In today’s competitive marketplace, finding areas to save on costs is always a concern. In the trucking industry, where there cost of fuel is a major expense to business, new technologies which help carriers to economize on fuel are emerging on a regular basis – but often not without some hiccups in the beginning. Diesel exhaust aftertreatment for example, caused a great deal of problems for maintenance managers when it was first introduced, but as technology improved the entire trucking industry is now seeing improved fuel economy.
Carriers investing in new technologies
Carrier, JB Hunt has been able to see a fuel economy increase of 14% over the last three years. Some of the technologies that helped them achieve this include selective catalytic reduction (SCR), as well as dry vans that are equipped with low rolling resistance tires and skirts.
In addition to these measures, JB Hunt also spec’d automated manual transmissions and raised the top speed on their cruise control to 65 mph, which in turn incentivized drivers to use cruise more often. The company continues to evaluate new technologies which might even further improve its fuel economy. And JB Hunt isn’t the only carrier that is looking for a competitive advantage in its mileage. At Hirschbach, drivers are encouraged to remember the important role that they play in fuel economy. Depending on the driver, fuel economy can change by as much as 30%. It’s important therefore for companies to get buy in from their drivers.
C&S Wholesale Groceries which owns its own fleet upgrades a quarter of its tractors each year. Over the past three years, this has meant a 20% reduction in its diesel fuel consumption. It has also resulted in better vehicle reliability and more satisfied drivers.
Can you improve fuel efficiency without buying new equipment?
But even companies that cannot afford to buy the latest technology can take simple steps to improve their fuel efficiency. For example, most fleets typically run with a 50-inch trailer gap. But the optimal gap is 43 inches. Simply by shortening the trailer gap from 50 inches to 43 inches can result in a 1% fuel savings on the highway.
Faster rear axle ratios can also help to improve fuel efficiency. If you would like more tips and advice to improve the fuel efficiency of your fleet, contact Trux Solutions today.
