Fuel Cost Optimisation
Fuel Cost Optimisation
Cooler is your data partner for achieving greater fleet efficiency and getting the most out of your vehicles.
Need world class telematics for your vehicles? Call 07 3848 6979, email info@cooler.au, or reach out to us online to book a discussion.
Data in Action
Our unified telematics platform helps you optimise fuel by:
- Fuel Consumption Tracking
- Waste Identification
- Monitoring EV Charging
How do fuel tax credits normally work for fleet operators?
Fuel tax credits allow eligible businesses to claim back the fuel tax (excise) included in the price of diesel and petrol used for business purposes. The credit rate depends on how the fuel is used:
- Heavy vehicles travelling on public roads: FTC equals the fuel excise minus the RUC, which represents the portion of excise retained for road infrastructure funding.
- Heavy vehicles travelling on private roads or off road: FTC equals the full excise rate, because no road cost recovery applies.
In practice, many operators use both public and private roads. For this reason they must divide their claims between the two rates. Using the ATO’s published rates from 2 February 2026, the position before 1 April looked like this:
Fuel use category | Excise (CPL) | RUC (CPL) | FTC rate (CPL) |
| Heavy vehicles on public roads | 52.6 | 32.4 | 20.2 |
| Off-road / other business use | 52.6 | N/A | 52.6 |
For the current published rates, refer to the ATO fuel tax credit rates page.
How will FTC rates work after April 1, 2026?
Many operators will assume that reducing the excise by 60.9% means that their FTC will be reduced by the same amount. That’s not exactly right.
The interaction between the FTC and the RUC means the picture is a little more complex. But for many operators, the news will be welcome.
Fuel use category | FTC before 1 April (CPL) | FTC from 1 April (CPL) | Change |
Heavy vehicles on public roads | 20.2 | 20.6 | +2% |
Off-road / other business use | 52.6 | 20.6 | −60.9% |
Cooler’s telemetry, powered by Geotab, is one of the only systems which uses the Odometer reading, not only GPS – this is the most accurate way to assess fuel burnt at idle Off-Road. Collecting this data couldn’t be easier – it can lead to huge savings.
Managing a modern fleet means balancing fuel and electric operations. Our platform brings both into one system to improve efficiency and reduce cost.
We start with consumption tracking, giving a clear baseline across fuel and energy use to identify inefficiencies and idle losses. Anomaly detection then provides visibility over refuelling activity, flagging issues like theft or misuse.
For transition planning, EV suitability analysis uses your data to recommend best-fit electric vehicles and forecast savings. In operation, EV charging monitoring shows live status and alerts to keep vehicles ready.
To reduce costs, charging optimisation shifts usage to lower-rate periods. Battery monitoring tracks health and degradation, ensuring reliable range.
This moves fleet management from tracking to active cost control—across both fuel and electric.
