Diesel at £2 a Litre: How Much Money Is Poor Route Planning Costing Your Haulage Business?
Diesel at £2 a litre is painful enough. But what if your haulage business is wasting hundreds, or even thousands, of pounds every year simply because your vehicles are travelling further than they need to?
Every unnecessary mile costs money.
Every avoidable traffic jam burns time and potentially fuel.
And every HGV sent down an unsuitable road, towards a low bridge or into a weight restriction can turn an ordinary delivery into an expensive headache.
With fuel costs continuing to put pressure on the UK haulage industry, there’s one question every operator and Transport Manager should be asking:
Are we losing money at the fuel pump, or are we losing it before the driver even turns the ignition key?
Because the cheapest litre of diesel is the one you never needed to use.
How Much Does It Actually Cost to Run an HGV for One Mile?
Let’s put some figures on it.
For illustration, imagine you’re operating a 44-tonne articulated HGV averaging 8 miles per gallon (mpg).
At a hypothetical diesel price of £2 per litre, the fuel cost alone works out at approximately:
- £1.14 for every mile travelled
- £114 for every 100 miles
- £1,137 for every 1,000 miles
And that’s before you’ve paid for the driver, vehicle maintenance, tyres, insurance, depreciation or any other operating costs.
Now imagine your drivers are travelling an extra 10, 20 or 30 miles each day because of inefficient route planning.
Those seemingly small distances soon become very expensive.
The figures in this article are illustrative, using £2 per litre as a cost scenario rather than claiming this is the current UK average diesel price. Actual costs depend on fuel price, vehicle efficiency, load, route and operating conditions.
1. The Hidden Cost of Just 10 Unnecessary Miles a Day
Ten miles doesn’t sound like much, does it?
For an HGV covering hundreds of miles every day, it’s easy to dismiss an extra ten miles as insignificant.
But let’s look at what happens when those miles are repeated across an entire fleet.
Assuming diesel costs £2 per litre, each HGV averages 8 mpg and operates 250 days per year:
| Fleet size | Extra miles per day per vehicle | Annual wasted fuel cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 HGV | 10 miles | £2,841 |
| 5 HGVs | 10 miles | £14,205 |
| 10 HGVs | 10 miles | £28,410 |
| 20 HGVs | 10 miles | £56,820 |
That’s potentially more than £28,000 a year for a ten-vehicle fleet, simply from travelling an unnecessary ten miles per vehicle each working day.
And remember, that’s fuel alone.
It doesn’t include the additional wear and tear, maintenance costs or time involved.
Now ask yourself something.
When did you last properly review the routes your drivers are taking?
Not just look at the destinations on a screen.
Actually review the mileage, road suitability, restrictions, delivery sequence and potential alternatives?
2. Are Your Drivers Taking the Shortest Route or the Right Route?
Here’s something that catches plenty of people out.
The shortest route isn’t always the cheapest, quickest or safest route for an HGV.
A route might look perfect on a standard sat-nav.
Until the driver discovers:
- A low bridge they cannot pass beneath.
- A weight restriction preventing access.
- A narrow road unsuitable for a large vehicle.
- A town centre with restricted HGV access.
- Roadworks requiring a substantial diversion.
- A delivery point that can only be approached from a particular direction.
Suddenly, that supposedly efficient route isn’t looking quite so clever.
A driver may have to turn around, take a lengthy diversion or contact the transport office for assistance.
And all the while, the clock is ticking.
Poor route planning doesn’t just waste fuel. It can create avoidable safety risks, delays and compliance problems.
The GOV.UK guidance on the Highway Code provides important information on road signs, restrictions and safe driving.
Operators should also ensure their route-planning systems use suitable HGV-specific information, including vehicle height, weight, length and width.
3. Congestion: Are You Planning Routes or Just Hoping for the Best?
We all know traffic is part of transport.
But there’s a difference between encountering unavoidable congestion and repeatedly sending vehicles into predictable delays.
Consider a vehicle regularly travelling through a busy motorway junction during the morning rush hour.
If the delivery schedule allows flexibility, could that journey be planned differently?
Could an alternative HGV-suitable route reduce delays?
Could the delivery sequence be changed?
Could better communication with customers help avoid the busiest periods?
Of course, not every delay can be avoided.
And a longer route around congestion isn’t automatically cheaper. Extra mileage may outweigh any fuel saved by avoiding slow-moving traffic.
The key is to consider the whole journey rather than simply the distance between two postcodes.
A good route plan should consider fuel consumption, journey time, road conditions, delivery requirements and drivers’ hours.
You can check current and planned disruptions on National Highways’ traffic information service for England’s strategic road network.
4. The Expensive Mistake of Sending the Wrong Vehicle
Here’s another situation worth thinking about.
You’ve got a delivery to make.
The vehicle is available, the driver is ready, and the job gets allocated.
But has anyone considered whether that particular vehicle is the most suitable one for the journey?
Vehicle selection can make a significant difference to operating costs.
