While your fleet doesn’t have control over the price of fuel, you can help control your trucks’ fuel economy. Even if you only improve your fuel mileage by one mile per gallon, you can save thousands over the year for each truck. Your fleet can improve fuel mileage by taking several steps, including fleet maintenance by Mast Service Center in Etna Green, IN, and adding aerodynamic devices.
1. Drop Your Speed
We understand that truckers have deadlines to meet, and sometimes they can’t slow down since they’re already late. However, just slowing down by one mile per hour decreases fuel usage by 0.14 mpg. If every fleet driver drove 1 mph below the speed limit, they’d still get there on time and lower fuel costs.
2. Check the Tires
Ensuring the truck is properly aligned and the truck and trailer tires all have the proper air pressure can save you money in fuel costs. For each pound-per-square-inch drop in tire pressure, fuel economy decreases by 0.3 percent. Drivers should check tire pressure prior to each trip.
3. Clean the Air Filter
Driving with a dirty air filter can also affect fuel efficiency. The grime in the air filter prevents the proper amount of air from getting into the engine, which means the engine will use more fuel.
4. Use Energy-Conserving Oil
Truckers should always keep extra bottles of oil and other fluids on their trucks. Make sure they have energy-conserving oil, which helps the engine operate at its maximum efficiency, thus, reducing fuel usage.
5. Improve Aerodynamics
If your fleet doesn’t have wind deflectors, add them. Mast Service Center, near Nappanee IN, can install wind deflectors and teach your drivers how to use them. They should always be set to deflect the wind over the highest part of the trailer or load.
Additionally, if drivers drive with the windows up, they can also make the truck more aerodynamic and save fuel.
6. Plan Your Route
Your fleet drivers can also increase fuel efficiency by planning their routes. Those who drive the same route every day know where the hang-ups are. Permanently changing the route if one or more sections always have traffic jams or accidents can save a lot of fuel.
For those driving long-haul loads, have a driver plan the route the day before. With route planning apps, they can avoid construction areas. If the driver keeps an eye on the local traffic through GPS or an app, they can learn of traffic jams soon enough to take an alternative route.
7. Load the Truck Properly
Make sure the load is evenly distributed. Keep the cargo as low as possible, and make sure the same amount of weight is consistent throughout the trailer. In addition to saving money on fuel, unbalanced loads are also a safety concern.
8. Use Your Truck’s Momentum
The heavier a truck’s load, the more momentum it has. Drivers can coast down hills to save fuel economy. If there are two or more hills in succession, drivers can make it partially up the next hill before having to step on the accelerator. While each small adjustment may not seem like a lot, when you add them all up over a trip, you’d be surprised at how much fuel you can save.
Contact Mast Service Center
Keeping your fleet maintained is a significant contributing factor to better fuel economy. Contact Mast Service Center at (574) 646-2127 to discuss your fleet’s maintenance needs or to install wind deflectors. We are conveniently located at 8608 In-19, Etna Green, IN 46524.
