Truck Driving Tips to Save you Money Part III

This is part three of our Truck Driving Tips to Save you Money series. Today we are going to look at a few little maintenance tricks that can improve the fuel economy of the truck that you are driving.

Tires Make a Difference

Tires play an important role in fuel economy in truck driving. Tire pressure is absolutely critical to performance. This subject was broached in an article on Equipment Today very recently and is worth repeating.

As tires deflate, rolling resistance increases. “As you start to lose tire pressure, your sidewalls start to sag,” Matsil explains. There is more rubber on the road. “You have more friction, so the rolling resistance increases. Consequently, the amount of energy required to move the vehicle down the road increases.”

Check your tire pressure at least once per week and make sure that you do so in the morning. Tire pressures will change with temperature, so make sure that you fill your tires cold for the most accurate results. Just how important is tire pressure? According to the same article, correct tire pressure and axle alignment can reduce your fuel consumption by up to 3-4%. That is a sizeable amount, especially over a year.

Change your Filters Regularly

Fuel filters that are full will cause a loss of power that might see you revving the engine harder than would otherwise be necessary. Keep an eye on your fuel filters and change them as required. Air filters can have a similar impact and if you are in a dusty environment, you are going to need to change them more often.

Do you have any tips and tricks related to truck driving? If you do or have any truck driving related questions, please feel free to contact us at Associated Training Services.