Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Is past fuel mileage available from a truck's computer

Discussion in 'Freightliner Forum' started by Nottoway, Apr 29, 2013.

  1. Apr 29, 2013 #1
    Nottoway

    Nottoway Light Load Member

    295
    82
    Sep 3, 2012
    Southeast Virginia
    0
    I wanted to jump over here to the Commercial Truck Forum to ask a pretty elementary question from you experienced guys. I continue to do research in identifying the best 'hotshot' or 'flatbed LTL' rig to build for this type of work. I keep going back and forth between the idea of running a smaller truck like a Dodge 4500 with the Cummins engine, pulling a 40' gooseneck or fifth wheel flatbed tagged at 36k versus stepping up to a Class 7 or 8 single axle tractor pulling a longer stepdeck that might be tagged for up to 54k. Of primary importance in the comparison is operating costs, especially fuel economy. So today I'm trying to learn that as I look at used tractors, do the computers provide history on actual fuel economy that can be downloaded?
     
    Nottoway, Apr 29, 2013
    Nottoway, Apr 29, 2013
    #1
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

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

  3. Apr 29, 2013 #2
    bigkev1115

    bigkev1115 Road Train Member

    2,363
    3,608
    Oct 23, 2009
    Alexandria, AL
    0
    Yes. The dealer will connect a laptop to the ECM outlet, and pull up all the history on the trucks data. It usually cost around a $100 for a dealer to do it
     
    bigkev1115, Apr 29, 2013
    bigkev1115, Apr 29, 2013
    #2
    Nottoway Thanks this.
  4. Apr 29, 2013 #3
    VisionLogistics

    VisionLogistics Road Train Member

    1,551
    978
    Dec 8, 2011
    Jellystone
    0
    Yes, most contemporary electronic engines in class 8 vehicles have a computer with that capability. If you take it to pretty much any shop with the ability to work on such truck, they can "dump" the ECM history for the life of the truck, and that data will include the historic MPG as well as other parameters.

    As for a medium duty vehicle, I would assume the same thing, but have never had the occasion to actually find out.

    Good luck.
     
    VisionLogistics, Apr 29, 2013
    VisionLogistics, Apr 29, 2013
    #3
    Nottoway Thanks this.
  5. May 1, 2013 #4
    Cowpie1

    Cowpie1 Road Train Member

    5,569
    4,647
    Nov 25, 2008
    Kellogg, IA
    0
    And don't assume that the mpg reading from the ECM is dead on. It will be close, but I have found over the years that many mpg readings out of the ECM tend to be on the high side.
     
    Cowpie1, May 1, 2013
    Cowpie1, May 1, 2013
    #4
    Nottoway Thanks this.
  7. May 1, 2013 #5
    Pablo-UA

    Pablo-UA Road Train Member

    7,604
    1,640
    Oct 11, 2010
    Borispol, Ukraine
    0
    Really stored fuel milage is calculated fuel milage. May differe from real about 5-10%
     
    Pablo-UA, May 1, 2013
    Pablo-UA, May 1, 2013
    #5
    Nottoway Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

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