Truckers slowing down to save fuel

[nicklockard]

Interesting article taken from net:

By JAMES MacPHERSON, Associated Press Writer, Sat Mar 22, 12:50 PM ET[/FONT]]


BISMARCK, N.D. - Coast-to-coast trucker Lorraine Dawson says fellow drivers used to call her "Lead Foot Lorraine." But with diesel fuel around $4 a gallon, she and other big-rig drivers have backed off their accelerators to conserve fuel.
"I used to be a speed demon, but no more," said Dawson, based at Tacoma, Wash. "Most drivers have cut their speed considerably."
Dawson said she's cut her speed by five to 10 miles per hour to save money for her company. Many independent owner-operators have slowed even more, she said.
"My fiance is an owner-operator and he's been crying a lot about the price of fuel," Dawson said. "He's been slowing way down."
Truckers and industry officials say slowing a tractor-trailer rig from 75 mph to 65 mph increases fuel mileage by more than a mile a gallon, a significant bump for machines that get less than 10 miles per gallon hauling thousands of pounds of freight. Even sitting still with the engine idling, a rig gulps about a gallon of diesel every hour.
"We just can't afford it," Dawson said of diesel as she was topping off her fuel tanks at a Bismarck truck stop.
When she started driving trucks in 1997, diesel was about $1.97 a gallon, $2 a gallon cheaper than what she paid Wednesday in Bismarck. Rigs like hers have two fuel tanks, typically holding 300 gallons each.
The nationwide average for a gallon of diesel on Thursday was $4.03, up from $2.74 one year earlier, AAA North Dakota spokesman Gene LaDoucer said. The average in North Dakota on Thursday was $3.98, up from $2.82 a year ago, he said.
"Twenty-four states are paying $4 or higher," LaDoucer said Thursday.
The climb is blamed on record crude oil prices and global demand, LaDoucer said.
"Diesel is the predominate fuel used in foreign countries, and there is a lot more demand for it globally and that helps bid up the price that we are paying here," LaDoucer said.
Fuel accounts for about a quarter of carriers' operating costs, and now is surpassing labor as the biggest expense for some carriers, said Tiffany Wlazlowski, a spokeswoman for the Arlington, Va.-based American Trucking Associations.
"And rising fuel costs do increase the cost of consumer goods," she said.
Trucks haul 70 percent of all freight tonnage in the U.S., according to the American Trucking Associations.
State troopers have noticed the decline in truckers' speeds, said North Dakota Highway Patrol Capt. Eric Pederson.
"We see it when we're out patrolling," Pederson said. "In talking to the drivers, a lot of the large companies are setting policies that give the drivers a little more leeway on the time on their loads — just to save on the fuel."
Wlazlowski said the U.S trucking industry expects to spend $135 billion on diesel this year, up from $112 billion in 2007. There are 3.5 million truck drivers in this country, she said.
"For every one-penny increase in the price of diesel, it costs our industry $391 million," she said. "In the last month, it's gone up 50 cents."
Wlazlowski said the trucking industry does "anything that will help them save fuel." She said that includes outfitting trucks with aerodynamic fairings and special tires to improve mileage. Drivers also are using more efficient routes and reducing idling times.
Trucking company Con-way Inc. of Ann Arbor, Mich., announced this month that it adjusted speed governors on the engines of the 8,400 semis in its less-than-truckload division, Con-way Freight.
Truckload carriers usually dedicate a shipment to a single customer, and move freight directly from the shipper to the receiver. Less-than-truckload carriers are filled with shipments from multiple customers, and may redistribute it at terminals along routes.
Con-way spokesman Gary Frantz said the maximum speed of the trucks has been cut from 65 mph to 62, a move that should cut fuel consumption by 3.2 million gallons a year.
"It's a significant savings," Frantz said.
The company said the move also would eliminate 72 million pounds of carbon emissions annually, or the equivalent to removing nearly 7,300 automobiles from U.S. highways.
Frantz said the company should have the governors on the 3,000 rigs in its truckload fleet adjusted next month.

 

[AudiLikeA4]

1.97gal for diesel in 1997, diesel was .599 in 1997 NJ yes that's 59 cents a gallon.

 

[supton]

I was going to say, $1.97 sounds too high for 1997. I think gas was right around a buck or so at that time; I was in college and not buying very much gas (and no diesel) at that time.

Anyhow, this makes good sense. Perhaps the rest of us will follow suit. Nah...

