MPGs

We pulled a box for a little bit too, and the MPG was a higher than we normally run, so I'd say that has a bit to do with it.

Last week, DH was lucky to hit 5 mpg.....everything he loaded was heavy and he spent the whole week on I80 between the PA/OH line and into NY. Week before, he was lighter and went from eastern PA to Marshfield and the MPG was almost 7. He's gotten the 'talk' before (a few times), and he stared keeping track of his load weights and area he ran in so he can argue his point that where he runs (NE) and the weight directly affects his MPG.

 

If you have an Int'l you can adjust the low voltage shutoff. My batteries are junk too. The mechanics say they are good but I find myself running the APU and wasting fuel just to maintain the batteries.
Maybe you can talk them into getting an APU for you. My issue lately has been the routing. I keep getting routed on secondary roads to get to fuel stops and avoid toll ways. While the miles are the same or shorter and Roehl is probably saving money, my MPG is taking a dive driving on these hilly, winding roads. All this sitting around doesn't help either. The more I sit, the more my cooler, bunk heater and TV are running off of batteries. If I sit long enough eventually I have to fire up the APU. Keep track of your loads like Cheryl said. Last summer I was getting 7 mpg because if hauled a lot of Greenheck stuff. My DSR told me, "Good job, keep it up". I told him, keep giving me 4,000 lb loads on flat roads. Lately I have been hauling heavy loads to the east coast and back. I haven't got the "talk" yet but don't doubt it's coming.

 

Dr., Sounds like you are doing everything right. The clogged filter made a big difference in my MPG but it still varies wildly depending on weight terrain and even head winds. I also have been routed on some strange roads lately with a lot of stop lights and 30/45 speed limits. I try to play the momentum game at stop lights, but you know they drive MPG into the ground. Also when I leave the house I freeze about half my bottled water and put them in the cooler/fridge which helps keep the electrical usage down for the first several days depending on the outside temp. One final thing could be your engine needs service as there are lots of possibilities there.
Good luck on improving and keep in mind its not always the drivers fault. (Oh wait a minute of course it is).

 

They are getting tougher now. I was 5.8 mpg in Febuary and 6.1 in March. Hey Venture,I have noticed a big change in you since your return to Roehl. You don't seem as happy. I know you are on mileage pay now. Is it really that bad. I have 6 months left on the honor program. Were you in Gary monday night?

 

I don't know what more you can do except stop idling altogether. I've gotten about 6.5 since getting my bunk heater fixed for the third time. I can't help but wonder if being where you are, where Atlanta is on the way to everything, is part of the problem.

The surest sign of inexperience is complaints about Opti-Stop routing. Rumandcoke went over this back in the day, and here it's popping up again.

1) In Atlanta Opti-Stop sends you straight through town.

2) In Minnesota it's routed me right into a 5-ton per axle spring weight limit.

In those two cases, following your routing will get you fired.

3) Sometimes the routing sends you the slow way through town when there's a perfectly good bypass. Or, in Indianapolis, the other way around.

4) Sometimes it sends you to the wrong side of the right town. This happened to me once: The Menards in Champlin, Minnesota is on US-169 but my routing was to US-10. Don't try to find all this on a map and figure out why I'd take a truck that way - your head will explode.

5) On my Chicago to Minnesota runs it will send me down 294 to 290, which means lots of construction, lane shifts you can't fit a truck through, and lots of time lost in traffic jams. I've been a lot safer since I started running 355 to 290, which is built to Interstate quality.

Reduce the risk. Ignore your routing.

I always fuel where it tells me to, by the way. Maybe that's what they really care about. And maybe they don't even know. I'm not sure.

 

Roehl is implementing a new fuel and routing program. If your routing is messed up then you are supposed to call it in or it will never get fixed. I know, you will be calling in with every routing and sitting on hold. The day is coming where we be expected to follow every little road on the routing. They are already tracking if you miss fuel stops and deviate more than 30 miles off of the routing.

 

Hey, thanks. That's the answer I was looking for.

I hope this place doesn't become another Swift but that sure is what it sounds like.

 

I've not fueled at the recommended stops on several occasions. Last week, I was going from Effingham to Peoria, then back down through Effingham on my way to GA. It routed me up 57 to 74 to get there, but then it wanted me to come some bass-ackwards way back down so I could go through Decatur and fuel there. I said forget that and just came back down 74 and fueled at the Pilot in Bloomington. Honestly, I think if you just fuel at a Pilot in the same state they tell you to, you'll be okay. I've also fueled at the exit 86 Pilot in Oak Grove KY instead of the exit 89 one and not heard a word.

I don't want to toot my own horn, but my MPG is excellent. I got the "talk," but the talk consisted of saying "your MPG is 7.4, great job." I honestly don't know why it is so good, I haul plenty of 40k+ loads. I think it's the Mercedes engine...that's the only reason I can think of. I do accelerate very slowly, let off the fuel up (small) hills, and coast down them. The cruise seems to cut at least .5mpg off because it's so stupid. Other than that, I don't do anything any other driver doesn't do...I think Detroits just suck fuel for no reason.

spinpsychle, I feel like a complete moron for not thinking of taking 355 up. I always fight that #### 294 mess but taking the skyway up 90 is even worse so I've always just tolerated it. Definitely have to try the 355 thing next time. Thanks for that insight!