Driving for fuel mileage

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by dannythetrucker, Apr 1, 2015.

  1. dannythetrucker

    dannythetrucker Road Train Member

    2,856
    4,032
    May 26, 2011
    everywhere, man
    0
    Driver A drives 70 mph
    Driver B drives 55 mph

    scenario 1, both drive 100,000 miles per year.

    Driver A uses 1429 hours driving.
    Driver B uses 1818 hours driving.

    difference of 389 hours or 7.8 hours per week. Nearly a full shift !

    lets say all else is equal, same truck, route, etc... can we say the 70 mph guy gets 6.2 mpg and the 55 mph guy gets 7.4 ?

    driver A uses 16,129 gallons
    driver B uses 13,514 gallons
    2,515 gallons = $7545.00 saved by driver B, now if we consider his extra 389 hours we could say he got paid $19.40/hr for his time. not awful, but not exactly stunning considering 1.2 mpg better.

    scenario 2. let's say instead of calling it a day driver A works the same hours as driver B.

    In this case driver A would get 127,260 miles in the same time (1818 hrs) it took driver B to get 100,000. Gets a bit tricky here because A's miles are more expensive, he uses more fuel. It comes out to 0.08/mile more. However !! His fixed costs divided by more miles ! So let's say he picks back up 0.02/mile that way. A - $1.26, B - $1.20. lets say they both average $2.15/all miles, driver A would net $113,450. driver B would net $95,000. for driving the same amount of hours, and B getting 1.2 mpg better @ 55.

    sure, this is hypothetical. In the real world it may be dictated load by load based on time available, but it's something to think about. numbers change with $4 or $5 fuel too, big time.
     
    Oxbow, Johny41, Numb and 1 other person Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Numb

    Numb Crusty Curmudgeon

    3,367
    6,519
    Jan 30, 2012
    Charlotte, N.Carolina
    0
    I've been saying it for yrs.

    the megas are preaching it and I ain't buying it.

    the insurance companies came up with this 20 yrs ago.

    discounts for slower trucks

    slower trucks, less damage in an accident.

    more miles/day=more loads=more $
     
    dannythetrucker Thanks this.
  4. Bigray

    Bigray Road Train Member

    1,135
    383
    Nov 23, 2007
    Tampa, Florida
    0
    Their are times it makes Sense to go Faster, I.E. arriving at a shipper or consignee before they close. but too drive at the higher speed when you know you will not make cutoff time does not make sense to me.
     
  5. Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

    12,246
    28,113
    May 19, 2011
    0
    That's not what he's advocating, sometimes driving slow to save money can and will cost you more than you are saving in the long run.
     
    Oxbow, Hammer166, MJ1657 and 2 others Thank this.
  6. 77smartin

    77smartin Road Train Member

    2,183
    3,020
    Apr 3, 2011
    I dunno.
    0
    I have always wonder how you can measure this? Fuel economy can be measured...running fast for more loads seems to be impossible to measure.

    Note: I don't care what someone does...just curious.
     
  7. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

    17,737
    124,493
    Apr 10, 2009
    Copied in Hell
    0
    Nevermind. thought this was in the flatbed forum
     
  8. Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

    12,246
    28,113
    May 19, 2011
    0
    I don't think it can technically be measured either, but you can look at your week ahead of time knowing the lanes and figure out if there is the possibility to grab that extra load or not.

    Some weeks I'm driver A and others I'm driver B. I'm not going to drive faster and increase my costs if there isn't a good reason to do so.
     
    bzinger, magoo68, Starboyjim and 3 others Thank this.
  9. Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

    12,246
    28,113
    May 19, 2011
    0
    It was, but your post still fit none the less.
     
  10. zaroba

    zaroba Heavy Load Member

    840
    1,265
    Aug 28, 2012
    South East PA
    0
    There's more too fuel usage then just speed.
    Alot of people assume 'slower means less fuel used'. But what about the tranny?

    If your near the upper rpm limit for a gear at a slower speed, you could easily be using more fuel per mile then running at the lower rpm for a higher gear and going a bit faster down the road.
    ie (i don't drive a semi yet, so based on my pickup truck)
    1200 rpm in 5th gear @ 55mph may use less fuel then 1900rpm in 4th gear @ 45mph

    Every vehicle has a different sweat spot for optimal fuel usage, just a matter of finding it.
     
  11. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

    17,737
    124,493
    Apr 10, 2009
    Copied in Hell
    0
    I know, but it feels like having a hot girlfriend and being asked to give a speech at the 'HeMan Women Haters Club.'
     
    Oxbow, sawmill, cnsper and 2 others Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.