New owner operator needs help with fuel mileage

Our Detriot turned in close to 7 average for the 10 months we had it, but it was governed at 63 otherwise redline able for mountain work up or down. Some of the worst nanny trucks, I remember a gettysburg company cut mine to 60 and in a 9 that resulted in a failure to get above 1400 in top gear on level ground resulting in sawing down to next one down. And watch speed fall to 51 stacking traffic around you. It was deliberate on their part. I quit after that run. The entire company imploded some weeks after. No hard feelings.

I remember another that was a bad big cam on a 10. Wind it all out make the shift wind that all out. hit a hill down shift two repeat the winding in say Williamsport. Grind upgrade to summit at 17.

Thats not trucking. Thats flat BS.

There were a few trucks I liked and enjoyed because they were relatively big horse hardly did not work much to maintain 72 in say Ohio and frankly would give you 2300 miles on 340 gallons if you were very careful with the fuel when the company says not to fuel in Cali. (Sometimes they buy too much and give fleet orders to suspend fueling, creating from time to time really epic low fuel problems)

There is no point in digging up the rest of the trucks. When I started 4 mpg was reasonable and maybe 60 gallons under a 110,000 pound 40 foot box of bearings. Its dry getting to baltimore from richmond. Todays trucks if they did twice the MPG everyone is happy. Represents about a 50 year difference in performance.

Maybe 50 years from now fueled vehicles would be banned. (Over my dead body....) who knows.

 

Put your 5th wheel to a position that puts 12,500 on the steers. Close the gap between truck and trailer. Minimizing the wind dynamics. Pull trailers with skirts and back door fins.