The cost of fuel is the biggest expense for motor carriers per mile.
Drivers OTR can run upwards of 130,000 miles in a year, and across all those miles a 1 MPG difference can save trucking companies more than $10,000 annually. This is why some companies offer fuel efficiency bonuses every month for drivers; because good fuel habits will help everyone in the long run.
Here are some quick – and in most cases easy-to-implement – tips to save fuel that can add up to big dollars.
Yes, it’s an inconvenience, but it’s worth it. And you have to do them anyway.
Start with the tires. If tire air pressure is reduced even 1 PSI, you can lose .3% of your fuel economy. Keeping the tires in proper alignment will also save a lot of money over time.
Monitor the fan (it should only run about 6% of the time). Inspect the engine and cables because corroded cables can force the alternator to work harder. Look at the brakes, fluid levels and the trailer to ensure everything is as it should be.
Applications like Samsara can track idle time. Rewarding a good idle percentage is a great idea, as it is a major contributor to fuel efficiency. Depending on the season, drivers should be encouraged to stay within a certain range. Idling for just an hour can consume one gallon of fuel, so it’s an important metric to emphasize. There are several states like Connecticut that have time limit laws for idling, where drivers have as little as a 3-minute time limit.