 

[hdeptech]

I started driving 52.5 MPH from 65. to and from work. I get to work 3 min later and so far see about 3.5 mpg gain.....

 

[jettawreck]

"from machines that get less than 10 mpg" ??
yes, a LOT less than 10 mpg. No evidence of the big rigs slowing down around here locally, anyways. Seems as though the ones that appear to be in the worst condition are running the fastest. Most of the "drivers" are just that-drivers for a company which pays the fuel bill. Owner/operators will have more incentive to slow it down, hopefully.

 

[Tisey06]

TDI drivers are also slowing down for MPG

 

[greengeeker]

Please don't go there.

Companies are also fitting their rigs with APU's (auxilliary power units) to provide heat and electrical power to the truck instead of idling. Should we run a 15L engine or a 0.5L engine all night? Hmmm.

http://www.cumminsonan.com/apu/products/

 

[BioBob]

Slow Down

I'm one of those Hyper-miler freaks.

Having said that, I've noticed a lot of folks joining me
recently (in the last two months) as I'm doing 60 in the
right hand lane.

Also there are more folks coasting into lights, instead of
racing up to the que to wait.

I haven't seen a noticeable change in the amount of traffic,
but I expect that will be next.

 

[JyRO]

I'm big in the Dodge Cummins forums. And I've been discussing now for about 5 years how I felt Cummins would be wise to develop the pick-up truck diesels in such a way as to enhance mpg and stay at the current h.p. levels.

Seems all the engine mfg's are only concerned with h.p./tq #'s for marketing reasons. Not that those are bad reasons. But it would have been nice if some engine OEM would take the high ground for the environment to work on mpg. Current day Cummins powered pick-up trucks have more than enough power (course you can't convince most of the owners of that, they always want more) to get any reasonable job done. It would be nice to be able to hit 25 mpg cruising at 70 mph. My truck I'll yield very close to 20 mpg under those conditions which is pretty darn good for a 7,130 lb. truck.

The point of all the above drivel is: If one of the big dawg diesel engine OEM's (Cummins, CAT, Detroit, etc) had taken the same stance to develop high mpg strategies with the heavy truck engines, guess who would be selling Class 8 truck engines now? If they could make one that would run 10 - 11 mpg at 65 mph toting 80k lbs, they wouldn't be able to make them fast enough.

$4 a gallon filling 550 gallons worth in 600 gallon tanks - that's $2,200. Those owner / operators must be taking out loans to fill the tanks.

 

[Kabin]

Truckers are planning an April 1st strike over high operating costs. Supposedly many are getting out of the business because of it.

 

[Jester]

Drove in from California to Phoenix yesterday on the I-10. Truckers were noticably driving much, much slower. I didn't know why until I read this post and it does make sense.

 

[greengeeker]

...I've noticed a lot of folks joining me
recently (in the last two months) as I'm doing 60 in the
right hand lane.

Also there are more folks coasting into lights, instead of
racing up to the que to wait.

That makes two of us. All this week I've had people tuck in behind my slow a$$ and set the cruise. Just yesterday I was the lead car in a 5 vehicle caravan for 15 miles - I'm proud of them that they are able to pull back the reigns and actually drive below the speed limit . It is also a bit entertaining to see how long their patience lasts...they'll be behind me for several miles and then all of a sudden they will throw on their turn signal and fly past me (4 lane road).

 

[Suns_PSD]

I'm big in the Dodge Cummins forums. And I've been discussing now for about 5 years how I felt Cummins would be wise to develop the pick-up truck diesels in such a way as to enhance mpg and stay at the current h.p. levels.

Seems all the engine mfg's are only concerned with h.p./tq #'s for marketing reasons. Not that those are bad reasons. But it would have been nice if some engine OEM would take the high ground for the environment to work on mpg. Current day Cummins powered pick-up trucks have more than enough power (course you can't convince most of the owners of that, they always want more) to get any reasonable job done. It would be nice to be able to hit 25 mpg cruising at 70 mph. My truck I'll yield very close to 20 mpg under those conditions which is pretty darn good for a 7,130 lb. truck.

The point of all the above drivel is: If one of the big dawg diesel engine OEM's (Cummins, CAT, Detroit, etc) had taken the same stance to develop high mpg strategies with the heavy truck engines, guess who would be selling Class 8 truck engines now? If they could make one that would run 10 - 11 mpg at 65 mph toting 80k lbs, they wouldn't be able to make them fast enough.