An unnecessarily large vehicle may use more fuel than a smaller, suitable alternative.
Equally, sending a vehicle with insufficient capacity could mean additional journeys.
Transport planners need to consider:
- Vehicle payload and capacity.
- Load weight and dimensions.
- Delivery access restrictions.
- Vehicle fuel efficiency.
- The number of deliveries on the route.
- Whether loads or collections can be combined.
Good planning isn’t just about getting the load delivered. It’s about getting it delivered safely, legally and efficiently.
5. Empty Running: How Much Are Your Vehicles Costing You on the Way Back?
Your driver has delivered the load.
Job done.
But what happens next?
Does the vehicle return empty?
Could a return load have been arranged?
Could another collection have been incorporated into the journey?
Empty running is sometimes unavoidable, particularly where specialist vehicles, customer requirements or operational constraints limit opportunities.
But every avoidable empty mile represents vehicle operating costs without a corresponding paying load.
For example, if a vehicle returns empty for 100 miles, at 8 mpg and £2 per litre, that’s approximately £114 in fuel alone.
Do that twice a week over 50 weeks and you’re looking at approximately £11,400 in fuel expenditure on those return journeys.
Not all of that amount would necessarily be saved by securing a return load, but it illustrates why reviewing empty mileage matters.
Sometimes the opportunity isn’t in negotiating a better diesel price.
It’s in making better use of the vehicles you’re already paying to operate.
6. Poor Route Planning Can Affect Drivers’ Hours and Working Time
Fuel isn’t the only concern.
A badly planned route can also create problems with drivers’ hours, working time and delivery schedules.
Imagine a driver has been given a journey that looks achievable on paper.
But the plan hasn’t properly accounted for traffic, loading delays, suitable stopping places or the driver’s remaining available driving time.
The result?
The driver may need to stop before reaching the intended destination.
The delivery may be delayed.
Another vehicle or driver may be required.
Or the transport office may be left trying to rearrange an already tight schedule.
And that’s assuming everyone stays within the law.
No delivery deadline is an excuse to breach drivers’ hours regulations.
Transport Managers and planners need to understand the rules governing driving time, breaks, daily and weekly rest, and working time.
Useful official guidance includes:
Drivers’ hours: goods vehicles – GOV.UK
Road transport working time – GOV.UK
A properly planned journey should be achievable within the applicable rules, not depend on everything going perfectly.
7. What Could Better Route Planning Actually Save Your Business?
Let’s look at another example.
Imagine you operate ten HGVs.
Each vehicle covers approximately 60,000 miles annually.
That’s a combined fleet mileage of 600,000 miles.
At 8 mpg and £2 per litre, your estimated annual fuel expenditure would be approximately £682,000.
Now consider what happens if better route planning reduces total mileage without reducing the amount of work completed.
| Reduction in fleet mileage | Miles avoided annually | Potential annual fuel saving |
|---|---|---|
| 1% | 6,000 | £6,820 |
| 2% | 12,000 | £13,641 |
| 3% | 18,000 | £20,461 |
| 5% | 30,000 | £34,102 |
These are illustrative scenarios, not guaranteed savings. The calculations assume the same average fuel efficiency and diesel price, and do not account for changes in route conditions or operating patterns.
But they demonstrate something important.
Even a relatively small improvement in route efficiency could make a noticeable difference to a haulage company’s bottom line.
And unlike the price of diesel, route planning is something operators can actively review and improve.
8. Seven Things Every Haulage Operator Should Check This Week
Before spending more money on fuel, ask whether you’re making the best use of what you’re already buying.
Here are seven practical checks worth carrying out:
- Review your regular routes. Are vehicles covering unnecessary mileage or following routes that haven’t been reviewed for years?
- Check your HGV restrictions. Are vehicle dimensions and weights correctly entered into suitable route-planning systems?
- Look at delivery sequences. Could changing the order of collections and deliveries reduce mileage or avoid congestion?
- Monitor empty running. Are there realistic opportunities to combine journeys or arrange return loads?
- Check drivers’ hours before allocating work. Are routes achievable with the necessary breaks, rest periods and realistic allowances for delays?
- Compare planned mileage against actual mileage. If vehicles consistently travel further than expected, find out why.
- Invest in your planners’ knowledge. Do the people arranging your journeys understand vehicle restrictions, fuel efficiency, compliance and the practical realities of HGV operations?
That last point is particularly important.
Because even the best route-planning software is only as useful as the information entered into it and the knowledge of the person using it.
9. Your Route Planner Could Be One of the Most Important People in Your Business
Think about it.
Your transport planner can influence how far your vehicles travel, which roads they use, how efficiently deliveries are scheduled and how well journeys fit within drivers’ hours regulations.
Get those decisions right and the business benefits.
Get them wrong and the costs can multiply across the fleet.
Yet how many businesses provide their planners with structured training?
How many expect someone to learn everything on the job?
And how many only realise there’s a knowledge gap when something goes wrong?
