Follow these tips to lower your fuel consumption, save money and improve your environmental performance.
At highway speeds, much of a truck’s energy is wasted pushing air out of the way. Aerodynamic devices lower the amount of drag and save a lot of fuel: 6 to 8 percent for cab roof fairings, 4 to 7 percent for trailer side skirts and at least 1 percent for trailer tails.
SmartWay-verified low rolling-resistance tires deliver fuel savings of 3 percent or more. They’re available from most manufacturers. Just ask your tire supplier.
The average long-haul truck idles about 1,800 hours per year, using about 5,600 litres (1,500 gallons) of fuel.
Many technologies can help drivers reduce truck idling, such as auxiliary power units (APUs) and direct-fired heaters. APUs use about 25 percent of the fuel that a truck engine consumes to idle; direct-fired heaters use only about 5 percent.
Speeding causes wear on engines, drivelines and tires, which leads to higher maintenance costs. For every 10 km/h above 90 km/h, you burn about 10 percent more fuel.
Using cruise control on the highway to keep a constant speed saves fuel. Remember: cruise control is not efficient or safe on slippery roads, steep hills or on sharp corners.
Shutting the vehicle off when you stop for 60 seconds or more will save fuel and lower your maintenance costs. An idling engine wastes about 3 litres (0.8 gallons) of fuel per hour.
Using this technique involves shifting before you reach the maximum governed rpm. In other words, shifting to the next highest gear as soon as the truck can handle the load.
Checking tire pressure should be done at least once a week. For every 10 psi your tires are under-inflated, you lose 15 percent of tread wear and consume up to 4 percent more fuel.
Limiting the tractor-trailer gap to about 64 cm (25 inches) where possible can prevent a 3 to 5 percent fuel consumption increase.
Besides being a legal requirement, inspecting your vehicle will help you find problems that can lead to accidents, breakdowns and lower fuel efficiency.