As your vehicles age and new technologies emerge, you may find your fleet is comprised of vehicles that don’t get the best possible gas mileage. Newer vehicles tend to get better gas mileage than older ones, especially if they are not well maintained as the miles add up. Leaky seals and gaskets, clogged fuel filters and air filters, and other issues that crop up as the parts age all contribute to poorer fuel economy.

In addition, the vehicles now hitting the market are better designed than ever, making them more fuel-efficient. For instance, many fleets are now switching to hybrid trucks, which offer considerably better fuel economy than their traditional counterparts.

If your fleet vehicles are aging or seem to pale in comparison to what is currently available, you may be wishing you had the budget to buy new ones. However, replacing all the vehicles in your fleet is an expensive proposition, and not an option for most fleet managers. Luckily, you can improve your gas mileage at a lower cost to your company with vehicle modification. The cost of updating your vehicles will be recouped over time, as you save money on fuel expenses.

Still not sure you have the money for vehicle modification? Don’t worry — government grants exist to help fleets like yours fund an overhaul of their vehicles. The government is motivated to encourage fleets as well as individual drivers to conserve fuel as much as possible, and since vehicle modifications often make more sense for fleets than buying all-new trucks, the government is providing grants to help fleets achieve their energy goals. Therefore, with a little financial assistance, you can start the process of modifying the vehicles in your fleet, enabling you to save money on fueling costs in the future.

In addition to the grants the government is offering fleets that want to modify their vehicles, they have also set aside money for the purpose of advancing fueling technology in areas that will affect most fleets. For instance, the government gave $38.8 million to Cummins Inc. for them to develop cleaner and more efficient diesel fuel, a more aerodynamic tractor and trailer combination, and a fuel cell auxiliary power unit that will reduce engine idling by giving the truck an alternative power source. A full list of the grants created for the purpose of developing new ways to conserve fuel can be found in this January 2010 list of fuel-efficiency projects.

Regardless of whether your fleet vehicles are new, old, or modified, always be sure to take good care of them. Do scheduled maintenance when you are supposed to – whether it is an oil change, a tune up, or new tires. Have your employees regularly check things like tire pressure, and have them replace their air filters regularly. By keeping up on your fleet service, you can maintain your vehicles’ fuel economy for much longer, making the regular maintenance worth the expense.

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