Route planning isn’t simply typing a postcode into a computer. It’s a skill that combines commercial awareness, operational knowledge and legal compliance.
Mastering Route Planning for HGVs – Online Training from NTP
At NTP Online Learning, we understand that transport operations involve much more than getting a vehicle from A to B.
That’s why we’ve developed our Mastering Route Planning for HGVs online course.
The course covers key areas including:
- The role of a traffic planner.
- HGV route-planning principles.
- Drivers’ hours and working time.
- Fleet and vehicle selection.
- Vehicle weights and dimensions.
- Driver scheduling and operational planning.
It’s designed to help learners develop a stronger understanding of the decisions involved in planning HGV journeys.
Course price: £195 + VAT
With 12 months’ online access and a certificate of completion, learners can develop their knowledge around their existing commitments.
[Explore NTP’s Mastering Route Planning for HGVs course – insert confirmed course URL]
10. Route Planning and Fuel-Efficient Driving: Why You Need Both
There’s one more thing worth considering.
You could plan an excellent route, but if the vehicle is being driven inefficiently, there’s still potential for unnecessary fuel consumption.
Harsh acceleration, excessive speed, poor anticipation and unnecessary idling can all influence fuel use.
Likewise, even a fuel-conscious driver may struggle to achieve good results if they’re repeatedly sent on inefficient journeys.
Good route planning and fuel-efficient driving work together.
That’s why it’s worth reviewing both the routes being planned and the way vehicles are driven.
NTP also offers Fuel Efficient Driving training, helping businesses and drivers develop their understanding of more economical driving practices.
[Explore NTP’s Fuel Efficient Driving course – insert confirmed course URL]
For further reading, the Energy Saving Trust provides information on reducing energy use and improving transport efficiency.
The Bottom Line: You Can’t Control the Price of Diesel, But You Can Influence How Much You Use
Let’s be realistic.
Haulage operators cannot simply stop buying diesel because the price becomes uncomfortable.
Vehicles still need to move.
Customers still need their deliveries.
Drivers still need to be paid.
And businesses still need to make enough money to survive.
But there are areas where operators can take control.
You can review your routes.
You can reduce avoidable mileage.
You can improve vehicle allocation.
You can identify unnecessary empty running.
And you can make sure the people responsible for planning journeys have the knowledge to do their jobs effectively.
At £2 per litre, every wasted mile deserves attention.
Because when you’re running a haulage business, it’s not always the big, obvious expenses that cause the most damage.
Sometimes it’s the ten unnecessary miles here, the avoidable diversion there, and the same inefficient journey being repeated week after week.
And before you know it, thousands of pounds have disappeared.
Not because you bought the wrong fuel.
But because you used more of it than you needed to.
Could Your Haulage Business Benefit from Better Route Planning?
If you’re responsible for planning HGV journeys, managing a transport operation or looking for practical ways to improve fleet efficiency, take a look at NTP’s online training.
Mastering Route Planning for HGVs – £195 + VAT
Learn more about the principles behind planning safe, compliant and efficient HGV journeys.
[Find out more about our route-planning training – insert confirmed course URL]
Fuel Efficient Driving
Discover how driving behaviour can contribute to more economical vehicle operation.
[Explore our Fuel Efficient Driving training – insert confirmed course URL]
Or speak to the NTP team about which training may be most suitable for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to run an HGV for one mile?
Fuel costs depend on diesel prices and vehicle efficiency. At £2 per litre and an average of 8 mpg (UK), an HGV would use approximately £1.14 of diesel per mile. This excludes wages, maintenance and other operating expenses.
Can better route planning reduce HGV fuel costs?
Yes. Better route planning can help reduce unnecessary mileage, avoid unsuitable roads, improve delivery scheduling and minimise avoidable delays. The amount saved depends on the routes, vehicles and existing efficiency of the operation.
Is the shortest HGV route always the most fuel-efficient?
No. The shortest route may involve congestion, steep gradients, frequent stops or unsuitable roads. The most economical route should consider vehicle restrictions, journey conditions, fuel consumption and legal requirements.
How much could a haulage company save by reducing mileage?
For a fleet of ten HGVs covering 600,000 miles annually at 8 mpg, reducing total mileage by 2% could save approximately £13,641 in fuel at £2 per litre, assuming fuel efficiency remains unchanged.
Why is HGV-specific route planning important?
HGVs face restrictions involving height, weight, width, length and access. Suitable route planning helps drivers avoid unsuitable roads and supports safe, compliant and efficient journeys.
Do transport planners need training?
There is no universal standalone qualification requirement for everyone working as an HGV transport planner. However, training can help planners understand vehicle restrictions, drivers’ hours, working time, scheduling and other operational responsibilities.
Can fuel-efficient driving training help reduce operating costs?
Fuel-efficient driving techniques can help drivers avoid unnecessary fuel consumption. Anticipating traffic, maintaining appropriate speeds and reducing unnecessary idling may improve efficiency, although results vary according to vehicles and operating conditions.