With fuel costs continuing to rise, it becomes more important for fleet owners and drivers to make a conscious effort to reduce fuel consumption. You must take to the roadways to transport materials but finding ways to increase your fuel economy even in small ways can help keep costs under control. For example, making sure your semi truck tires are well maintained and suitably inflated for every drive.
Strategies to Reducing Fuel Costs
Investing in a few simple changes to driving habits may help truck drivers reduce fuel consumption and boost fuel economy. While more significant methods may exist, such as purchasing more fuel-efficient vehicles, these are some of the simplest ways to make a difference.
- Reduce speed. The faster the vehicle is traveling, the more fuel it needs to burn to meet that speed. Each mile-per-hour increase in speed leads to a .14 MPG decrease in efficiency.
- Use tools to create shorter routes. Invest in technology and use it to adjust routes on the go in real time. This may help you to reduce fuel use, especially if you are traveling a shorter distance. It also helps when heavy traffic or poor weather conditions develop.
- Keep vehicles lightweight. Remove anything unnecessary from the vehicle. Reducing how much is being carried by the vehicle reduces the amount of fuel the truck has to burn to move. Look for simple things you do not need, such as unnecessary chains or gear, as well as any personal items that are significantly heavy.
- Check tire pressure on every route. Before hitting the road, check the tire pressure of each tire, including the inner tires. Proper inflation reduces fuel consumption. Don’t just kick the semi truck tires to see if they are “good enough.” Instead, use a gauge. Document tires with consistently lower pressure for repairs.
- Don’t idle. Idling is one of the most costly and avoidable parts of the driving process. Whenever possible, turn off the vehicle. If you plan to be parked for a while, turning off the engine could reduce gas use significantly.
- Avoid overfilling the tank. As fuel heats due to the temperatures outdoors, it expands. If there is no room for expansion, the tank overfills. This leads to fuel waste.
- Monitoring air conditioning use. While hot days require the use of air conditioning, using the maximum amount of cooled air is costly. It increases fuel costs by 0.2 to 0.4 miles per gallon.
- Ensure the vehicle is aligned. Ensuring proper vehicle alignment can help to reduce fuel usage. If a tire is just a quarter of a degree from alignment, that can lead to driving an extra 10 to 15 feet sideways for each mile.
Make Maintenance a Core Part of Truck Use
One of the most important ways to keep fuel costs low is to meet maintenance requirements on semi truck tires. Routine tire inspections and maintenance by our technicians can help keep your vehicle operating at its best. STTC offers comprehensive solutions, including retread tires. If your vehicle does break down, we can be there 24/7 for you.
Give us a call now at 610-954-8473 or contact us online to ensure your vehicle is maintained and your semi truck tires are in great shape.
