Trucker Tips for Cutting Fuel Costs | West Coast Enterprises
For independent truckers and owner/operators, the largest single cost of being in the business isn’t truck financing or lease payments, nor is it even beef jerky and Red Bull. It’s actually the fuel costs, which easily stretch into thousands of dollars per month.
Diesel isn’t cheap, and long hauls take a lot of it. That’s why some of the primary hobbies of independents and O/Os include tracking miles per tank and pushing their rigs to beat previous bests.
If you’re in that club, here are some tips that can help you achieve your fuel-savings goals.
How to Save Money on Fuel in Long-haul Trucking
Watch how you fuel. You may have heard the advice that you should fuel up in the morning to get more fuel in the fill. While the science on this one is murky, there are some other things you can do to increase the value of each fill. Those include pumping at a low setting to minimize vapors, filling up before you’re on “E” and using a higher grade of diesel.
Watch that speed. You’ve probably heard stats on how higher speeds mean higher fuel use. The American Trucking Association says driving at 65, rather than 75, can improve fuel efficiency by as much as 27%.
Use the cruise—most of the time. Cruise control regulates speed so you aren’t constantly slowing down and accelerating without realizing it, which means you use less fuel. However, using it on hills can cause the engine to rev as it switches gears, which has the opposite effect.
Keep up with regular maintenance. We’re sure you have all the time you need to do a thorough job on your pre-trips every time and never miss anything, but we just want to point out how important keeping your rig running well is. Even a seemingly minor issue, such as tire pressure issues or delayed oil changes, can cause your truck to run less efficiently and drive up those fuel costs.
Cut the drag. Big trucks don’t exactly cut through the air like a warm knife through butter, with studies showing as much as 50% of a truck’s fuel use is spent on beating drag. That’s why it pays to invest in some of the innovations that can help improve aerodynamics, from aero bumpers to fairings.
West Coast Enterprises Truck & Trailer Sales is your full-service car hauler dealership for sales, lease and financing of both new and pre-owned trucks.