Pro Installer April 2019 - Issue 73 | Page 38

38 | APRIL 2019 Motoring Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk FIVE TOP TIPS TO SAVE CASH ON FUEL Motorists can save cash at the fuel pumps by taking advantage of five cost cut- ting pieces of advice aimed at Britain’s army of truck and van drivers. Experts from one of the UK’s leading van suppliers LeaseVan.co.uk have conducted research on the most effective ways drivers can cut costs at the pumps. While their tips are aimed at helping van and truck drivers save cash at the pumps, they can be utilised by any motorist to cut the costs of driving. Last May fuel prices went through the big- gest monthly increase since tracking prices began nearly two decades ago. But canny drivers can still ensure their cash goes further at the fuel pumps by fol- lowing a few simple tips. Here are the tips from LeaseVan.co.uk to avoid paying premium prices at the pumps: Avoid motorway service stations at all costs Fuel can be cheaper in rural areas Fuel tends to be 10 to 15 pence more ex- pensive per litre than the national average at motorway service stations. The RAC have argued the massively inflated prices are set so high to simply take advantage of motor- ists having limited options when travelling on the motorway. Sometimes it can pay to turn off the main road or motorway and travel a few miles into a more rural location where fuel prices can be cheaper. If a driver can save just a few pence per litre on a big fill-up, over time the savings can be significant. Take advantage of supermarket price wars Supermarket chains often vie for motor- ist’s custom by cutting their headline petrol and diesel prices, making them a valuable place for drivers to fill up their vans. Most supermarkets also have their own loyalty card scheme, which can be used to accrue points each time fuel is purchased. These points will normally earn drivers a discount the next time they fill up. Last May fuel prices ‘ went through the biggest monthly increase since tracking prices began ’ Download an app A useful way to check whether going to a more rural petrol station would be beneficial is by downloading an app on your smart- phone. There are several apps available that inform a driver of near-by petrol stations and their prices for fuel. The apps are regularly updated meaning costs should be accurate even with frequent fluctuating fuel prices. The amount of fuel put in Depending on the size of a car or van’s fuel tanks, putting in less fuel could save drivers more money. Van drivers could cut costs by only part-filling their tank, carrying less weight means the engine is not put under as much load and therefore less fuel is burned. Be aware that consistently driving on low-fuel can cause damage to the internal components of the vehicle. When a tank is empty it collects debris, which is then pumped through the rest of the van when re-filled, causing damage to the fuel pump and filter. BUSINESS Icotherm started the year with a bang There is a lot going on in the solid roof market landscape – including business restructures taking brands out of contention, but one thing that is reassuringly constant is Icotherm Roof Systems. “2018 was a record year for us as we are experiencing a steady increase in demand for our roofs. Moving to our Blackburn premises - a year ago already - has allowed us to support this growth”, says Marketing Manager Anne-Marie Busch. Investments in machinery, software and staff, combined with continuous improvements to our production line and to the roof system itself, are all part of our commitment to be the solid roof supplier of choice. We be- lieve the Icotherm roof is the best of its kind on the market today; easy to install, high performing, fully ventilated, and with a dedi- cated customer support team. And this success was re- flected when we started the year with a bang, once again seeing record roof sales in the first quarter of 2019. In the current climate this undoubt- edly positions us as a leading supplier of timber framed solid roofs. ABOUT ICOTHERM: Icotherm Roof Systems is a trading name of Iconserva- tories Limited. Icotherm Roof Systems designs and manu- factures timber framed warm roof solutions for the trade. Our most popular roof, Icoroof – a pitched roof, has sold in the thousands since its inception in 2014. [email protected] www.icotherm.co.uk