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May 2007 |
Offers and Information |
With the increasing costs of fuel, fuel efficiency is top-of-mind for all fleet managers and drivers. In this issue we review techniques drivers can use to increase fuel efficiency. PacLease can help fleets reduce fuel costs through the truck specification process, comprehensive fleet performance data through PacTrac telematics, maintenance services, no idle technology and a fuel discount program. The number one factor however, is driver performance. |
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Driver Habits for Fuel Efficiency  |
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Private fleets and commercial carriers can adopt many different technologies to help them and their drivers get a better handle on operating and fuel costs. But the |
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experience of successful companies shows that technology alone doesn’t provide optimum fuel economy. Technology has to be operated by drivers using good driving habits to gain full benefit. “Time and time again, successful fleet operators tell us that developing good driving habits among their drivers remains critical to controlling and reducing their operating costs,” says Chris Maccio, Director of Sales at PacLease. “And the opinions of leading industry experts certainly supports that approach.” According to the American Trucking Associations’ Technical and Maintenance Council, an experienced driver, using the proper techniques, can save as much as 35 percent on fuel consumption compared to an untrained driver. By examining the experiences of successful fleets, several similarities emerge. For example, successful fleets encourage drivers to: Drive slower. “Slowing down not only improves safety by giving your drivers more time to react to different situations, it also significantly increases their fuel mileage,” says Maccio. Bridgestone recently conducted simulations with one truck and two different drivers and found a direct correlation between speed and fuel consumption. That simulation showed that when one driver maintained an average speed of 55 mph over 46 miles, the truck used half of its energy to move air around, getting about 7.1 mpg. When a second driver drove that same truck at average speeds of 65 mph, the truck expended about two-thirds of its energy to move air around and got about 5.7 mpg. Kill the engine. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a truck consumes up to 1.2 gallons of diesel fuel for each hour it idles. That’s why when drivers wait to be loaded or unloaded, or when they make scheduled stops, successful fleet operators tell them to shut down their engines. In the morning, or at the start of the shift, drivers only need to run truck engines for a few minutes to warm them up. “If their drivers spend long periods of time in sleepers or waiting at loading docks, successful operators provide their drivers an auxiliary power unit or other similar device to keep the cab warm or cool,” Maccio says. “They also work with their suppliers and customers to reduce loading times whenever possible.” Stop the wandering. “When your drivers plan their routes, they’re much less likely to get lost and they can take more control of their time,” Maccio says. “They don’t have to react to late starts, unscheduled stops and unplanned events. By planning their routes, your drivers can also determine a schedule to avoid heavy commuter traffic and busy city driving.” By combining telematics systems with driver messaging, fleets can direct drivers to the most efficient routes or alert them to particular situations, especially when road or weather conditions change rapidly. Some telematics systems, including PacLease’s PacTrac, monitor a variety of metrics including over-speed, over-RPM, long-idle, MPG and hard braking. That helps their fleet managers determine cost savings from improved performance and create strategies to help drivers correct bad driving habits. Find the engine's sweet spot. Each engine has a unique torque curve. This curve represents a range of rotational speeds at which the engine produces useful power. When the rotational speed (or RPM) is too slow or too fast, the engine burns more fuel to travel the same distance. “When your drivers operate the engine at just the right RPM, also known as ‘the sweet spot,’ their trucks reach optimum fuel efficiency,” Maccio says. “Typically, that’s somewhere between 1,300 and 1,450 rpm. “By encouraging them to adopt these successful driving habits, and monitoring the results using a telematics system like PacTrac, you can attain the same results your successful peers enjoy: higher profits, increased fleet operating efficiencies, improved safety, and strengthened relationships with your suppliers and customers”
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News |
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PacLease Acquires German Truck Leasing Company Kenworth Aerodynamic Vehicles Earn EPA's "Green" Smartway Tag Kenworth PremierCare Connect Helps Fleets Save Time and Money, Adds New Features Peterbilt Participates in EPA's SmartWay Program to Improve Fuel Efficiency, Reduce Emissions Peterbilt, Eaton and Wal-Mart Partner on Hybrid Electric Aerodynamic Model 386 Development |
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