While the national fleet’s average fuel economy has been creeping up, it remains well below what many carriers — including Mesilla Valley Transportation — are regularly achieving.
Various factors lead to high single-digit or even low double-digit mpg numbers, including duty cycle, terrain, elevation and load. However, fleets can take steps to boost their averages. Moving from 6 mpg to 10 mpg (an improvement of 66.66%) can save 6,667 gallons of fuel over 100,000 miles.
Perhaps the biggest area for potential improvement is reducing aerodynamic drag. According to SAE International, aerodynamic drag accounts for 50% to 60% of fuel consumption for trucks operating on the highway. There are three key areas where fleets can address drag: the tractor-trailer gap, under the body and at the rear of the trailer.
We have conducted many tests on various aerodynamic devices and verified their fuel savings. The amount of fuel saved varies by the type of device installed. For example, a wheel cover will save 0.89 gallons per 1,000 miles. We prefer to use gallons per 1,000 miles because it more reliably calculates fuel savings compared to other units of measure, such as mpg or percentages.
Conversely, a 24-foot trailer skirt can save as much as 8.72 gallons per 1,000 miles, and a trailer tail can save 5.04 gallons per 1,000 miles.
While there are costs involved in purchasing these aero devices, the fuel savings over the life of the vehicle offset the expense, especially given the volatile nature of fuel prices.
While fleets are likely to see the biggest gains with aerodynamic devices, there are other ways to move the needle from 6 to 10. Consider investing in an automatic tire inflation system; our testing has shown fuel savings of approximately 1.19 gallons per 1,000 miles are possible with these devices. Tire specifications also impact efficiency. Fleets should look at tires designed specifically for fuel economy. Our testing has demonstrated savings of 4.61 gallons per 1,000 miles with certain configurations.
Every fleet has different operating parameters and may need to take different actions to improve. However, with the right investment, every carrier can see significant fuel economy improvements that lead to real-world savings.
