FLEETS are moving away from fixed business mileage reimbursement rates in order to save costs and reward fuel-efficient drivers.

Employers which operate fuel cards but do not pay for fuel for private journeys, are using a proportional recharge system so that drivers only pay for the actual fuel they use on personal trips.

Drivers simply keep records of their personal and business mileage and at the end of each month their total fuel spend is split proportionally according to the business and private journeys.

Fuel-efficient drivers will then be recharged less for their private journeys than drivers with 'heavy' right feet. Fixed reimbursement rates fail to distinguish between different driving styles, effectively penalising low consumption drivers who technically subsidise their harder-driving colleagues.

Fleet software firm cfc solutions is planning to integrate proportional charging systems into its fleet management software in anticipation of greater demand. Jason Francis, managing director of cfc solutions, said: 'The strength of this system is that it gives drivers a personal stake in keeping fuel costs down. It provides an incentive to buy fuel at outlets where prices are lower and not to drive in a fashion that uses excess fuel.

'Where we have seen it introduced, it is producing real results.'