management | No Comments »
By Laura Owens - July 26th, 2010
Driving a vehicle is a huge responsibility which is why driving laws have been written to keep us safe. We all know the basic laws such as, drive on the right side of the road but what if someone told you in Alabama it is illegal to drive with a blindfold on. This law may seem like common sense but it is an actual written law in Alabama. Here are a few strange traffic laws, some out of date, but still in the books.
Arizona
Cars are not allowed to be driven in reverse in Glendale, AZ.
California
In Glendale, CA it is illegal to jump from a car at 65 mph. So make sure you refrain from car jumping when driving through this town.
If you have to go to court, for one reason or another in Los Angeles it is illegal to cry on the witness stand. So hold back your tears!
Connecticut
It is against the law to eat in your car in Bloomfield, CT. So snack up elsewhere.
Kansas
If you are passing through Derby, KS remember not to screech your tires. Screeching your tires is considered a misdemeanor and can cost you 30 days in jail!
Minnesota
In the town of Minnetonka it is illegal for your truck to leave mud, dirt, or sticky substances on any road. Wipe your tires before entering this town.
New Jersey
In Blairstow, NJ it is illegal to plant trees in the middle of the street. This is not a driving law but it sure does make driving a lot easier without trees in the way.
Ohio
It is illegal to run out of gas in Youngstown, OH. So make sure you have enough gas before driving through Youngstown.
Hopefully being aware of these strange laws will keep you out of trouble!!
Tags: driving laws, laws, traffic, traffic laws
Posted in Fuel Management | No Comments »
By Lisa Hermann - July 2nd, 2010
You may remember a time before there was email…a time when communications within most organizations were more formal and followed strict lines of protocol. Email has done wonders to break down some of the communications bureaucracy and hierarchy within organizations; today virtually anyone can speak to anyone else within an organization with the click of a mouse. Email has brought with it a new informality to business communications – but it didn’t come with instructions.
Your Signature
- Use your email program to create an email signature block that will automatically attach to all of your outgoing messages. It saves you the effort of including your contact information every time you send a message and brings a professional touch to your communications.
- You might simply include your name, business name, contact details and website or you might also include a sentence or two about your business or even a favorite funny or inspirational quote.
Reply Quickly
- Because of its immediacy, people expect fast replies to emails. A response within 24 hours is probably as long as most people would consider appropriate. Your email practices will educate others about what to expect from you in email communications; if you respond quickly, people will expect that you’ll always respond quickly; if you set a 24 hour or less benchmark, likewise people will learn what to expect from you – but of course there will always be those emails that do require your immediate attention.
Spell Check
- Always, always re-read your emails before you send them to make sure they make sense and to fix any spelling or grammatical errors. Set your email to automatically spell-check for clarity, tone or correctness, as a colleague to look over the content for you. It might be inconsequential to you, but a poorly worded email that conveys the wrong tone and is riddled with spelling and grammatical errors can destroy your credibility.
Posted in Office Admin | No Comments »
By John Sokolis - June 28th, 2010
At Sokolis Group, when we make initial contact with a potential client, through our research or a referral, we feel that we can be of assistance to them with their fleet fuel management program, therefore reducing diesel fuel cost. By gathering further operational information from a potential client we can make a pretty good assumption, through our experience, whether or not our fuel management service would be of value to them.
The next step is to offer a no cost, no obligation detailed fuel audit, evaluation, and analysis of their current fuel purchasing and fuel management system. This is where skepticism starts to build. Whether we are communicating with the CEO, COO, CFO, or the fleet managers, they may question the fact that a professional fleet fuel management company is offering this detailed analysis at no cost? What company does something for nothing? This is too good to be true. Why would Sokolis Group, a respected fuel management company offer something for nothing? Because more than 80% of the potential companies for which we perform this fuel analysis can significantly reduce their diesel fuel cost by engaging our services. This is not to say that 80% of companies are buying or managing fuel poorly, it just means it can be done better. Sure, some companies are basket cases, but many only need some refinement and fine tuning. A large company that can reduce its diesel fuel cost by one or two cents per gallon, can save potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. The small and medium size companies, the private fleets, for which transportation is not their core business can potentially reduce their fleet fuel cost by as much as ten to twenty cents per gallon.
For those that take advantage of our no cost offer the end result can only be one of two scenarios. Either Sokolis Group has identified areas of opportunity to reduce fleet fuel cost, or the company is doing the best it can and they now have the peace of mind that their fuel management systems are effective. For those for whom we know improvements can be made we let them know what their potential savings will be by engaging our services. Once again, “too good to be true?” We can tell you this, it is good and it is true, so why not take advantage of our no cost offer. You will either gain the peace of mind that all is well with your fleet fuel management program, or your company will have a healthier bottom line by reducing your fleet fuel cost.
