In The News
.jpg)
6 Driving Best Practices to Boost Your Fuel Economy (and Profit)
As an expedite owner-operator, it’s not how much money you make, it’s what you get to keep that matters most. And your fuel expense is a major determinant of how much profit you generate.
That’s because although you don’t have control over fuel prices, you can achieve significant fuel savings through proper driving techniques. In fact, according to a report by the American Trucking Associations, there’s as much as a 35-percent difference in fuel economy between highly skilled and less-skilled truck operators.
So, what techniques will make the biggest difference on your fuel costs? Follow these six best practices.
1. Think “smooth and steady.”
Some owner-operators are tempted to engage in aggressive driving – such as speeding, sudden lane changes, harsh acceleration and hard braking. But according to the U.S. Department of Energy, aggressive driving is not only dangerous, but it also lowers fuel economy by as much as 33-percent at highway speeds and 5-percent around town. If you adjust your driving style to accelerate and stop as smoothly as possible, you’ll see an immediate improvement in fuel consumption.
2. Eliminate excessive idle.
According to the EPA, one hour of idle consumes anywhere from 0.5 to over 1 gallon of fuel per hour, depending on vehicle class and engine type.
For example, suppose you idled the engine six to eight hours per day to heat your truck during the winter, at a rate of one gallon of fuel per hour. That’s six to eight gallons of fuel wasted per day. At $2.73 per gallon of diesel (the national average according to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report as of press time), that’s about $16 to $22 lost each day from idling. Spread that over a 100 or so of cold days each year -- and you’re looking at $1,600 to $2,200 taken out of your pocket.
A solution is to install an idle reduction device like a Webasto or Espar (globally branded as Eberspaecher) auxiliary air heater. These systems enable you to ensure in-cab comfort during harsh winter months without wasting fuel from engine idle.
3. Comply with speed limits.
According to the American Trucking Associations (ATA), a truck traveling at 75 mph burns 27-percent more fuel than one going 65 mph. And the EPA says that fuel mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 mph. Find a “sweet spot” cruising speed that enables you to travel safely at optimal fuel efficiency.
4. Be vigilant about maintaining proper tire pressure.
According to the EPA, a tire that’s underinflated by just 10 pounds per square inch (psi) can reduce fuel efficiency by up to one percent per tire. That’s because as a tire loses air, it flexes, increasing the surface area of the tire that touches the road, which generates greater friction. And that means the truck requires more energy – or fuel – to overcome the added road resistance.
5. Be strategic with driver stops
In an interview with Overdrive, owner-operator Henry Albert talks about how he plans his rest stops at high elevations because it’s easier (and more fuel efficient) to get his truck back up to speed going down a grade as opposed to trying to accelerate uphill.
Each stop consumes about one-third of a gallon to return to speed, according to trucking carrier C.R. England. The company recommends that drivers consolidate stops for food, fuel, showers, maintenance, pre-trips, and personal needs to reduce fuel expense.
6. Be smart with exhaust regeneration
C.R. England also estimates that over-the-road diesel exhaust regeneration consumes about one gallon of fuel, compared to three gallons for parked regeneration. So, if your truck is idling and the dash light indicates that a regen is required, try to change duty status so you can be on the road when regeneration occurs to save extra fuel.
The Bottom Line
Saving fuel doesn’t have to be a major ordeal. Even small changes in your driving habits can make a big impact on your fuel economy -- and how much money you ultimately get to keep.