$4 a gallon filling 550 gallons worth in 600 gallon tanks - that's $2,200. Those owner / operators must be taking out loans to fill the tanks.

I sell Kenworths for a living. The EPA has hurt mpg. More hp typically actually HELPS w/ mpg in a diesel when they are hauling this heavy. The trucks were consistently getting over 7 and the Detroits were often getting 8-9 mpg hauling 80K back in the late '90s. Of course Detroit was cheating on their emissions tests and when they were caught and fined their mpg dropped to about 4-4.5mpg w/ no changes except programming.

Also $.42 of every gallon of diesel is suppossed to be due to ULSD.

Of course under Republican leadership energy prices have risen 500% in America (300% in Europe) in 7 years due to many things including the Iraq war but that is another discussion.

PS. Big rigs typically have twin 150 gallon fuel tanks, not twin 300s.

 

[AudiLikeA4]

That makes two of us. All this week I've had people tuck in behind my slow a$$ and set the cruise. Just yesterday I was the lead car in a 5 vehicle caravan for 15 miles - I'm proud of them that they are able to pull back the reigns and actually drive below the speed limit . It is also a bit entertaining to see how long their patience lasts...they'll be behind me for several miles and then all of a sudden they will throw on their turn signal and fly past me (4 lane road).

Same here

I hope the truckers do strike, shutdown some major highways. Diesel refined in the US should stay in the US unless there is an excessive surplus. At the very least truckers should get a discount. The cost of diesel isn't just hitting diesel drivers, it hits everyone due to the prices of goods going up.

A 2 liter of pepsi use to be $1.09 regular price in the supermarket, now some markets sell it for $1.79 at regular price...that's fuel costs.

 

[darkscout]

I hope the truckers do strike, shutdown some major highways.

Last I heard it was a straight up strike, not a planned 'lets clog the highways'. Heck if the strike does actually happen (big word actually), I'd think that the highways would be clear.

Diesel refined in the US should stay in the US unless there is an excessive surplus. At the very least truckers should get a discount.

Go back to Russia commie. Or is capitalism only good when it benefits you and brings prices down?

A 2 liter of pepsi use to be $1.09 regular price in the supermarket, now some markets sell it for $1.79 at regular price...that's fuel costs.

And it's still $1 someplaces. Or if you can stomach the generic stuff (it all tastes the same with rum) even cheaper.

 

[AudiLikeA4]

Last I heard it was a straight up strike, not a planned 'lets clog the highways'. Heck if the strike does actually happen (big word actually), I'd think that the highways would be clear.



Go back to Russia commie. Or is capitalism only good when it benefits you and brings prices down?



And it's still $1 someplaces. Or if you can stomach the generic stuff (it all tastes the same with rum) even cheaper.

Either way it sends message.

If it's made on our soil, we should reap the rewards first. It's a good for the whole ideal. Kinda like VW's in Germany are wayy better than they are here...you always keep the best stuff at home, sell crap to the other guy and tell him it's gold. Selling diesel refined here for profit overseas when it's costing our economy at home is comparable to a woman selling her body to a man, sure it'll make you money, but do you sleep well at night knowing you're a whore and possibly endangering your body?

The only time I see 2ltr for $1 is when it's on sale, not regular price.

I'm not a commie, but sometimes you need to know when to say when.

 

[darkscout]

If it's made on our soil, we should reap the rewards first.

We ARE reaping the rewards. Record profits, more money than can if it can be sold at home. The weak dollar makes this too easy.

Or did you mean personally you should see the benefits of someone else's "hard work".

Or did you mean we should share the profits with everyone in the US? While we're at it lets have everyone make the same amount, then people don't have incentive to steal.

Selling diesel refined here for profit overseas when it's costing our economy at home is comparable to a woman selling her body to a man, sure it'll make you money, but do you sleep well at night knowing you're a whore and possibly endangering your body?

No this is akin to a woman selling her body to the highest bidder. We already know she's a whore.

 

[AudiLikeA4]

We ARE reaping the rewards. Record profits, more money than can if it can be sold at home. The weak dollar makes this too easy.

Or did you mean personally you should see the benefits of someone else's "hard work".

Or did you mean we should share the profits with everyone in the US? While we're at it lets have everyone make the same amount, then people don't have incentive to steal.



No this is akin to a woman selling her body to the highest bidder. We already know she's a whore.

