BOYCOTTING petrol pumps won't help fleets save the millions of pounds wasted each year in fuel mismanagement, organisers of the Government-backed greener fleet certification scheme Motorvate claim.

Thousands of motorists joined in the first of a series of Dump the Pump days to protest against high fuel prices on Tuesday, but Motorvate says fleets thinking of joining the protest would be far better off joining its initiative and getting their management acts together.

In January, a Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions survey showed fleet chiefs' grasp of basic fuel management was so poor it was costing British businesses £450 million a year.

Robert Anderson of AEA Technology, which manages the scheme said: 'Buying petrol on a Sunday or Tuesday before or after a Dump the Pump day won't save money, but fleets that join Motorvate and meet our targets will save every day.'

• To access the Motorvate site click on the Buyers' guide menu button (left) and go to the Associations and official bodies section.