How Much Did You Spend on Diesel Fuel Last Month?

There is one universal truth in the trucking business that both owner-operators and fleet managers can agree on: The less you spend on fuel, the more money you make hauling freight.

No matter if the cost of diesel is on the way up or on the way down, truckers all wish they could get more miles per gallon. The reality is there is no one answer to cutting fuel costs and the task of saving at the pump is a shared responsibility.
Here is a pop quiz: What one often overlooked factor has a 30% impact on fuel efficiency? We’ll give you the answer later in this post.

Freightliner Trucks has been at the forefront of research and development activities designed to boost the fuel economy of heavy-duty trucks. Whether it is the record-shattering performance of the Freightliner SuperTruck concept vehicle or the current fuel efficiency of today’s Cascadia® Evolution, getting the most out of a gallon of diesel is at the center of vehicle design at Freightliner because of the direct impact this has on our customers’ Real Cost of Ownership^SM.

Do You Own the Right Truck?

A fuel-efficient truck requires spec’ing the truck for optimized fuel efficiency with the proper engine, transmission, axles and other components. This pays off big in cost savings. Combining world-class design and advanced aerodynamics with the power of a high-performance, high-efficiency engine is essential.

The Cascadia® Evolution's fuel efficiency starts with the proven Detroit^® DD15® engine. The DD15 can generate up to 505 horsepower and features a proprietary asymmetric turbocharger to reduce weight and complexity, and deliver improved performance. The asymmetric turbo charger is optimally matched to the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system to deliver outstanding performance. The advanced ACRS Fuel System optimizes DPF regenerations through improved combustion control to extend regeneration intervals.

The easy-to-operate Detroit^® DT12^® transmission enables drivers to reach their optimal performance sooner and stay in the most efficient “sweet spot” for longer. With no clutch pedal to push at each shift and an easy to reach shifter, the DT12 reduces driver effort and allows them to pay more attention to the road.

And Freightliner owners can opt for additional fuel economy by spec’ing the integrated Deroit Powertrain with a downsped DD15 engine that saves on diesel.

Going Beyond Total Cost of Ownership

Total Cost of Ownership looks exclusively at fuel efficiency and scheduled maintenance, ignoring some important factors to the cost of keeping a truck on the road. Real Cost of Ownership is a way of looking at the truck as a critical part of a business and not just a cost center. By using the five RCO pillars—fuel efficiency, connectivity, safety, quality and uptime – trucking companies can get a better picture of how the trucks they buy influence a full range of critical factors in their businesses.

How did you answer the pop quiz question above? Did you realize that drivers can have up to a 30 percent impact on overall fuel economy? Driver behavior is the biggest ally in achieving maximum fuel economy. Here are a few steps every driver, regardless of experience, can take to increase fuel efficiency:

• Slow down. Reducing speed to 62 MPH boosts fuel economy by up to 8 percent. On a 250-mile run, that will add just 15 minutes to the trip, but save you big at the fuel pump.
• Reduce idle times, air conditioning compressor and radiator fan on-times.
• Use cruise control. Studies shows it can help boost fuel economy by up to 6 percent.
• Pay attention to scheduled maintenance and check the air pressure in your tires.
• Manage acceleration rates and engine braking usage. Custom engine programming can greatly assist in teaching proper throttle management.

Savings on fuel consumption not only benefits the bottom lines of trucking companies. It also has a direct positive impact on the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, making the Freightliner Cascadia® Evolution one of the most sustainable trucks on the road.