One of the simplest things that you can do to save fuel in Truck Driving is to maintain correct tire pressure. As tires deflate, more of the tire surface comes into contact with the road. This creates extra friction which requires that you to spend more fuel to achieve the same speeds. Anyone that has been in the truck driving industry for any amount of time is aware of this fact. Less people are aware that the time of day that you measure your tire pressure makes a difference.

Heat will affect the tire pressure of the truck that you are driving. As you drive, your tires heat up, so it makes sense that you check your tire pressures at the start of the day. The recommended pressure ratings for the truck that you drive will be based on cold tire temperatures. Take the reading when your tires are at their coldest and you will be able to ensure that you have accurate pressures.

For most car drivers, these savings do not amount to a whole lot, but with truck driving you are traveling over long distances and putting a lot more miles on the clock. The fuel savings can make a big difference to your profitability. It takes a few minutes to check your tire pressures and is well worth the effort.

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This is part three of our Truck Driving Tips to Save you Money series. Today we are going to look at a few little maintenance tricks that can improve the fuel economy of the truck that you are driving.

Tires Make a Difference

Tires play an important role in fuel economy in truck driving. Tire pressure is absolutely critical to performance. This subject was broached in an article on Equipment Today very recently and is worth repeating.

As tires deflate, rolling resistance increases. “As you start to lose tire pressure, your sidewalls start to sag,” Matsil explains. There is more rubber on the road. “You have more friction, so the rolling resistance increases. Consequently, the amount of energy required to move the vehicle down the road increases.”

Check your tire pressure at least once per week and make sure that you do so in the morning. Tire pressures will change with temperature, so make sure that you fill your tires cold for the most accurate results. Just how important is tire pressure? According to the same article, correct tire pressure and axle alignment can reduce your fuel consumption by up to 3-4%. That is a sizeable amount, especially over a year.

Change your Filters Regularly

Fuel filters that are full will cause a loss of power that might see you revving the engine harder than would otherwise be necessary. Keep an eye on your fuel filters and change them as required. Air filters can have a similar impact and if you are in a dusty environment, you are going to need to change them more often.

Do you have any tips and tricks related to truck driving? If you do or have any truck driving related questions, please feel free to contact us at Associated Training Services.

This is part two in our Truck Driving Tips to Save you Money series. Today we are going to look at some more truck driving tips that will make better use of your horsepower. Conservative Truck Driving might not feel like a whole lot of fun, but if you are an owner-operator, it can reward you with a little bit extra at the end of each month.

Truck Design, Gear Ratios, Weight and Aerodynamics

If you already own a truck there is not a whole lot that you can do about aerodynamics. If, however, you are getting started in truck driving or planning on buying a new truck it is well worth considering the following tips from an article in Equipment Today. Some of the other tips are more general and can be incorporated regardless of the truck that you are driving.

“The gear ratio is another significant point,” says Matsil. “If you can get away with a numerically lower gear ratio, rear axle ratio – which means your accelerations will not be as brisk – that will help with fuel economy.” The trade-offs would be startability and gradeability.

Lower ratios will make it harder to ascend steep grades. If you are driving trucks in mountainous regions, then you ought to choose very carefully. You need enough from your gear ratio to be able to get up a steep incline, but you do not need more than that.

Weight is another issue. A light truck makes it possible to haul a larger payload. But remember that many trucks, such as dump trucks, spend half of their life travelling around empty.

I could not have put it better myself. Any truck that you are driving is going to be empty on the return trip. I think that this passage plays down the importance of weight a little. A heavier truck tends to require more fuel to do the same amount of work.

In addition, consider aerodynamic efficiency if your trucks spend much time travelling down the road. “As you improve the coefficient of drag – the aerodynamic efficiency – you squeeze more miles out of the same gallon of fuel,” says Matsil.

While it might not seem like you can do a whole lot about aerodynamic efficiency, something as simple as correct load placement can reduce drag. If the truck you are driving has a covered trailer it is obviously going to have greater aerodynamic efficiency than an uncovered load on a flat bed. Think about aerodynamics and you might be able to get a few gallons out here or there. Truck driving typically involves much longer journeys than most people make, for this reason, little things can make a big difference to yearly fuel costs.

If you have any questions about truck driving or are interested in obtaining your truck driving certification, please contact us at Associated Training Services.

If your career is truck driving, in particular if you are driving your own trucks, you will be all too aware that fuel price fluctuations can impact upon your bottom line. I came across a great article in Equipment Today that I thought was worth a second read. The author outlines truck driving fuel economy tips from different vehicle manufacturers.

Vehicle Specs

On vehicle specs, it is suggested that you pick a truck engine that is appropriately sized for the tasks that you are going to perform. Excess horsepower only means wasted fuel. Aim for what you need and perhaps a little bit extra, but don’t go overboard. Conservative truck driving is a great way to cut fuel costs.

Engine size ranks among the most important factors. “A good match between the engine and the payload is significant,” says Steve Matsil, global vehicle chief engineer, General Motors.

Likewise if the engine of the truck that you are driving is too small, you will require more fuel to squeeze out the extra horsepower that is required. An underpowered engine will have to work harder and thus burn more fuel.

“If you are constantly in an underpower condition – meaning you are putting out the maximum horsepower of the engine to accelerate to cruising speed to move into traffic – you are always in a two-pedal position either off or on the throttle,” says Matsil. “I suspect that you will not get the optimum fuel economy.”

If you are interested in learning more about truck driving, please feel free to contact us at Associated Training Services.