What practices and technologies are improving fleet fuel efficiency? Major North American fleets stretch their diesel dollars with a variety of methods, from the simple to the high-tech. Which might help you reduce fueling costs when hauling your Stoughton trailer?
10 Ways to Improve Fleet Fuel Economy
- Monitoring Tire Pressure
Simple and cheap, monitoring tire pressure can net tremendous fuel savings. A single underinflated tire can cut fuel economy by 2% – and reduce tire tread life. Sadly, this problem is prevalent, with 1 in 4 drivers running on underinflated tires, leading to a hefty increase in fleet fuel costs. Tire monitoring and inflation systems help curb these costs, indicating pressure issues, automatically inflating tires (with some systems), and reducing the need for mobile trailer repair. - Low Rolling Resistance Tires
When it’s time for fleet trailer maintenance, considering upgrading worn tires for low rolling resistance options. Thirty to thirty-three percent of total fuel costs for Class 8 vehicles are attributed to rolling resistance, causing fleet managers to seek out low rolling resistance tires for replacement. - Driver Training
The way you tote your Stoughton trailer plays a significant role in fuel consumption, impacting efficiency by 20-30%. Teaching drivers how to maximize fuel efficiency offers substantial savings. It also decreases accidents, reduces aggressive driving, and lowers crash risk. - Routine Trailer Repair & Maintenance
Preventive maintenance tasks performed at your local trailer repair shop, such as alignments, air filter replacement, and oil changes, ensure your truck is operating at peak performance, providing the best fuel economy. - Trailer Aerodynamics
More aerodynamic trailer designs have become standard in recent years, including the addition of trailer skirts and tails that reduce aerodynamic drag. - Routing Plan Adjustments
The shortest route is not always the best. Optimizing routing plans to compensate for fuel draining traffic, rough/graded terrain, speed limits, and more can offer significant savings. - Automated Manual Transmissions
AMT tech is growing in popularity, preferred by fleet managers and drivers for its ability to boost fuel economy 1-3% and its potential to improve driver attention and retention. - Fleet Fuel Cards
The use of fleet fuel cards helps reduce unauthorized purchases and can also restrict drivers to the purchase of regular versus pricey premium fuels. Monitoring fuel exception reports can also help you nip such issues in the bud. - Electronic Engine Parameters
Electronic engine parameters, which can be adjusted to limit main engine idling, can offer fuel economy gains of 0.5mpg or up to 8% when fine-tuned for your fleet’s specific needs. - Fuel Tracking Technology
Specialized fleet management software offers real-time insight into your fleet’s fuel usage, helping you compare costs between drivers, identify which routes have the highest fuel costs, and track unusual fuel transactions so you can address the problem at the root.
Fuel efficiency wearing on your wallet? Whether you’re hauling Stoughton trailers, Great Dane, or Max-Atlas, Ainsworth Trailer Repair has the skills and technology to figure out what repair issues impact your fuel efficiency. Our knowledgeable staff can address your repair and maintenance needs in hours, not days. Contact us to schedule an appointment today.