Tags: analysis, diesel fuel, duel audit, fleet fuel cost, fuel analysis, fuel cost, Fuel Management, Sokolis Group
Posted in Fuel Management | No Comments »
By Laura Owens - May 27th, 2010
As summer is just around the corner and the weather is heating up we turn to the AC to keep us cool. Here are 7 simple ways to save energy without having to cut back on air conditioning, courtesy of Smartpower.org
- Air Dry Beach Towels
- Using a beach towel to dry off after a refreshing swim does not mean the towel is dirty. Instead of throwing it into the laundry, toss the towel over the porch railing to air dry. Beach towels are much thicker than regular towels and therefore require more energy to dry.
- Take Shorter Showers
- We have all heard this one a million times but it really does work. Taking a shorter shower means less hot water you will be using which means less energy used to heat the water for an extended period of time.
- Unplug Your TV
- All plugged in electronics constantly suck energy even when they are turned off. A simple solution is to plug all electronics into power strips and turn off the power strip when not being used.
- Get Rid of Old Refrigerators
- Refrigerators each year keep getting more energy efficient, which is great!! The problem is instead of recycling the old refrigerator we tend to move them to the garage or basement; this is now using twice the energy.
- Turn Off Your Computers
- Sleep mode does not mean your computer is turned off. If your computer is plugged in it is using energy no matter what mode the computer is in. Turn off and unplug your computer completely!!
- Weather Strip Your Doors
- If you want to keep your air conditioning inside your house make sure that all windows and doors have the proper seal. More important, keep all windows and door closed when the air is turned on.
- Get Your Water Heater Checked
- Have your water heater set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. (Most homes are set at 140) Lowering your water heater by 10 degrees can save you 3 to 5 percent in energy cost.
Contact Sokolis Group and let us know what you are doing to save energy. www.Sokolisgoup.com or 267-482-6155.
Posted in Office Admin | No Comments »
By Lisa Hermann - May 26th, 2010
When you are at your favorite beach in Florida or California, you are not at the very edge of the country.
Although it might seem like the ocean is the border of the United States, the border is actually 200 miles out from the land. This 200-mile-wide band around the country is called the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
In 1983, President Reagan claimed the area of the EEZ in the name of the United States. In 1994, all countries were granted an EEZ of 200 miles from their coastline according to the International Law of the Sea.
There is a lot of activity just beyond the beach. The beach extends from the shore into the ocean on a continental shelf that gradually descends to a sharp drop, called the continental slope. This continental shelf can be as narrow as 20 kilometers or as wide as 400 kilometers. The water on the continental shelf is shallow, rarely more than 150 to 200 meters deep. The EEZ is part of the United States. The Federal government manages the land under the sea on behalf of the American people.
The continental shelf drops off at the continental slope, ending in abyssal plains that are three to five kilometers below sea level. Many of the plains are flat, while others have jagged mountain ridge, deep canyons, and valleys. The tops of some of these mountain ridges form islands where they extend above the water.
Most of the energy we get from the ocean is extracted from the ground. Oil, natural gas, and minerals all come from the ocean floor.
People are working on other new ways to use the ocean. Solar and wind energy have been used on land, and now they are also being used at sea.
Though this BP oil spill is terrible, we believe if more precautions are taken, the ocean is wonderful place for us to increase our own energy resources and not have to worry about foreign oil to supply us. Don’t we want to control our own diesel fuel prices? Having a good supply of fleet fuel, sure does make it a little easier for your fuel management needs.
Posted in Fuel Management | No Comments »
By Conor Proud - May 24th, 2010
Anyone in the oil or fuel management business has most certainly heard of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The enormous explosion that caused the spill from a BP offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico was said by BP to be releasing 5,000 barrels of oil per day. Some experts believe it’s somewhere closer to 25,000 barrels a day after looking further into it. It’s already the worst oil spill in history, even more devastating than the spill in 1989 by Exxon’s Valdez tanker that spilled 11 million gallons of oil. The BP rig is tapped into an underwater oil well and will continue to pump more oil into the ocean until the leak is plugged.
This obviously effects more than just the oil business as now it is a problem for wildlife fisherman, seafood business and many other jobs in the Louisiana area. The pictures and images are miraculous. If you visit www.bp.com you can actually see a live webcam of the riser flow. Bp is using new technology known as the riser insertion tube tool to try to collect the oil. This remains uncertain as there are still various efforts by the government and other parties to determine a more educated flow rate. Even film star Kevin Costner is joining scientists and engineers to figure out a way to clean up this mess. BP is considering his idea. At this point what do they have to lose? The diesel fuel prices have not gone up because of the spill, isn’t that strange?
