62 MPH rule? What is the reasoning behind it?

Fuel; better mpg's.

 

my truck is governed at 65. And its supposed to help with fuel, and im going to get flamed for this, but I believe that it can cause MORE fuel to be used. I drove for an owner operator, so I know what it's like to run an ungoverned truck (infact, his could go 90)...Now, im not saying that running 90 is a good idea, but

If you're getting ready to go up a big grade, cranking the truck up to 5 to 10 over the speed limit helps a LOT. You use a little more fuel to get up to that speed, but you're going to be speeding for about 45 seconds. Once you hit the grade, the truck starts slowing down, but with the extra momentum, you won't have to downshift as much..it seemed to save me two downshifts. On some grades that means you wont even have to downshift. You get up the hill faster, getting up a hill uses a LOT of fuel no matter what, and if its not very steep down afterwards, you use less fuel to get back up to speed.


What if you're in texas and the speed limit is 75 and you're running a few minutes late, and if you're a few mins late the company loses the customer? I think a little more fuel is worth getting that there ontime.

And beyond that, i was gettign the same MPG in that owner operator truck as i get right now, going 65. I have a minor transmission problem that should give me another 1mpg when i convince someone to fix it (9 speed top 2 clutch adjustment), but this truck is also more aerodynamic. His was an old international 9600i eagle, which is almost a long nose. We were usually doing the speed limit, and cranking it up 5 over to pass people. speed limit 75, we go 75. I have a lot of people trying to tell me this isnt worth it, but think about it. 10 extra MPH over 10 hours? thats an extra 100 miles you traveled.

I think the companies should be more focused on teaching people how to drive the truck for proper fuel milage. On an ungoverned truck, if you floor it, it just keeps dumping as much fuel as it possibly can into the engine. You cant floor it on a grade like you can a governed truck. I think thats one of the bigger reasons for the governor.

 

That's what they say but it's BS. I used to have my truck voluntarily governed at 60 to get our "speed bonus" but I no longer do as it wasn't worth it to me for the amount i got. I have 65 on the cruise and 70 on the pedal now. I get better fuel mileage running 70 than I do 60 especially in KY and TN that I run all the time. It is much easier to pull hills at 70 and maintain speed than it is running 60. It does not cause the truck to work as hard either which causes better fuel mileage. This may or may not be true with all trucks and setups but it definitely is with mine.

 

Here's a "few" of big fleet thoughts , Run the trucks no more than 62 mph . Pay drivers by the mile and possibly give the driver a fuel bonus .
The big fleets think volume , a cheaper frieght rate to stay competative , slower trucks , less wear and tear , steady miles and steady frieght . By keeping costs "under control" the fleet is able to show a nice profit even though the frieght does not pay the best .
It's not about who gets there faster , it's who gets there for the least amount of money . The fuel is the major cost to oprerated the trucks .

 

A good compromise which would increase mpg's (save money) and which wouldn't sacrifice safety (hard to get out of the way when your speed is limited), would be to tie in your bonus to a % of drive time at a given speed (ex 60), while at the same time not governing your truck, so that you can go at higher speeds when getting ready to go up a hill, or delivering a load O/T which is tight.

 

We have drove company trucks and also have our own truck and trailer . I work full time during the day and come home and take on the job of running my better halfs books .

When it comes to making a profit the fuel mileage does make the big differance at the bottom line . A company ,driver , O/O all have fixed costs that are carved in stone every month .

Fuel and maintence all come from the "sub total " before the net figure .

The one thing everyone is after is lower operating costs so there is a little money left at the end .

Fuel mileage is a huge expense for everybody , the less we use the more we make .

Our W900L just left the Cat shop last week and we were told the ECM read 5.9 mpg . The Cat mechanic looked at my husband and said do not change a thing your doing .

He pulls heavy almost all the time with his reefer but seldom ever runs over 67 mph .

Hope this helps you , have a great day .