Over recent months, the media has been full of headlines about the price of fuel. These have sometimes been accompanied by articles with tips on how to save fuel. The price of fuel is hitting the haulage industry at least as hard as it’s hitting private drivers. With that in mind, here are some tips on how truck drivers can improve their fuel efficiency. 

Practice good vehicle maintenance 

It’s probably fairly obvious that the condition of your engine and tyres can have a significant impact on your fuel consumption. It may be less obvious that just about any maintenance issues can increase your fuel consumption.  

This includes clogged filters (air and fuel), clogged catalytic converter, clogged ports (intake and exhaust) old/dirty spark plugs, old/dirty oil and dirty MAF sensors. Body damage can play a role too, especially misaligned axles. 

Pay close attention to your tyre pressure 

Managing your tyre pressure arguably comes under the heading of vehicle maintenance. It is, however, important enough to be highlighted on its own. Keeping your tyres at the right pressure really does make a noticeable difference to your fuel consumption.  

In summer, tyres are likely to deflate slowly. They do, however, still need to be monitored as they will need to be topped up from time to time. As temperatures drop, tyres will start to deflate more quickly. In peak winter, they may need to be topped up more than once a day. 

Respect the tank’s capacity 

Never fill your tank over the stated capacity. If possible, leave a little extra space, particularly in summer. As fuel heats, it can expand. If the tank is already full, then it will have nowhere it can safely go. The end result is overflow. Not only is this wasteful, but it can also be dangerous. 

Andrea Easton, Head of Finance and Operations at Walker Movements, specialists in used trucks for sale commented, “If drivers are really concerned about running out of fuel, it could make sense to put some in a container. This isn’t ideal since it adds weight and creates health and safety concerns. On the other hand, if the alternative is a driver potentially being stranded, it may be the lesser of the two evils.”

Make the vehicle more aerodynamic 

There are two ways to make vehicles more aerodynamic. The first is to minimise the number of places air can enter the vehicle. The second is to manage the vehicle’s load. 

Minimising air entering the vehicle 

There are several commercial products you can use to minimise air entering the vehicle. The main ones are: 

• Gap faring (between the cab itself and the loaded trailer)
• Trailer skirts and trailer tails (prevent air from getting underneath the trailer)
• Wheel covers/AeroKits (stop air getting between the axles and across the wheels). 

Additionally, check for vehicles with air deflectors mounted on the roof. If you find them, adjust the deflectors so that they stream air over the trailer’s highest point. 

Managing your load 

The first, and arguably most important, rule of managing your load is to avoid unnecessary weight. The second is to distribute the weight evenly throughout the trailer. If you can’t fill the trailer completely, then load from the front to the back going across the trailer.  

In other words, build rows of cargo starting from the front. Where appropriate, secure cargo to make sure that it stays in one place rather than sliding around. If this means adding extra weight, then so be it. In this instance, it is justified. Most of the time, however, you’ll be able to secure items with minimal extra weight by using ropes. 

The additional benefits of improving aerodynamics 

Improving aerodynamics makes a truck easier to drive, particularly in adverse weather conditions. For example, in windy conditions, aerodynamic trucks behave more predictably than trucks with poor aerodynamics. This means they give drivers the expected responses. Likewise, in wet and icy conditions, aerodynamic trucks will get better use out of whatever grip their tyres have. 

The most important benefit of this is improved safety. A supplementary benefit is improved fuel-efficiency. In short, when trucks are aerodynamic, it’s much easier for drivers to cruise steadily. When trucks have poor aerodynamics, drivers often have to waste fuel on unnecessary (and unsafe) course-corrections. 

Organise your trips effectively 

You’ve probably already realised that it makes sense to organise your trips with cost-effectiveness in mind. The key question, however, is whether you are really doing so as well as you might. 

In general, your starting point should be telematics software. This will tell you what your drivers are actually doing. You may find that this is different from what you think they’re doing. If it is then you need to find out why. Make your enquiries respectfully and with an open mind. You may discover that your plans weren’t as practical as you thought. 

If you’re still using standard GPSs and company credit cards, then you may find it helpful to switch to truck-specific GPSs and fuel cards. For completeness, your drivers may still need company credit cards for other purchases.  

As long as you’re careful about choosing the right program, signing up for a fuel card can quickly pay for itself. It can also give you valuable insight into your drivers’ refuelling habits and what they mean for your operations. 

Train your drivers in fuel-efficient driving 

Standard HGV training focuses on safety. A lot of safe-driving practices do also improve fuel-efficiency. It can, however, be helpful to give drivers periodic reminders of what you would like to see from them. The key messages to convey are as follows. 

You want them to focus on cruising 

This is the key to fuel-efficient driving. You want drivers to stay at a consistent speed and direction as much as possible. When they do need to change speed and/or direction, they should do so as smoothly as possible. As much as the law allows, they should avoid coming to hard stops. 

You want them to avoid leaving the engine idling 

Ideally, truck engines will never be left idling at all. In the real world, that’s probably too much to hope for. Engines should, however, never be left idling for more than five minutes. 

You want them to minimise the use of fuel for non-driving purposes 

This is a bit of a grey area since it generally means balancing conflicting priorities. For example, minimising the use of climate control will reduce fuel costs. At the same time, it’s important that your drivers are comfortable. You can, however, make them aware that it would be appreciated if they would think before they used gadgets in their cabs.