Want to boost your semi-truck fuel economy by 15 to 20% or more?
You can easily do that with these 5 tips!
With diesel fuel prices at or near all time highs, it’s never been more important to manage this critical business expense.
Slowing Down
One of the easiest ways to boost your semi-truck fuel economy is by slowing down. For every 1 mile per hour increase in speed, you will see about a 0.1% decrease in your MPG. This might not sound like much, but it can cost you an extra 1 MPG by traveling at 65 rather than 55 mph. At nearly $4 per gallon, those savings add up quickly!
There is a huge extra bonus here too because avoiding speeding can help prevent roadside inspections!
Keeping Tires Properly Inflated
We all know that proper tire inflation is critical to long tread life. But, did you also know that having properly inflated tires can help improve your fuel economy as well? A tire that is under-inflated by just 1 PSI can cause a 0.3% decrease in your MPG.
Regularly check all of your truck and trailer tires to ensure that they are properly inflated. This is another great way to avoid roadside inspections and avoid roadside maintenance calls.
Avoiding Idling
Obviously, it’s never good to use more fuel than is needed. Idling kills semi-truck fuel economy because you’re burning gas but not going anywhere.
A good rule of thumb is to not let your engine idle for more than 5 minutes when you’re stopped.
Of course, this is much easier said than done, especially with summer creeping in across most of the country and many semi-trucks aren’t equipped with auxiliary power units (APUs).
Good Driving Techniques
Proper driving techniques can also help improve a truck’s fuel economy.
Drivers should:
- Attempt to drive at constant speeds, when possible
- Try not to accelerate or brake aggressively
- Use good braking techniques to avoid coming to a complete stop, when possible
Carrying Less Fuel
This one is a bit more far fetched, but it can be effective. More weight equals less efficiency. A gallon of diesel weighs 7 pounds. So, two fully loaded tanks weigh in around 900 lbs. for most semi-trucks. Only filling the tanks 1/2 full will cut that weight down to around 500 pounds. Yes, there will be a trade-off due to making more fuel stops. But, this has proven to be beneficial to semi-truck fuel economy.
Investments that can help improve semi-truck fuel economy
All of the above tips are essentially free ways to improve your truck’s fuel economy. If you’re interested in making some long-term investments in improving fuel economy you can also:
- Consider Installing wind deflectors on your trailer
- Installing an Auxilary Power Unit (APU)
Wind deflectors can impact your fuel economy in a meaningful way, but there is extra weight associated with using them. They can also be relatively expensive and many trailer leasing companies don’t appreciate you drilling extra holes in their equipment.
A better investment would be installing an APU in your truck, if possible. The return on investment period for these are much shorter. Plus, you get an extra added bonus of reducing both actual and noise pollution!
My Safety Manager is a leading provider of fleet safety and trucking compliance services for fleets of all sizes. Our specialized safety management solutions help deliver results—safe drivers out on the road who are staying compliant with regulations.
We work with you to create customized solutions that meet your unique needs, taking work off your plate so you have more time to grow your business!
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