Life at American Central Transport (ACT)

yea i know i would need to learn the best runs, i have alot of exp in driving, what do you think i could expect during the learning curve?

 

Fuel is the key here it's not the miles that pays it's ur fuel cost so trying to work smarter an not harder is the key but it's a relaxed way to make a living!!

 

My first full week was 2710 miles. Less the second week. Yes, fuel will make you or break you. So far it's not good for me. Right at 2k a week for fuel is not making me a happy camper and it seems 55 mph is no better than 65 on fuel mileage. Load weight and terrain kill it no matter what.

 

Im running 64 mph with a kitty under the hood im getting 7.1 avg 30000# in box.so agree with you. Good luck with act..good company to work for

 

Hey bk I see you still fighting off the naysayers. .btw how is pete doing

 

ok I can understand. .stay safe out there

 

Well, I changed it up a bit from the "recommended settings" this week. I threw 55 mph out the window and started driving the truck to rpm, not mph. So far it is more responsive to 1300-1320 than 1000-1120 like at 55 mph. With the 3.21 rear axle ratio, 1300=64 and 1320=65. Now most will say that's too fast to get fuel mileage, but with 30,000 in box from Ft Wayne, IN to Indy at 55 it got 6.6 mpg on the dash. Indy to Louisville, at 1320 rpm it gained 1/2 mpg to 7.1. From Indy to Augusta,Ga it continued to gained up to 7.6 until I hit Mont Eagle, TN. when it obviously started retreating from the hills. At trip end it had settled at 7.4 mpg on both the dash and the qualcomm. Next trip was deadhead to Al to pick up 36,500 load of tires to Terrell, TX. Same performance levels essentially. Sitting in Terrell with it showing 7.3 at the moment and a few times on this trip I turned it up a bit more to see any difference 1350 rpm at 67-68 mph. Tomorrow after a restart I deadhead 139 miles to OK to pick up more tires back to AL so I'll lower the rpm a bit this time and see how it goes. As an old car guy and knowing a bit about engines I can say that when it comes to fuel economy, forget about road speed. Drive the engine where it's most efficient in rpm and the mph will be determined by the rear axle ratio. If it's 65, then drive 65, if it's 55 then it's 55. economy will be almost the same.
Now while low to mid 7 mpg numbers is not great by any means, it's a good start above mid 6's. I've only had 2 "light loads " so far and one of them got 8.8 mpg so the truck is capable with light loads, but except for those 2 all others have been 30k or more going up and down the hills in the Appalachians so mid 7's with those weights is on par with the Volvo I'm used to. Once I find the engine's "sweet spot"on rpm the mpg will be much more bearable, and whatever road speed happens to be in that sweet spot will be how fast I drive the thing.