Fuel Factors for Commercial Trucking

How Fuel Trumps Mileage – Every Time

FUEL FACTORS FOR FLEETS

What Is Fuel To You?

• Your Largest Cost after Salaries

• Equal to Salaries at $3.29/gallon

• Lost Expense in Surcharges: Large Fleets not recovering full costs

What Does Fuel Really Cost?

• Fifty Truck Fleet achieving 6.0 MPG• Prices of diesel - $3.00/gallon• Assumes 130,000 miles per year

• Your fleet spends $61,280 per truck• $3,064,000 in fuel per year

• Decrease fuel economy to 5.6 MPG = You now pay $65,640 per truck and $3,282,000 per year– That’s an additional:

• $4,360 for each truck• $218,000 for your fleet

Diesel prices leveling –

but when will it rise again?

HOW FLEETS CHANGE FUEL ECONOMY?

OK, fuel is important but…

SAE Factors Affecting Fuel Economy• Controllable:

– Speed– Inflation– Air Resistance– Tire Rolling Resistance– Load– Drive Line Friction

• Not Controllable:– Road Surface– Ambient Temperature– Terrain

The Cost Of Speed-Controllable Factor

6 MPG

5.5 MPG8% Loss

4.4 MPG26% Loss

3.6 MPG40% Loss

Source: Paccar/Kenworth

65

60

70

75

Inflation - Controllable Factor

• 90% of tire failures stem from improper inflation

• “Tire tread wears 9 -16 percent faster for every 10 percent a tire is below its fleet specified pressure.” - TMC

You spend 1% more on fuel

With every 10 PSI of underinflation!

Inflation in the Real WorldContinental study

0

20

40

60

80

zu hoch >10%

i.O. zu niedrig >10%

too high ok too low0

20

40

60

80

zu hoch >10%

i.O. zu niedrig >10%

too high ok too low

30% of power units are running too low!

40% of trailers are running too low!

Inflation pressure 100%

Correct value

Inflation pressure 130%

Overinflation vs. load

Inflation pressure 70%

Underinflation / overload

Increased deformation: = increased fuel consumption= increased stress

Inflation Effects

DRIVING RESISTANCE FACTORS

Controllable Factors: Once the easiest factors (speed and inflation) are controlled, we have to account for driving resistance factors.

Driving resistance - Impact on fuel consumption

Driving power = Driving resistance (aerodynamic, acceleration, uphill and rolling) x speed

Driving resistance - Impact on fuel consumption

35%

At average fleet operating conditions – between rural and highway operations – rolling resistance accounts for about 35% of fuel consumption.

Aerodynamics – Controllable Factor•20

% better fuel economy

•Aerodynamic truck vs. no aerodynamic devices

•5-10%

•Adding full roof flairing when pulling a van trailer

•2-4%

•Adding options such as side extender flairing and chassis flairing

•1-2%

•Using under hood air cleaners vs. cowl mounted air cleaners

•1-2.5%

•Using proper fifth wheel settings at an optimal 38” trailer gap

TIRE ROLLING RESISTANCEControllable Factors

Rolling Resistance Effect on Fuel

Steer Axle: 15% of RR

Drive Axle: 42.5% of RR

Trailer Axle: 42.5% of RR

FUEL FACTORS THE FLEET CAN CHANGE

Recommendations: CommonSense Maintenance• Inflation

– Twice Monthly Airing /Inflate Trailers/Flat Checks– FMCSA Roadside Survey: only 44% of all tires are within 5PSI of their target

inflation– 12% of tires of surveyed tires are in danger of premature failure– Properly Inflated Tires:

• Wear more evenly and at a slower rate• Ten PSI below recommended pressure costs 1% in fuel economy• Fleet inflation programs reduce road calls

• Fuel Efficient Tires and Retreads• Alignments/VAI• Matching of Tires• Management Commitment

Recommendations: Common Sense Driving

• Review Speeds: 70mph to 67mph saves 5%– Use the cruise control– Optimal RPM for the Engine

• Reduce Idling• Fleet Top Fuel Performers Driver training• Driver Training TMC• Driver Incentives (Speed Bonuses, MPG

Average)• Progressive shifting/ Staying in High Gear

Avoid These Fuel Wasters

• Excessive Speed• Stop-and Go Driving Style• Under Inflated Tires (10% Under =1% Loss)• Long Idling periods over 5 minutes• Misalignment• Open Windows (Loss is 4%)• Running A/C• Mismatched Tires • Fuel Inefficient Tires• Idling

Future Focus on Fuel ConsumptionSmartWay Partnership

Steer Drive Trailer

HSL2 HDL Eco Plus** HTL Eco Plus**

HSL2 Eco Plus HDL2 Eco Plus HTL1

HSR* HDL2 DL Eco Plus General ST250

HSR1*, Eco Plus* HDR

HSR2*, Eco Plus* HDR1

HSR2 SA* HDR1 Eco Plus

HSL1 Coach* Conti EcoPlus HD3

General S371* Conti Hybrid HD3

General S580* General D660

General S581*

The SmartWay Web site is the final authority for tire approvals.

*Also Drive verified**ContiTread retread also verified

Continental and General SmartWay Verified Tire Products as of June 2013

Fuel Over Mileage: YourMinimum Savings Fuel Cost

$ 3.00/gal