NeeklODN: Mph & Mpg

Not trying to single you out. I was surprised by your question about my slowing myself down to 58 mph intentionally to save fuel.

Here's the numbers:

In my previous week's mpg summary, I was running flat out at 62 mph, governed max speed for Prime company drivers (65 mph for lease ops), over 40K lbs of meat. This was summary for that week, ***** WEEKLY MPG INFORMATION ***** Your MPG = 7.77 Fleet Average MPG = 8.19

Last week, I set my cruise at 58 mph except for Saturday (wouldn't have made it to my terminal given the distance I had to cover doing 58 mph), while 42k lbs of potatoes. Even with that one day of running flat out again, these are my numbers for the week, ***** WEEKLY MPG INFORMATION ***** Your MPG = 8.57 Fleet Average MPG = 8.39

That's nearly a full mile per gallon more with just 4 days of driving. Had I not taken my hometime, I could've done even better. Of course I had plenty of time on this load to be able to go easy on it. That previous week, I wasnt so lucky. Plus slowing down allowed me to relax even more cause I didn't need to be super conscious of keeping my speed up going over the mountain passes I did to get to WA from MN.

The one thing that did surprise me was when I was driving east between Laramie & Cheyenne, I coasted almost the entire way.

Since I got my new truck they increased my MPG goal, so maybe I'll try this.

Since I got my new truck they increased my MPG goal, so maybe I'll try this.

Lol! It works only if you don't have a hot load. Otherwise, just set that cruise & watch the others fly by while you take your time, relax & have more reaction time for issues that may come up ahead of you.

The one thing that did surprise me was when I was driving east between Laramie & Cheyenne, I coasted almost the entire way.

well, it's all downhill from here...

Cool. Very informative. But TBH....maybe I shouldn't say this but I don't really have an incentive to run that slow. They have us capped at 66 on the cruise. That could mean 80 miles in a ten hour drive (all highway, no traffic). If they instated a fuel bonus, then maybe I would consider something like that but it makes better sense financially for me to run at 66. But anyway, thanks for the explanation.

The one thing that did surprise me was when I was driving east between Laramie & Cheyenne, I coasted almost the entire way.

well, it's all downhill from here...

The best single trip mpg I have gotten was going east from north central Ohio, (I80 if I remember correctly) into Pennsylvania. There must be a considerable elevation drop along that route, because I got 8.7 on that trip.

However, I will sacrifice my fuel bonus to run at my max governed speed, which is 63. I've tried the 58, but it makes me want to get out and walk. Or get out and push.

My truck did pretty good last night. 2017 FL. From western PA to Illinois with 30,000 lbs, it got 9.2. Sure I was passed by a pack of seniors on personal mobility scooters. But I'm used to that.

Only use the CC on totally level ground. Don’t use it in the mountains or on moderate hills. The computer is telling the truck, “Must Do 65 MPH No Matter What!”, so it will continually run either full throttle, or partial throttle to achieve the set speed, or to attempt reaching the set speed. This will be going uphill or down. You will get better fuel mileage without the CC. Don’t think you always need to be in a set gear either. Sometimes, it’s better to be going a higher speed with a lower gear, contrary to what one may have been taught. For instance, coming into an increased uphill grade pulling a 40K plus load. Speed may stay the same as you feed in more throttle, but your RPMs are dropping. Best to drop it a gear, get the RPMs up in the optimal range, and use less throttle. This takes a lot of practice and a lot of experimentation to reach higher and higher MPG results, but if you have the patience to honestly try it over several trips and months, you may be surprised. I calculate my fuel mileage by actual numbers, not a computer or off some dash gauge. Amount of fuel added, miles driven = fuel mpg.

Cool. Very informative. But TBH....maybe I shouldn't say this but I don't really have an incentive to run that slow. They have us capped at 66 on the cruise. That could mean 80 miles in a ten hour drive (all highway, no traffic). If they instated a fuel bonus, then maybe I would consider something like that but it makes better sense financially for me to run at 66. But anyway, thanks for the explanation.

No bonus? My old company was the same. I didn't care about mileage either.

Cool. Very informative. But TBH....maybe I shouldn't say this but I don't really have an incentive to run that slow. They have us capped at 66 on the cruise. That could mean 80 miles in a ten hour drive (all highway, no traffic). If they instated a fuel bonus, then maybe I would consider something like that but it makes better sense financially for me to run at 66. But anyway, thanks for the explanation.

Totally get that & agree. You can get to the truck stop before me & find a spot. Whereas I have to take the spots in the way back or pay for Prime spots.

At the same time, your truck's revenue would increase if you consume less fuel & if they provide an financial incentive for that then its something else to consider.