Raider Express

true that after getting canned from Metropolitan trucking for turning my company truck up (8 months later) they advised me that my fuel mileage slightly increased by going a bit faster and increasing the hp, but it's an insurance issue more than a fuel savings issue. I avreage about 6 or 6.375 with the cruise on 74 from the Arizona line (I 10) across Nm to Houston Tx with a 25K lb load.

 

You are correct in that the difference between the most fuel efficient driver and least efficient one is about 30%, making the driver the single most important factor in fuel mileage.

Fuel economy isn't my only reason for driving 57. I drive up and down the left coast so most the time the speed limit is 55 or 60. Also, over the course of the day it's far less stressful to be the one being passed than the one doing all the passing.

As far as someone driving up under my DOT bumper, as long as I'm driving above the minimum speed for that roadway, it's their problem. If they have so little driving skill or are driving so fast as not to be able to safely pass me then I say they needed thinned from the herd anyway.

 

I feel stressed and unproductive if I am the one getting passed all day for 8 + hours a day (I tend to drive straight for hours at a time w/o stopping except for fuel) and if you multiply 5 mph x 8 or 11 hours thats a pretty nice distance, I tend to keep the cruise right on 62 in Ca,Or, and Wa. I pass troopers all the time and never get looked at or pulled over. In my opinion anything under 60 (weather and traffic conditions permitting) is just too slow and unsafe.

 

You're right, driver, you have all the answers, and I'm clueless. Glad you were here to point that out.

 

hay i would like to know if any trucker has gone to jail, and has his/her dipatcher as there ##### in jail.. alot companies lie