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This is more metaphorical than\u00a0practical advice, but you get the picture: Accelerate smoothly and brake softer and earlier, as though a raw egg were taped to the sole of your boot.<\/p>\n
Fuel economy is probably not at the top of your list of priorities. You\u2019re more concerned with running your business, taking care of your customers, and turning a profit. Trucks are part of this mission, but purchase price, reliability, cost of service and parts, and resale value are often viewed by small fleets as more important than your trucks\u2019 miles per gallon.<\/p>\n
Still, few things can go straight to your bottom line, or detract from it, more than variations in fuel economy. You assume your people know how to drive, and if they don\u2019t have accidents, that\u2019s good enough. Is it?<\/p>\n
Drivers affect fuel economy more than all the advances in electronic controls, combustion design, air handling, and aerodynamics that go into modern trucks. Whether the fleet is composed of older trucks or near-new models, proper driving can make them deliver needed performance in their primary role of transportation and hauling as well as fuel economy.<\/p>\n
Below are some driving\u00a0and maintenance\u00a0tips that your people ought to know and practice. The tips come from manufacturers who built the trucks you use and from driving instructors this writer has learned from over the years.<\/p>\n
Find the time to share these with your employees, then follow through to see if they\u2019re improving. If you really want\u00a0improvements,\u00a0post the results so they can see how they stack up against their coworkers. Share\u00a0the\u00a0money saved with your drivers.<\/p>\n
1. Drive smoothly<\/p>\n
Do you really have to keep up with rat-racing traffic? Aggressive driving at any speed wastes fuel. At highway speeds, more fuel is consumed while repeatedly adjusting road speed.\u00a0From a standstill, jackrabbit starts are foolish and expensive.<\/p>\n
Instead, accelerate smoothly and brake softer and earlier, as though a raw egg were taped to the sole of your boot. Cruise at steady, moderate speeds and stay in one lane\u00a0maintaining\u00a0as constant a speed as you can.\u00a0Not only does smooth driving save fuel, it also prolongs the life of the driveline,\u00a0brakes,\u00a0and tires\u00a0\u2014\u00a0and lessens stress on you.<\/p>\n
2. Slow down<\/p>\n
Speeding wastes lots of fuel. Depending on how the truck is geared, fuel mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 and 60 mph. Even if the latest multi-speed transmissions keep engine revs low at higher speeds, it still takes more power to move the vehicle and overcome wind resistance.<\/p>\n
Yes, time is money, but if you can, leave earlier so you don\u2019t have to race to get there on schedule. It\u2019s also safer.<\/p>\n
3. Remove excess weight<\/p>\n
Carrying around an extra 100 pounds in the truck can reduce fuel mileage by up to 4%, manufacturers\u00a0say. If it\u2019s many hundreds of extra pounds, the cost is higher. In service trucks, how many of those tools, spare parts, nuts, bolts,\u00a0and screws are really needed?<\/p>\n
At the start of a work day, think about the jobs coming up and stock the truck accordingly.<\/p>\n
4. Use cruise control<\/p>\n
Activating cruise control helps save fuel in two ways: It keeps you from mindlessly driving at faster\u00a0\u2014\u00a0and less fuel-efficient\u00a0\u2014\u00a0speeds. It also keeps you from unintentionally slowing down then having to accelerate to regain the desired speed.<\/p>\n
Adaptive cruise control will adjust speed according to\u00a0the flow of traffic. Fuel-use\u00a0gauges on modern trucks\u2019 head units\u00a0show how driving habits can raise or lower\u00a0miles per gallon. Try to learn from them.<\/p>\n
5. Avoid idling the engine<\/p>\n
If the vehicle will be\u00a0parked\u00a0for a while and won\u2019t be\u00a0running an accessory with\u00a0PTO, shut off the engine. Idling to keep the cab warm or cool in cold or very hot weather is understandable, but not if you\u2019re going to be away from it for an extended time.<\/p>\n
It takes only a few minutes to warm or cool a cab upon your return. And not idling avoids spewing exhaust fumes into the air. If you\u2019re afraid the engine won\u2019t restart, then get it fixed. Engines with start-stop systems will automatically reduce idling if you leave the ignition on; let it work.<\/p>\n
6. Combine trips<\/p>\n
Your engine is more efficient when it\u2019s warmed up. Many short trips that start with a cool engine will use more fuel than a single, longer trip. If you can, schedule jobs as close to each other as possible, and do the job right so you don\u2019t have to go back.\u00a0You\u2019ll run fewer miles and burn less fuel this way.<\/p>\n
1. Listen to your drivers<\/p>\n
Listen to drivers\u2019 complaints about their trucks and check into them. If there are problems, get them corrected. It will save both\u00a0grief and money.<\/p>\n
2. Keep engines tuned<\/p>\n
Fixing an engine that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve fuel mileage by an average of 4%,\u00a0sometimes\u00a0much more. It will also make the engine run smoother, which drivers will appreciate. They tend to be hard on trucks whose engines aren\u2019t running right.<\/p>\n
3. Keep tires properly inflated<\/p>\n
Properly inflated tires are safer, handle better, last longer, and get better fuel economy. Low pressure causes heat that damages tires and can cause blowouts. Overinflated tires can cause uneven wear\u00a0as well as\u00a0ride and handling problems.<\/p>\n
Recommended tire inflation pressure can be found on a truck\u2019s certification decal, usually located\u00a0in\u00a0the driver\u2019s door, door pillar, glove box, operator\u2019s manual, or on the tires\u2019 sidewalls.<\/p>\n
4. Use the recommended\u00a0oil\u00a0grade<\/p>\n
Following the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil will keep your engine\u2019s lubrication system as efficient as possible. Using the wrong grade of oil\u00a0\u2014\u00a0either a higher or lower viscosity\u00a0\u2014\u00a0can drop fuel economy by up to 2% and possibly damage the engine.<\/p>\n
5. Use the correct octane<\/p>\n
Gasoline engines operate most efficiently on the recommended fuel octane listed in the owner\u2019s manual. For trucks,\u00a0the standard is\u00a087\u00a0octane\u00a0regular unleaded. Using a higher octane might make you feel better, but\u00a0it\u00a0is more expensive and doesn\u2019t improve\u00a0fuel economy or\u00a0engine performance.<\/p>\n
However,\u00a0where you fuel may affect performance: Buying\u00a0fuel\u00a0at a reputable outlet is safer than a no-name,\u00a0cut-rate place, which might be selling inferior or contaminated fuel.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s\u00a0also\u00a0good advice for diesel engines: Buy good quality Number 2 diesel, and in very cold weather, avoid thinning it with Number 1 unless your engine maker allows it.<\/p>\n
6. Tighten the fuel cap<\/p>\n
Most gasoline systems need both fuel and fumes for the engine to work most efficiently. Make sure to tighten the fuel cap all the way after every fill\u00a0up. Many modern vehicles will turn on the check engine light if they detect a bad seal at the fuel cap.<\/p>\n
Diesel tank caps likewise need to be tight. In both cases, secure caps ensure proper operation, avoid escaping fumes, and enhance fire safety.<\/p>\n
Tom Berg has been a truck writer for more than 40 years. He worked his way through college by driving\u00a0trucks and\u00a0got formal and informal instruction on safe and economical driving from pros in the business.\u00a0\u00a0\u200b<\/em><\/p>\n
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