One Truck's Fuel Economy

[ATeam]

Fuel economy inquiries are often posted here. Diane and I run in a fleet owner's truck that we've been in since August, 2004. Our fuel results through year-end are posted below. I have no point to make with the info, just sharing it because it may be of interest to folks researching trucks or the expediting industry. Perhaps others might follow my lead and share their fuel info too. People doing research do appreciate such information from real world expediters.

The truck is a 2001 Freightliner Century Class with a 500 HP Detroit engine and twin screws (two drive axles, no lift axle). The idle adjust figure deducts 300 gallons of fuel consumption to account for fuel burned while idling. The number is an estimate of hours we spent idling August thru December. The truck is not equipped with a reefer or generator.

Start Miles (8/04): 455,413
Year End Miles: 513,026
2004 Miles: 57,613
Gallons Used: 5,924.45
Average Price/Gal: $1.98
Total Fuel Expense: $11,729.58
MPG: 9.72
Idle Adjust (-300 Gal.) 5,624.45
Idle Adjusted MPG: 10.24

To our surprise, and even with idling, we found we get slightly better fuel economy with this truck than with two previous trucks we drove. Both of those were Freightliner Century Class trucks with a CAT 350 engine, single drive axle, lift axle, and generator which eliminated the need to idle. The trucks were also reefer equipped which added weight and an additional fuel-consuming device.

 

[Glen Rice]

Keeping track of your numbers as you have done should be on everyones mind as fuel prices will never come down. Knowing idle time and other times that fuel economy are effected is critical in making good business decisions. It's funny how we all know our amount of deadhead and very few know what are actual cost per mile really is. Thanks for the great report, this is a area that we all need to pay attention to.

 

[Weave]

The Detroit S60 engines generally get better MPG than CAT C10's or 12's, as the Detroit is a more efficient overhead cam design. I now have mine set up at 360/470 HP, single drive axle, 10 speed manual, 21k empty weight and it consistently runs around 10 MPG average. (I gave up on keeping exact figures, but do track it time to time). That is with more idling than I care to admit to, and running the A/C all summer long. I still find it amazing comparing this setup with what I had in my old FL70. FL70 had 230 HP gutless Cummins, 6 speed manual, single drive, 17k EW, same (admittingly sort of bad) operating habits. MPG? About 10 also. Go figure!
-Weave-

 

[Broompilot]

T-300 Cummins 285 373 rear Pro Heat last week out for all miles was 8.39 mpg.

 

[RichM]

Freightliner Model 999 Custom Hybrid on loan for evaluation,Sprinter type diesel charging 16 48 volt batteries, 42 MPG highway,65 MPG city.

 

[LDB]

>Freightliner Model 999 Custom Hybrid on loan for
>evaluation,Sprinter type diesel charging 16 48 volt
>batteries, 42 MPG highway,65 MPG city.

After deducting weight of batteries and driver cargo capacity of negative 3842 pounds. :+

Leo
truck 767

Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.