what kind of mpg do you get?

6.5 MPG, Yrly avg.snow rain sleet and wind, Pete w/extended hood 475 CAT 15 over, 91 top speed, covered wagon, convertible to flatbed at times, we run 80 mph out west in any 75 spd zone. I figure my time is worth the extra fuel to make up for fuel used. I can't imagine starting up Cabbage or Emigrant in a 60 MPH truck w/300hp. Thats stoopid. I top it at about 50.

 

6.5mpg on a 1000mi run is 154 gallons = 724 bucks if fuel is 4.7 a gallon.
make some changes...here there (even an aero truck).
8mpg on a 1000mi run is 125 gallons = 588. 136 bucks in savings on just one trip.
12.5 hours at 80mph if you drove straight.
16.6 hours at 60mph if you drove straight.
only four hours.
136 / 4 = 34 bucks an hour you earn by driving slower.

now...lets say you drive 100k miles a year. multiply 136bucks times 100.
An extra 13,600 dollars by driving slower. And we know that most drivers drive more than 100k miles to the savings would be even larger.

And yes...some people will say that by driving fster, you can get some more loads. Granted, that might be true. But they are thinking about the income before expenses. Where as the 13,600 figure is extra money in the pocket. Youd have to take a very large number of extra loads to get the extra 13,600 in profit.

 

I don't really see a problem with my logic, lol. THen again, thats just me

When I said driving straight, I meant that it will take you 12.5 hours. Either way, you aren't legally going to make a 1000 mile run in one day and are going to have to stop, no matter the speed. And like Brickman said, how many run loads that are that extremely time sensitive? Especially a possible four hour later window.

And with all of that, THATS just with driving straight. Thats not going to happen. Not only the required breaks, but fueling, construction...la de dah...the time gap between the speeds with all the combined elements could actually shrink.

Plus average speeds. What are the average speeds. Even if you drive at 80, your average isn't going to be at 80. there are a ton of 55mph construction zones on my route now and with that, we would then be driving neck and neck. Shrinking the window even more.

 

i drive a piece of crap frieghtliner that is governed at 70 and i get 6.6 to 6.5 mpg. it varies from day to day. thing is i just don't idle at all.

 

89 kw, 3406, 13 spd, 342 rears, and average is 6.8 with a skateboard. Running mostly upper midwest. speed usualy at 62-63.

 

When I drove for Swift (tuned down engines) I got according to my manager - 7.3mpg on 2001 Columbia Detroit S60, 460hp - 1800lbs. torque ?, Eaton 8 speed, avg. 60mph (tops 65mph), weight medium (up to 80000lbs.). Then 4.5mpg-5mpg on 2008 Volvo, Cummings 400hp - 1400lbs. torque ?, Eaton 10 speed, everything else the same, both with sleeper cab. Tune down power to the point you cannot pull a full load uphill and you kill the MPGs.
Some experienced drivers told me they got 7-8mpg on Volvo and 9-10mpg on Frieghtliner,
it's a very small peak between the right average speed and the power vs. load ratio that's
going to always get you top mpg, not hard to find, but not easy, takes time.

 

WOW - please tell me where I can get one' a them 8mpg Wonder Wagons! 6.5 is a very real world number, a day in and day out all weather, all terrain number... just like he said. It's not a fantasy number like 8mpg someone got once with a 35mph tailwind on I-10 in west Texas with a 6,000lb LTL in a smooth side van. At 55mph.