Run on Less roadshow: Average MPG results

Fuel efficient trucking — is it possible? Based on the results from the Run on Less roadshow, the answer is “Yes.” Read this article to learn how a team of truck drivers showed how technology impacts fuel efficiency.

The State of Fuel Economy in Trucking

When it comes to fuel economy in the trucking industry, there is room for improvement. The Annual Fleet Fuel Study by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) reports that the national average truck fuel economy is only 5.83 MPG. Considering the rising cost of fuel in the U.S., the need to improve fuel economy becomes more urgent as time passes.

Why fuel efficiency in trucking is important:

• Lowering fuel consumption saves money (NACFE study showed raising fuel economy to 7.06 MPG saves a fleet $4,653 per truck).
• The average diesel fuel price has risen over $1.20 since 2003.
• Fuel impacts the bottom line (fuel costs represent 24% of a fleet’s total operating costs).
• Using less fuel benefits the environment through reduced emissions.

See Also: Is Idling Costing Your Business Money?

Geotab Research Shows Fuel Economy Performance by State

To provide more insight into the state of fuel economy in trucking, Geotab looked at the average fuel economy of a sample of over 30,000 Class 7 and Class 8 trucks equipped with a Geotab GO telematics device, for a one year time span from June 2016 to July 2017, located in the continental United States and Canada.

The findings:

• Average miles per gallon of Class 7 and Class 8 trucks is 4.51 MPG to 6.47 MPG.
• British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan had the lowest average MPG in the results.
• Rhode Island, Massachussetts, and Delaware tied with Wisconsin for the highest average MPG.

See the heat map with average MPG results (click on button or image below).

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The aim of this research is to provide a baseline tool to help trucking fleets in their efforts to improve fuel efficiency through driver coaching and newer truck specification options. The research was conducted using Google BigQuery, Google Datalab Notebooks using Python, and streaming live telematics data from Geotab’s Big Data platform.

As said by Mike Roeth, NACFE Executive Director, “Every year the North American trucking industry spends $40 billion too much on their fuel bill. We can cut this significantly with the right efficiency technologies.” Geotab offers many tools to help businesses optimize their fleets, including fuel efficiency reporting, driver coaching with Geotab GO TALK, predictive maintenance, and remote diagnostics.

Run on Less Results: Geotab Data Shows Fuel Efficiency Is Possible

Fuel efficiency in trucking is within reach, as shown by the results of the Run on Less campaign. Seven Class 8 trucks, equipped with efficiency technologies, and Geotab GO devices, drove over 50,000 miles across the country in a three week roadshow. The Run on Less team successfully met and exceeded the original goal of 9 MPG.

Thanks to fuel efficient technology and driving best practices, the Run on Less fleets saved $7,193 and 2,877 gallons of fuel, and achieved an outstanding 10.1 MPG.

If the over 1.7 million trucks in North America achieved the same MPG, the overall savings would total $24.3 billion, 9.7 billion gallons of diesel fuel, and 98 million tons of CO2 annually, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute.

About the Run on Less Roadshow

Run on Less was a cross-country roadshow to raise awareness about fuel efficiency best practices in long-haul trucking. For three weeks in September, an all-star team of truck drivers hauled real freight to different destinations across the U.S., ending at the NACV Show 2017 in Atlanta. The fleet of Class 8 trucks were showcasing some of the latest innovations in fuel efficiency including: new engine and drivetrain technology, low viscosity lubricants, aerodynamic design, and efficient driving methods.

Run on Less is organized by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) and Carbon War Room with title sponsors Shell and PepsiCo. NACFE is committed to increasing efficiency in North American trucking by providing information in their Confidence Reports on fuel efficiency technologies. Carbon War Room, a nonprofit organization founded by Sir Richard Branson, is kickstarting the low-carbon economy through sustainability initiatives in shipping, trucking, islands economy, aviation, and mining.

