Fuel continues to rise in price, making it difficult for trucking companies to retain their profit margins without being forced to charge more for their transportation services. As a result, many truckers have begun looking into fuel-saving strategies which can save them money over the long run.

Aerodynamics

If you’re looking to save money on fuel consumption, perhaps you should first think about investing in new trucks which are more aerodynamic. According to Mike Roeth, Executive Director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency, investing in aerodynamic trucks can make a huge difference when it comes to your fuel costs. He explains:

“Just by putting a cap on the roof of your truck that matches the height of the trailers you’re pulling is worth a 15% boost in fuel economy alone. But you have to remember that these aerodynamic systems can complement — or counteract — one another. And that can be frustrating.”

As a result, many truckers are replacing their trucks or upgrading them with aerodynamic devices which help to reduce drag and air resistance, making it easier for the truck to move. This results in less fuel consumption over time, as you may have guessed, and can have significant results.

Automated transmissions

Automated transmissions are the future, helping to automatically drive your truck in a manner which is economical for fuel. Using modern computer algorithms and technology, automated transmissions help drivers to reach an optimal mix of performance and fuel economy. However, beware that they are not a one-size-fits-all solution for consuming less fuel.

For instance, when you buy an automated transmission (or indeed a truck with the system already installed) you should look to tweak the default settings. The shift points and engine horsepower settings may not be ideal for your truck and/or driving style, so it is worth tinkering with the settings to find a transmission workflow which works for you and is simultaneously economical.

Driver training

Ultimately, you can install a truck with all the fancy tools you want, but if your drivers aren’t playing ball, then they aren’t playing ball! Every little thing that the driver does, including lane changes, idling times, acceleration rates, and much more – it all has an effect on the fuel economy of the vehicle. Training your drivers and incentivizing them to follow your fuel consumption guidelines has got to be the single best way of saving fuel in the long run.

Of course, when self-driving trucks become more common, companies will be able to program their fleet to save money on fuel by self-driving in a fuel efficient manner. Nonetheless, until then, truck drivers would be wise to satisfy their employers by saving them money on fuel expenses before they’re forced to turn to self-driving automation in order to save more money long-term!