Keep Summer Gas Prices From Exhausting Your Budget

Remember earlier this year when oil topped $100 per barrel for the first time ever? It seems like a long time ago now that it's breaking new records and approaching $120 per barrel. For business owners and employees who spend a lot of time on the road, the thought of the usual summer gas price hike, which could reach above $4 per gallon according to the U.S. Department of Energy, may have them spewing, well, crude language.

This has become such a hot issue that earlier this month the House Committee on Small Business gathered for a hearing to address the impact of rising gas prices on small businesses. So what can road warriors and business owners do to prepare for high summer gas prices?

By Land

"It's important for your employees to know, when driving, to maximize their mileage and take the most direct route to their stops," says Marie Montgomery, spokesperson for the Automobile Club of Southern California. Montgomery also suggests, "In general, slow down. The more that you speed, the more fuel that you're going to burn."

The Federal Trade Commission offers several fuel-efficiency tips and reiterates Montgomery's advice, noting that gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. In addition, the FTC highlights something a business owner may overlook, which is extra weight in the trunk. Ditching 100 pounds of promos, fliers and snow chains could boost fuel economy by 2%. Furthermore, drivers can shave another 5% by not putting carrier crates on the roof and replacing a clogged air filter could offer a whopping 10% improvement. Lastly, the FTC says to keep your tires properly inflated.