You are in: > Academy > Lower running costs
You are in: > Academy > Lower running costs
In the third of our interactive CM Academy features, we’ve joined forces with Bridgestone Tyres to explain how you can make your diesel go further with these simple yet effective steps…
Once you've read the article, click here to test yourself online.
While fuel prices have fallen in recent months, the underlying requirement for improved operational efficiency remains central to all commercial vehicle operators. With fuel representing in the region of 25% or more of a fleet’s operating cost the impact of fuel efficiency improvements will be directly felt on your bottom line. In the latest of our Commercial Motor Academies we’ve teamed up with tyre giant Bridgestone to bring you an overview of the issues at play in this arena. And when you’ve completed your revision then go to our online academy test area to see how much of this you’ve remembered.
A focus on fuel efficiency makes sense for a number of reasons:
There are numerous ways you can reduce your fuel bill and we could fill a whole magazine or website with the different techniques, practices and advice for using less diesel to shift your goods. However, for the purposes of this Academy we’re concentrating on the top six ways to cut fuel costs:
Out of all the factors we could look at in this Academy the style of driving is the one most difficult to address consistently. Let’s face it, we all have bad days and in order to perform at the top of our game it requires high levels of skill and concentration. These are the attributes required of a modern truck driver, for while satellite navigation may have reduced the need for map reading and a strong sense of direction, the current art of truck driving revolves around eking out every last tenth of a mile from the gallon of diesel consumed. Correct driver recruitment procedures, an effective driver training programme and a decent mentoring and rewards programme will pay dividends in ensuring your drivers take fuel efficiency as seriously as you do.
The key to fuel efficient truck driving is ‘momentum management’, or ensuring the momentum of the vehicle is maximised so as to avoid unnecessary braking, acceleration or gear-changing, this combines with maximum vehicle safety as the driver should always be in full control of his or her vehicle. Studies have shown that improvement in a fleet’s average fuel economy can be up to 13% through the use of a proper fuel efficient driver training programme.
The top three techniques for fuel efficient driving are:
Incorrect axle alignment will affect both fuel consumption and tyre performance. Axle misalignment can increase the rolling resistance of your truck by up to 80% while an axle adjustment error of just 2.5° can increase your fuel consumption by 16%. Moreover, tyre service life is reduced by almost 20% by this misalignment.
As speed of the vehicle increases so the impact of aerodynamics has a higher proportional impact on fuel efficiency, while tyre rolling resistance reduces. Many of the bodybuilder and trailer companies have invested in maximising vehicle aerodynamics (see aerodynamics special issue CM 08 January 2009), while all the key research investigations indicate that most drag reduction comes from a correctly fitted/adjusted air deflector mounted on the roof of the cab. The key element in vehicle aerodynamics is frontal area of your vehicle and if you don’t need a high-roof truck or trailer then you will save fuel by not specifying it.
As much as 80% of the fuel economy benefits of a tractor unit’s air flow management equipment derives from just three main components:
Correct tyre pressure will ensure the tyre is operating to its optimal design conditions and thus will ensure you get the best out of it. The rolling resistance of the tyre will be at its lowest when it is running at the right pressure which will ensure you get the best fuel economy possible and the longest possible service life.
As well as correct tyre pressure, tyre rotation will increase tyre life and help identify any vehicle associated problems, such as misalignment, which will also impact on fuel consumption. Tyre rotation works because it not only extends the useful tread life of worn tyres but also counteracts or slows the progress of irregular tyre wear.
There are FIVE types of tyre rotation to consider:
Result: Counteracts one-sided shoulder wear
Result: Equalises the impact of wear rates due to road camber or kerbing
Result: Equalises tyre wear between dual wheels
Result: Maximises tyre wear between 1st and 2nd axles on a 6x2 tractor or rigid
Result: Maximises life and resistance to irregular wear.
Tyre rolling resistance is the force purely required to roll the tyres. The forces that create rolling resistance are:
Under-inflation will have the biggest impact on fuel efficiency as the heat build up in the tyre caused by the increased flexing of the casing and sidewall impacts on the rolling resistance. Over-inflation will lead to uneven and accelerated tyre wear, particularly on drive axles. Either way it will impact on your bottomline!
Clearly a well-maintained vehicle will be more fuel efficient than a poorly-maintained one. Studies show a substantial fuel saving through the use of well-maintained vehicles and here are just four tips to improving fuel usage through your maintenance procedures:
Of course there are other factors not directly related to the actual vehicle operation which will have a significant impact on fuel efficiency, but which may be more difficult to control. For instance, inclement weather conditions will have a measurable affect on the fuel efficiency of your trucks out on the road.
The rolling resistance of a tyre will increase with the depth of the water layer on the road. Driving through strong rain will increase fuel consumption by as much as 7%. In addition, Commercial Motor’s own roadtests have demonstrated fuel efficiency differences of over 10% between fine, dry weather and wet and windy conditions. Traffic congestion will also play an important role in fuel usage. A truck at idle will consume in the region of 2 litres of fuel per hour, making traffic planning, to avoid congestion imperative. Likewise the mode of operation and ensuring you have the correct specification vehicle for your operation will impact on fuel usage. Likewise changing the tyres on a vehicle will also have an effect on fuel economy—especially if you use tacho mileage to calculate your fuel consumption figures! We’ll pick up on these topics in future CM Academies.
OK you’ve read the theory, now click here to test yourself online.
Reed Business Information Limited.©2009
