Driving Fuel Economy

With the average cost of a gallon of diesel at $4.22 in California (an increase of $1.15 per gallon over last year’s prices according to the US Energy Information Administration), fuel prices are increasingly becoming a major factor in operating costs for commercial vehicle fleets. While many fleet owners and managers are now recognizing the benefits of the various options offered by truck manufacturers designed to improve fuel efficiency, some are overlooking the fact that many of these options are negated by the habits of drivers. For example, aerodynamic features designed to reduce wind resistance also allow drivers to travel at faster speeds, which can counter any fuel savings the features were designed to promote.

If fleet managers are to use the technological advances that can improve fuel economy successfully, they must also consider creative approaches to driver training, implement driver reward programs, and make drivers an important part of the business. If trucking companies can reach their drivers in a meaningful and impactful way, saving fuel can become a company-wide goal, and not just a fleet owner and manager goal.

Tom Bagwell, CTP of Peterson Trucks explores this idea in detail in his white paper “Driving Fuel Economy.” Visit http://www.petersontrucks.com/papers/driving_fuel_economy to read more.