Fleet technology provider Lightfoot has warned that continued volatility in global fuel markets is making long-term cost planning increasingly difficult for operators, while pointing to driver efficiency as a controllable lever for reducing expenditure.

According to the company, petrol prices have fluctuated between around 106p and 191p per litre over the past five years, while diesel has ranged from 112p to nearly 199p. These shifts, representing swings of up to 80%, have introduced significant uncertainty for fleet managers attempting to manage operating budgets.

A combination of global and domestic pressures has contributed to this instability. The impacts of Covid, geopolitical tensions including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the threat of international tariffs, and UK-specific factors such as taxation have all played a role in shaping fuel price movements.

David Savage, Chief Revenue Officer at Lightfoot, said the scale and unpredictability of these fluctuations reinforce the need for fleets to focus on areas within their control.

“Petrol and diesel costs can spike rapidly due to global events or supply pressures, and for fleets running hundreds or thousands of vehicles, even small per-litre changes can add hundreds of thousands of pounds to annual fuel bills,” said Savage.

The financial exposure extends beyond direct fuel costs. Rising energy prices can feed through supply chains, increasing delivery costs and placing additional pressure on businesses already managing broader cost increases.

Lightfoot points to driver behaviour as a key factor in mitigating these pressures. Its data indicates that in 2025, drivers using its system saved around 109 litres of fuel for every 10,000 miles driven, suggesting that efficiency gains can translate into measurable cost reductions at scale.

“In 2025, Lightfoot drivers saved around 109 litres of fuel for every 10,000 miles driven. If fuel reaches £2 per litre, that’s roughly £218 saved per vehicle – and for large fleets those efficiency gains quickly add up. That’s a meaningful financial buffer against market uncertainty,” Savage said.

The company’s in-cab coaching technology is designed to address common behaviours that increase fuel consumption, including excessive acceleration, harsh braking, and engine idling. Fleets using the system have reported fuel economy improvements of up to 15%, with a further 9% miles-per-gallon increase linked to use of the Lightfoot driver app.

The issue of energy price volatility is not limited to internal combustion engine vehicles. As fleets transition towards electrification, exposure to fluctuating electricity prices presents a parallel challenge, particularly in markets where power generation remains partly reliant on gas.

“Volatility doesn’t just affect petrol and diesel – it can also influence electricity prices,” said Savage. “That means even fleets moving to electric vehicles need to think carefully about how they manage energy use and efficiency. The underlying principle is the same whatever the fuel type.”

This reflects a wider shift in fleet management, where operational efficiency is becoming a central consideration alongside decarbonisation goals. While electrification is often positioned as a route to lower emissions and reduced running costs, the variability of energy markets means that consumption levels remain a critical factor.

Within this context, technologies that provide real-time feedback and behavioural insights are being used to reduce unnecessary energy use. By focusing on how vehicles are driven, rather than solely on the type of fuel used, operators can address both cost and emissions in parallel.

Lightfoot’s position aligns with broader industry trends that place increased emphasis on data-driven decision making in fleet operations. As businesses face ongoing uncertainty in global energy markets, the ability to monitor and influence driver behaviour is being seen as a practical step towards greater cost stability.

Savage said that while external factors will continue to shape fuel and energy prices, internal efficiencies offer a more immediate and reliable response.

“The reality is that fleets can’t control what happens to energy prices,” he said. “But they can control how efficiently their vehicles are driven. In an unpredictable market, reducing consumption through smarter driving and better data is one of the most effective strategies available to fleet managers – and the results speak for themselves.”