Geotab was proud to be an event sponsor of Run on Less. As a provider of open platform fleet management solutions, Geotab enables fleet optimization, fuel efficiency, and lower CO2 emissions for businesses of all sizes. We are committed to sustainability best practices in our decision-making and operations.

Run on Less website

Meet the Drivers

Drivers from top U.S. fleets participated in Run on Less, including: Albert Transport, PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, Hirschbach, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Nussbaum Transportation, Ploger Transportation, and US Xpress. The fleets provided trucks with commercially available fuel-saving technologies and selected each driver for their proven track record for fuel efficient driving.

The Run on Less drivers have more than 170 years of truck driving experience combined!

Henry Albert, Albert Transport Inc.

• Driving: 2018 Freightliner Cascadia Evolution Aero Xi Sleeper
• Interesting Fact: Albert has been an independent Owner/Operator since 1996.

Brad Long, Hirschbach

• Driving: 2016 International ProStar SkyRise sleeper
• Interesting Fact: For Long, the highlight of trucking is when he has an opportunity to bring his family out on the road with him. Hirschbach has a green fleet strategy that includes keeping only late model trucks fewer than 3 to 4 years old.

Joel Morrow, Ploger Transportation

• Driving: 2016 Volvo VNM62T630 Sleeper
• Interesting Fact: Morrow has driven over 4 million miles in his career.

Clark Reed, Nussbaum Transportation

• Driving: 2018 Freightliner Cascadia Sleeper
• Interesting Fact: Over 12 years ago, Reed traded in an office desk for his truck and hasn’t looked back since. Reed is passionate about the central role that trucking plays in driving the overall economy.

Tommy Revell, PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay Division

• Driving: 2017 Volvo VNM Day Cab
• Interesting Fact: Frito-Lay chooses aerodynamic truck models to optimize their fleet and maximize performance, featuring front bumpers with lower dams, side skirts and extenders to redirect the airflow under and around the vehicle, as well as roof and gap fairings, aerodynamic mirrors, wheel covers, and trailer tails.

Mark Risien, US Express

• Driving: 2018 Freightliner Cascadia Sleeper
• Interesting Fact: Risien’s Cascadia is equipped with a solar panel that powers the air conditioning, lights and outlets when the truck is turned off.

Roberto Sandoval, Mesilla Valley Transportation

• Driving: 2018 International LT Sleeper
• Interesting Fact: Sandoval is from El Paso, Texas and says “I love my truck as much as my house.”

Watch the driver videos.

Geotab Telematics Data Supports Fuel Efficiency Tracking

Geotab equipped each Run on Less truck and driver with a Geotab GO device, harness, and access to the MyGeotab fleet management portal.

Throughout the campaign, drivers and program administrators tracked their statistics such as fuel usage, diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) level, idle time, cruise control, and more from the MyGeotab fleet management software. A Geotab solutions engineer set up the dashboard and reports on fuel economy.

The Geotab GO vehicle tracking device is capable of providing various diagnostics, including 

acceleration, engine load, engine speed (RPM), and fuel usage. Proper analysis of these variables can help further analyse and estimate the GCWR of a truck.

Examples of other vehicle data that can be measured and monitored on Class 8 trucks with Geotab:

• Ignition
• Cranking voltage
• Engine speed
• Odometer
• Total amount of fuel used
• Fuel level (percentage)
• Coolant level
• Engine oil temperature and level
• Engine coolant temperature
• Total engine idle time
• Total fuel used while idling
• Outside air temperature
• Oil pressure

To read how trucking companies can streamline maintenance with technology, read Scott Sutarik’s post on remote diagnostics.

Related:

Geotab Data Shows Impact of Hurricane Harvey on Driving and Commercial Fleet Activity

Simple Ways to Increase Fuel Efficiency with MyGeotab

The Diesel Decline and What it Means for Fleet Managers

Originally published Sep. 6, 2017. Updated Nov. 6, 2017