Posted in Fuel Management | No Comments »
By Lisa Hermann - May 17th, 2010
Many of us spend long hours at our desks, so to help make the workday comfortable and productive it helps to create an environment conducive to clear thinking. By establishing a good desk environment you are guaranteed to improve your efficiency and achieve more in your day.
The paperless desk:
Remove all paperwork from your desk – create files for your projects, reference folders for information you need to access regularly, a reading file for articles, reports, journals and FYI documents and a daily files for administrative, miscellaneous and day specific tasks. Keep your files on shelves or in drawers. The only thing on your desk at any point in time should be information relating to the task or project you are currently working on.
Stationery drawer:
Keep stationery in desk drawers rather than on your desk. Get rid of all clutter and keep your desk clear for essential items relating to the current piece of work you are doing.
Inspire yourself:
Surround yourself with positive images. Keep a photo or phrase that motivates you in view to remind you of and motivate you toward continually striving for your goals.
What are some of the things that work for you? Share with us…
Tags: diesel fuel, fleet fuel, fleet fueling, Fuel Management, Sokoils Group
Posted in Office Admin | No Comments »
By Lisa Hermann - May 5th, 2010
Sponsored by Sears Auto Center
When a fleet vehicle needs a tire replacement, occasionally you may find that only two tires need replacement rather than all four. Most people believe that the tires with the best tread should go on the front of the vehicle, especially for vehicles with front-wheel drive. Actually, the best tires should always go on the rear of front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles. Why? The tires with best tread will naturally grip the road better and resist hydroplaning compared to a tire that has some miles on it.
Say you are driving on a curvy road in a summer thunderstorm and while you are in the middle of the curve your car enters a large area of standing water. If the best tires are on the rear of the vehicle, they will grip the pavement longer than the front tires. You will feel the front tires begin to lose traction and for most people, the natural instinct is to take your foot off the gas pedal to gain control by allowing the vehicle to slow. Unfortunately, if the best tires are on the front, the rear tires will lose traction first causing the rear of the vehicle to slide. In this situation, many people will not turn into the skid to regain control but turn against the skid. This causes the vehicle to spin out.
Good tires on your vehicle will help with your fuel usage. It will decrease how often you need to fuel your vehicle within your fleet. For more information and fuel savings, reach out to Sokolis Group at 267-482-6155 or via website at www.sokolisgroup.com.
Tags: diesel fuel, fleet fuel, fleet fueling, Fuel Management, Sokoils Group
Posted in Fuel Management | No Comments »
By Laura Owens - May 3rd, 2010
When we think of saving money on fuel we automatically think of cheaper fuel prices; but there are other ways to save money on fuel before even hitting the pump.
- Keep tires inflated properly
- Underinflated tires waste fuel. You should check tires on a regular basis. This is simple and a potential lifesaver.
- A well tuned engine burns less gas.
- The right parts and fresh oil keep your engine running smoothly which requires less fuel. Get regular tune-ups and inspections.
- Get the junk out of the trunk.
- Did you know that for every 250 pounds your engine carries the car loses about one mile per gallon? So remove all the unnecessary items and carry only what you need.
- Find the cheapest fuel
- Ok so this one is at the pump. Finding the cheapest fuel in your area can save you hundreds of dollars a year.
- Don’t top off the tank
- We should all listen to this advice. Too much gas will just slosh or seep out so why waste the extra pennies? Those pennies do add up.
- Drive intelligently and slower
- By making fast starts or sudden stops you are just overexerting your engine which burns extra fuel. Driving 55 mph instead of 65 mph can improve your fuel economy by two miles per gallon.
- Avoid long warm-ups/cool downs.
- On cold winter mornings or hot summer afternoons your car doesn’t take more than a minute to get ready to go, so don’t waste the extra fuel by letting it run for five minutes.
- Combine errands into one trip
- Before heading out you should plan your trip. Come up with the most efficient route and combine errands into one trip if possible.
- Tighten up the gas cap
- Gas easily evaporates from the tank if it has a way to escape. Make sure your gas cap is on tight and if it is loose buy a new one.
- Buy a fuel efficient car
- There are plenty of good options out there right now. If you are in the market for a new car factor in long term fuel costs.
To find out more ways to save money on fuel contact Sokolis Group at 267-482-6155 and talk with one of your fuel specialist today.
Tags: diesel fuel, fleet fuel, fleet fueling, fuel consulting, Fuel Management, fuel; fuel audit; goals; pricing errors; fuel pricing; save money, Sokoils Group
Posted in Fuel Management | No Comments »
|
