Bad driving habits can have up to a 30% impact on miles per gallon (MPG). So, optimizing MPG can result in a huge cost savings.
Encourage your Professional Drivers to follow these 6 tips on MPG best practices:
Driver Status:
If a Driver is upset, there will not be any focus on optimizing MPG. Resolve issues promptly to make sure Drivers are happy, safe, and efficient on the road.
Speed:
Speed is the number one factor that affects MPG. While being timely is important, managing time to allow a reasonable speed is worth it. Encourage Drivers to use cruise control to monitor speed.
Minimize Idle Time:
One hour of idling uses roughly one gallon of gas that is not reimbursed. If idling is unavoidable, encourage Drivers to use the lowest idle speed possible.
Braking and Accelerating:
Drivers should avoid sudden stops by keeping a reasonable distance from other vehicles and anticipating traffic. When possible, it’s best to allow friction and rolling resistance to slow the truck down, rather than downshifting or breaking. Also, Drivers should never put a foot all the way to the floor or accelerate from a stop faster than necessary.
Progressive Shifting/RPMs:
Generally, using the highest gear possible and progressive shifting (skipping gears) is best to keep RPMs low.
Out-of-Route Miles:
Even small detours to the grocery store, or going through a town just outside of a route to see a friend, add up quickly. Let Drivers know that out-of-route miles can greatly affect fuel and maintenance costs. Even going 5 miles out of the way (and then 5 miles back) will cost fuel that won’t be reimbursed. Emphasize that Drivers should always stay as close to their route as possible.
About the Author:
