Calculate your monthly fuel costs, cost per stop, and see how much you could save by tightening your routes
Fuel is one of the largest variable costs for pool service businesses. Understanding your true fuel costs per stop, per mile, and per month helps you price services correctly, evaluate route efficiency, and make smart decisions about vehicle purchases and route optimization.
Most pool pros underestimate their fuel costs because they don't track them systematically. A typical pool service truck driving 75 miles per day at 18 MPG with $3.50 gas costs about $15 per day or $325 per month in fuel alone. That's over $3,900 per year per vehicle.
When you calculate cost per stop, you might find that fuel costs $0.75-$1.50 per pool visit. This needs to be factored into your service pricing to ensure profitability.
Route Density: The biggest factor in fuel costs is how spread out your accounts are. A tight route in one neighborhood might only require 40 miles per day, while a scattered route covering multiple cities could hit 120 miles or more.
Vehicle Choice: The difference between an 18 MPG truck and a 25 MPG SUV is significant over time. At 75 miles per day, that's the difference between $320 and $230 per month - nearly $1,100 per year in savings.
Driving Habits: Aggressive acceleration, excessive idling, and speeding all reduce fuel efficiency. Training yourself and employees on efficient driving can save 10-15% on fuel.
Vehicle Maintenance: Under-inflated tires, dirty air filters, and deferred maintenance reduce fuel efficiency. Regular maintenance keeps your MPG at optimal levels.
Route optimization - reorganizing your stops to minimize total driving distance - typically saves 10-25% on fuel costs. For a business spending $400/month on fuel, that's $40-$100 in monthly savings per vehicle, or $500-$1,200 per year.
Route optimization also saves time. Every mile you don't drive is time you could spend servicing an additional pool or finishing your day earlier.
DIY Route Optimization:
Software-Based Optimization:
Your fuel cost per stop should be factored into your service pricing. If fuel costs you $1.00 per stop and you charge $150/month for weekly service (4.33 visits), that's $4.33 in fuel per customer per month - about 3% of revenue. Knowing this helps you:
Most pool service technicians drive 50-100 miles per day, depending on route density and service area. Urban routes with clustered accounts might be 40-60 miles, while suburban or rural routes can exceed 100 miles. Track your actual mileage for accurate fuel cost calculations.
There's no single best vehicle - it depends on your needs. Pickup trucks offer cargo space but get 15-20 MPG. Cargo vans provide enclosed storage and similar fuel economy. Smaller SUVs or crossovers get 22-30 MPG but have less cargo room. Many successful pool pros use Toyota Tacomas, Ford Rangers, or Honda CR-Vs with roof racks and small trailers.
Yes. Fuel is a real cost of doing business. Calculate your fuel cost per stop (typically $0.50-$1.50) and ensure your pricing covers it with margin. Some pros set higher minimum prices for accounts outside their core service area to account for extra fuel and drive time.
Route optimization typically reduces total miles driven by 10-25%, directly translating to 10-25% fuel savings. For a business spending $400/month on fuel, that's $40-$100 in monthly savings. Over a year across multiple vehicles, the savings can be substantial - often thousands of dollars.
Hybrid vehicles can significantly reduce fuel costs (35-45 MPG) and work well for pool service. Fully electric vehicles face challenges with range and cargo capacity, plus you need reliable charging. As EV technology improves, they may become more practical. For now, hybrids offer the best balance of fuel savings and practicality.
Keep a fuel log or use apps like Fuelly or GasBuddy to track fill-ups. Note odometer reading, gallons, and price at each fill. Over time, you'll get accurate MPG data for your specific vehicle and driving conditions. Many pool service software platforms also track mileage automatically.
Use whatever your vehicle's manufacturer recommends. Most trucks and vans run fine on regular (87 octane). Using premium when regular is recommended doesn't improve performance or fuel economy - it just costs more. Only use premium if your vehicle requires it.
A $0.50 increase in gas prices costs about $20-30 more per month for a typical pool service vehicle. While not catastrophic, fuel price spikes can squeeze margins if you don't adjust pricing. Consider building a fuel surcharge clause into contracts that kicks in when gas exceeds a certain price, or simply factor higher fuel costs into your base rates.
While you're out on your route, Pool Dial answers every call professionally and captures new customer inquiries 24/7. Focus on efficient routes while AI handles your phone.
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