Improving Efficiency Through Technology

Whether it's better-designed routes or improved fuel mileage, trucking is a big industry that constantly strives for an edge in efficiency. About six months ago, the company I drive for rolled out a new remote software-based technology aimed at analyzing fuel efficiency in our trucks.

I was one of the early adopters of the pilot program. I'm glad I was because I'm always looking for ways to improve, and this software helped me identify one small area of improvement, which I'll share later.

The software analyzes fuel waste over a few select categories: speeding, idling, and cruise control are the main categories. It's very sophisticated. The camera will chirp when a driver is too deep in the throttle. A driver's performance is analyzed through each gear. In the case of my Freightliner, 1-12. It's pretty neat. The software presents the information in a very easily understood graph on a power curve through the entire range of gears. Green is great; yellow is ok; red is wasteful. It also shows exactly how much fuel was wasted in each of the categories.

At the end of each day, the driver can open the app and see their performance from the prior day presented in a percentage of efficiency on a scale of 1-100%. This allows the driver to identify and correct inefficiencies in near real time. But, you have to know what you're looking at.

I was routinely performing in the 97% - 98% range. Basically, only waste about 0.5 - 1.5 gallons/per day. Not bad. The company is striving for 95% or better. So, I was doing pretty well. But I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I worked hard for a couple of months to improve to above 99% but only achieved that a couple of times over that period.

I accepted that was my norm and thought nothing of it until two weeks ago when I was routed to our main terminal for a random drug screening. While there, I met with my fleet leader to discuss plans for the rest of the week. I asked him if there was anything I could be doing better. He said no. But while you're here, let's review your fuel efficiency. He brought it up on the computer, and we reviewed my weekly and monthly results.

Everything was great. But his user interface with the app showed more details. I asked him to explain a few things that I was seeing that I didn't quite understand. He did. I noticed almost all of my fuel loss was coming in gears 10 and 11. He didn't have any suggestions for me and said I was doing well. But I pressed, asking to review specific days.

All seemed good. But it was still gnawing at me. Why am I losing fuel in those high gears? I use cruise control most of the time. I don't floor it, and I try to manage my rpms. Then it donned on me; cruise control and Overspeed. I usually set my cruise, then the overspeed for 2 mph over my set speed. When I'm driving in the mountains of PA, NY, and Maryland, the engine brake kicks in to manage the speed on the downhills. That's it! I was letting the rpms get too high. Nothing in the 2000 range. But high enough to lose 1 gallon per day.

My corrective action was to disengage the cruise control, set the engine brake on 1-2 depending on grade, and use controlled braking, if needed, to keep rpms at around 1500 or less.

Since doing that, viola, I'm consistently over 99% efficiency. Such a small amount of fuel seems insignificant. But, if I save 1 gallon per day, that's about $5.00 every day I drive. If I drive 220 days per year, that's about $1,000.00 annually. I'm sure a couple of those dollars will return to my pocket. Even if they don't. it will count toward my bottom revenue line for performance bonuses.

Still learning every day.

Today was a good day! Tomorrow will be better!

Increased wind resistance is likely the reason.

Interesting take. Can you elaborate on that for me? The changes I made showed results immediately. But it could be a coincidence.

Increased wind resistance is likely the reason.

Not sure what else I can, increased wind resistance plus ascending even the slightest grade at highway speeds will cause the motor to work harder to overcome the increased resistance.

I wouldn’t sweat this…

The greater the speed, creates increased wind resistance.

Understood. I'm where I want to be. I'm not sweating anything now. I just saw it as a challenge to do a little better. As long as I'm above 95%, I'll be just fine. Thanks G-Town!

Not sure what else I can, increased wind resistance plus ascending even the slightest grade at highway speeds will cause the motor to work harder to overcome the increased resistance.

I wouldn’t sweat this…

I don't agree with your analysis. It's not letting the engine revolutions get too high. It's a simple fact that with the cruise on going up the grade the cruise will floor it. Because the cruise is trying to obtain your set cruise control speed. Disengaging going uphill and then using the throttle instead of cruise control flooring it will reduce the fuel consumption. Going downhill and the engine revs get too high is not using more fuel.

My best fuel economy, based on the onboard computer, was when I went essentially downhill for 60 miles. Within that 60 miles I obtained 19 miles per gallon. But my engine revs were still high. The injectors are not going to put fuel into the cylinder when you're going downhill even though the engine revs are high.

I see the point you are trying to make with respect to the injectors pumping fuel and rpms on the downhill. The other thing that I did not mention is that when I'm traveling uphill and the engine rpms start to get around 1600, my Freightliner will drop from 12 to 11, 10, or 9 depending on the grade. I manually shift up to the next gear and bring them down a little. Maybe this is contributing more to it than the downgrade. That would seem to make sense. Either way, I'm exceeding expectations and I'm good with that. Thanks for weighing in. Always learning and expanding.

I don't agree with your analysis. It's not letting the engine revolutions get too high. It's a simple fact that with the cruise on going up the grade the cruise will floor it. Because the cruise is trying to obtain your set cruise control speed. Disengaging going uphill and then using the throttle instead of cruise control flooring it will reduce the fuel consumption. Going downhill and the engine revs get too high is not using more fuel.

My best fuel economy, based on the onboard computer, was when I went essentially downhill for 60 miles. Within that 60 miles I obtained 19 miles per gallon. But my engine revs were still high. The injectors are not going to put fuel into the cylinder when you're going downhill even though the engine revs are high.

Bill, can you post any pictures showing anything about your new gizmo?

And what will they think of next? Self driving trucks? Lol.

Hi BK. It works through the onboard camera system. We get feedback on our tablets.

Bill, can you post any pictures showing anything about your new gizmo?

And what will they think of next? Self driving trucks? Lol.