MPG

[JohnO]

January 26 finalized the deal on 98 FL70 and getting signed on with Landstar Express America have driven 2100 miles to date as a solo. Keeping my speed 60-62 mph I’ve averaged 11 mpg this includes using generator most evenings and some day periods.
On next run plan to fill up at beginning and end not using the generator then check mpg. Mind you if it’s cold I’ll look to mpg on a warmer run.
When driving for O/O's either paying for fuel or not I was conscious how I treated their trucks. Now with my own truck I see where I'm much more conscious of expenses and treatment of truck.
Still learning much about the quirks with this truck and really enjoying the overall experience.
Home enjoying the weekend celebrating my granddaughter’s 3rd birthday then maybe watching a little FOOTBALL Sunday.

 

[greg334]

Thats great.

I too average 10.5 to 11 if I keep my foot out of it and drive at 64 MPH. I find that if I push the truck hard, shift hard (above 1500, like 1600) and get in a hurry, it drops to 9. Although I am concern with my last run, around 570 miles round trip, the fuel gauge dropped more than it should.

The other thing is idling, which I am trying not to do but because where I am sitting, it got down to 6 (Wind chill somewhere around -15), I had to idle 10 hours with the truck never warming up and expect to have used around 9 gallons of fuel and see my mileage drop to 5. I may try out idle aire to night seeing I have the adapters (two for some reason) and say I at least tried it.

The APU is now a priority for me.

 

[TeamCaffee]

John good job with the new truck. We find this time of year unless we are really running hard we have generator time on the fuel. The best time for us to really check how we are doing is in the spring and in the fall. That is one area you can really save money and like Greg said keeping your foot out of it really helps! We watch our fuel mileage constantly and you can tell when it is about time to have the over head run on the truck as our mileage starts slipping. Bob really watches our truck and how it sounds and how it reacts to keep on top of anything that might be going wrong. We do a lot of preventive maintenance.

 

[lanier1]

I'm having similar results with my 99 FL 70. I too try to minimize idling with my sleeping bag and a blanket but it is brrrrr cold in the north for this southern boy. I am in the Georgetown, KY Motel 6 tonight for $32 including tax. It ain't the Ritz but its new and seems clean. I can't idle 24 hours that cheap and I'm dispatched for Monday if the Colts win so I won't be getting a run between now and then.

I want an APU bad but its just not in the budget right now.

 

[greg334]

"I'm dispatched for Monday if the Colts win so I won't be getting a run between now and then"
You too?

If the bears lose, which may happen, I get to head down to indy with some runs but if they win, I am tied up all day in near zero weather.

 

[Broompilot]

It changes so much with the weather conditions I feel like a weather man by my mpg. The only time I do well in bad weather is if the wind is behind me, otherwise I put the sails up and mother nature takes care of my fuel savings. (wind drag kills me)

Good weather 9-9.8

Good weather with the wind at my but, once I got 11.

Freezing but cold, windy snow, ice. 8-8.5.

Average speed 63, slow on take offs, and brake well before I need to or let it coast until I need to brake such as stop lights, try to keep rolling and not have to start from 0.

 

[lanier1]

Are you pre dispatched as well?

 

[nightcreacher]

its hard to determine true fuel milage in the winter,but you still have to take this as an average
all winter fuel has aditives in it,so your mileage will be lower,then you have to consider wind and where you are running,but this will change your mileage even in the summer.
fuel next to a co-driver is your biggest expense,I like the 55 mph states,my mileage goes way up.