You're right. I'll bow out now, there's nothing to defend and no point in arguing

 

[VFchicago88]

I love seeing all the gas stations selling wiper fluid for 2.89-3.29 a gallon.... *** is that? At least autozone will still sell it for 1.69... I remember when it was 99 cents a gallon at the lowest price. That crap is basically just water and some type of alcohol and some fragrance perhaps?

 

[darkscout]

Getting the price of diesel down will move this economy.

So will bailing out Sub Prime Loans. Hurray. Gubernment handouts for everyone!

If things continue we will be riding bicycles some.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

 

[V-Rod]

We ARE reaping the rewards. Record profits, more money than can if it can be sold at home. The weak dollar makes this too easy.

That is the problum with free trade Jerks like you only care about your bottom line the all mighty $$$$$$$$

 

[darkscout]

That is the problum with free trade Jerks like you only care about your bottom line the all mighty $$$$$$$$

I think you're in the wrong country dude.

 

[xs650]

Drove in from California to Phoenix yesterday on the I-10. Truckers were noticably driving much, much slower. I didn't know why until I read this post and it does make sense.

I drove from Sacramento to Tucson and back last month at 65 mph. Traffic was noticably slower than a year ago. A lot of cars and trucks were going under 70 mph on wide open roads.

 

[catmandoo]

. Getting the price of diesel down will move this economy. Everyone wants to create a new source of energy, lets fix the problem we are having now before we starve everyone too death growing corn for ethanol.

amen to that.here in iowa sen grassley has been a huge proponant of ethanol for god knows how long.of course he owns more land then god.he evidently has no forthought,that it would of course raise the price of corn,but seemed to forget that the ones feeding livestock were gonna take it in the shorts.and the price of meat etc was gonna go up accordingly.not to mention the most precious natural resource on the planet(water)is getting sucked out of the ground for said ethanol at an astronomical rate.now that these farmers are getting big money for their crops,i think it's about time to end the farm subsidys.but of course grassley will make damn sure that don't happen.

 

[V-Rod]

I think you're in the wrong country dude.

When it comes to energy Capitalism is starting to fail, it is no longer supply and demand its all about speculators and oil refinerys shutting down for maintance.

 

[V-Rod]

amen to that.here in iowa sen grassley has been a huge proponant of ethanol for god knows how long.of course he owns more land then god.he evidently has no forthought,that it would of course raise the price of corn,but seemed to forget that the ones feeding livestock were gonna take it in the shorts.and the price of meat etc was gonna go up accordingly.not to mention the most precious natural resource on the planet(water)is getting sucked out of the ground for said ethanol at an astronomical rate.now that these farmers are getting big money for their crops,i think it's about time to end the farm subsidys.but of course grassley will make damn sure that don't happen.

The only reason there is any subsidys for farms is so the government can control them with rules and regulations. Most of the money doesn't end up to family farms anyways. End the Subsidys they loose all control

 

[darkscout]

loose all control

Well it's not like they have tight control.

 

[rotarykid]

I think you're in the wrong country dude.

Collusion is illegal here , as is price fixing . Both of which are going on now when it comes to D2 pricing in the US . But with the administration in their pocket big oil has little to fear from their illegal actions .

And Your bashing of others views as being unamerican is something I would expect from the current Republican a$$ in the whitehouse .

You would do good to check your attitude at the door .................. Your not as high and mighty as you think . It is quite American for people not to share your views .

Even if it isn't the view of the idiot in the white house it is American to disagree .

 

[Ted Hurst]

I've been noticing that truckers are slowing down here in Ohio. I took a trip from Canton down to I-70 yesterday and followed two trucks that were going 55 mph on the flat and coasting downhill. Just for the fun of it I drafted them (at a safe distance)for about 40 miles. My trip computer average mpg's went up to 62 mpg's!

 

[jobob307]

If they do go on strike you better have everything you already at home. Look around people 99.9% of everything you touch everyday was on a semi at some point.

I used to drive semi back in the mid 90's I made a alot of money only working 40 weeks a year. I quit because of the crap rules the truckers have to follow they were wrote in the 50's. Trucks and roads have improved since then, now we need to update the rules. At my next GTG I'm going to have a truck here. I know that once people sit in one they gain alot of respect for what those guys do 14 hours a day.

The bottom line is fuel is at these prices because the oil companies can get away with it, and for no other reason. Why do you think they are showing record profits.?