With the soaring fuel prices, trucking businesses are finding ways to cut down their expenses and boost their fuel economy. From keeping their fleet well-maintained, reducing weight, and more, you’ve probably done the same for your own truck. But there’s one question that many drivers want an answer to: does driving slower save gas?
In this post, we’ll discuss whether slowing down can actually help you cut down your fuel consumption with the best way to save gas. Keep reading to see how you can get more miles in every gallon!
Will driving slower save gas?
So, does driving slower save petrol? The quick answer is yes, but only to some extent. Take note that this question doesn’t have a black and white answer since there are some factors we need to consider.
On the surface, driving slowly will surely reduce your fuel consumption. After all, your car will have lower wind resistance and drag, which increases gas usage. Also, a slower car needs less power, thus less gas to burn.
However, saving gas is more than just the speed. You see, when you drive slowly, it also takes you longer to reach your destination. And in the trucking industry, time is money. If it takes you longer to deliver a load, it means you’re missing out on more hauls where you can make more money.
In short, driving slower can potentially help reduce your gas consumption. However, it will also reduce the number of loads you can deliver within the same timeframe.
Aside from that, you have to find the ‘sweet spot’ of your car when it comes to fuel economy. In general, 55 to 65 mph is the ideal speed for trucks to balance fuel usage, speed, and time of delivery.
By keeping your truck within this speed range, you can reduce the wear and tear on your tires and engine. This will, in turn, help prevent unnecessary fuel consumption in the long run. Also, it will save you from additional costs on frequent maintenance. Above all, maintaining this speed will not only boost fuel efficiency but also reduce the risk of road accidents.
Other factors affecting your fuel economy
Your fleet’s miles driven vs gas prices are not solely based on how much you push the gas pedal. The amount of fuel your truck burns per mile also depends on the following:
Your driving habits.
Aggressive driving habits like rapid acceleration and hard braking dry up your tank faster. In fact, sticking to these bad habits can reduce your fuel economy by as much as 30%.
And speaking of bad driving habits, you should also avoid speeding up too much. It’s because trucks that go by 75 mph guzzle 27% more fuel than those that remain within the 65 mph sweet spot.
Above all, you should avoid too much idling, especially for huge vehicles like trucks. Idling wastes a lot of fuel, and worse, you get zero miles per gallon (mpg) when you do this. Zero miles plus unnecessary fuel usage equals income loss.
Your vehicle’s condition.
A well-maintained truck can boost your fuel economy by a huge notch. Aside from that, it will also prevent roadside emergencies, such as engine problems, busted tires, and so on.
This is why truckers always schedule regular engine tune-ups and emission control to ensure that their fleet is in the best shape.
The total cargo weight
Does going faster use more gas? Yes, especially if you’re carrying much heavier cargo than what you usually transport.
To understand this, let’s give you a quick physics refresher. Basically, the more weight you put on a truck, the more resistance it creates. With that resistance, your truck will need more energy to keep moving at a specific speed.
With that said, a truck carrying a heavy load will use up more fuel than its counterpart, carrying lighter cargo and driving at the same speed and conditions.
Driving conditions
In some cases, the weather and terrain may not be in your favor. For example, hilly terrains put more resistance to your vehicle, which means you’ll burn more fuel in order to scale its steep angle.
Meanwhile, stop-and-go traffic will also negatively impact your fuel consumption. The more time you hit the brakes and accelerate within a specific distance, the more gas your engine eats up.
Aerodynamics
Going back to our quick physics lesson earlier, your fuel economy is also dependent on your vehicle’s aerodynamics. Simply put, aerodynamics refers to how much the wind ‘pushes against’ your truck as you drive at different speeds.
In terms of gas consumption, reducing your truck’s aerodynamic drag can reduce fuel usage by up to 7%. Take note that your truck’s aerodynamics is 50% of your overall fuel economy – the less drag there is, the better.
Fuel quality
How much gas will it cost to drive? Aside from speed, aerodynamics, and whatnot, it also boils down to the quality of fuel you’re using.
Overall, a gas brand has little to do with how many miles you can squeeze out of every gallon. Just make sure you’re getting good quality fuel and oil to reduce the friction on your engine.
Your truck’s internal components.
Aside from the speed of your tires, the accessories inside your truck will also impact your gas travel cost.
For example, always having your air conditioner on blast will put the heat on your fuel consumption. Also, driving with your windows down increases drag, which, as we’ve mentioned earlier, will increase gas usage.
How to save on gas for your trucking business
While there are multiple aspects that affect your fuel economy, there are equally many ways how to conserve gas. Here are some of our recommendations as former trucking company owners ourselves:
Use a fuel card
If there’s one takeaway we want you to get from this post, it would be the importance of having fuel cards for your fleet. With a fuel card, you can enjoy exclusive discounts on various fuel stops in the country. On top of that, you can also set a budget limit so your truckers won’t be spending more than they should on gas.
At Factoring Express, we are a full-service factoring company and we also offer fuel cards to our partner truckers. Contact us today to learn how you can get one for your fleet!
Maximize cruise control
Cruise control lets you drive at a steady speed, which is a very good practice for your fuel economy. It also prevents you from going too fast on the road while minimizing sudden stop-and-go.
Plan your route
Smart truckers always map out their route before they hit the road. Always look for the shortest possible route with the best road conditions to reduce fuel consumption.
Aside from distance, you should also check the weather conditions and traffic patterns on your chosen route to ensure that everything will be smooth sailing.
Educate your drivers
If you’re employing drivers, you should discuss with them the answer to the biggest question here: do you burn more gas driving fast or slow? By keeping your driver informed of the dos and don’ts, they can help boost your fuel economy. You can also provide incentives for those who record the best fuel performance.
How to manage rising fuel prices
There’s no end in sight for the rising fuel costs, so truckers like you can surely make use of the following solutions:
- Fuel advances. With fuel advances, you can receive a portion of your upcoming invoice as fuel money. Once you’ve delivered the cargo, a factoring for trucking company like us will collect the invoice from your shipper and deduct the cash advance we gave you.
- Freight factoring. Factoring services are also a good way to keep up with the rising fuel costs. By selling your accounts receivables to a factor like us, you’ll get instant working capital to cover fuel expenses. This way, you don’t have to worry about where to get the funds to keep your fleet on the road.
- Negotiate carrier fees. Aside from partnering with a factoring trucking company, you can also negotiate your cargo fees with shippers or brokers. You can state your case by providing a calculation of the distance, current fuel costs, complexity of the route, and more. Within reasonable terms, most shippers are willing to stretch their budget to get their goods delivered on time.
Running low on fuel funds? Factoring Express can help!
Are you an owner-operator or fleet manager who’s running low on fuel funds? If so, you can call us at Factoring Express to help bridge your working capital!
We offer fuel advances, fuel cards, and factoring services to boost your cash flow when you need it the most. As former trucking business owners and now freight factors, we know the struggle of managing soaring fuel costs. This is why we’re here to help fleets, big or small, to turn their invoices into cash fast.
If you want to learn about our services, feel free to reach out to our trucking factoring company today! Our specialist will discuss our financial solutions with you!
