What To Know When Building a Fuel Efficient Freightliner

You already know you can custom-design a Freightliner truck that has exactly the performance attributes you need, plus the amenities that making driving a pleasure. But did you realize that nearly every choice you make can have a direct impact – sometimes a significant impact – on your truck’s fuel efficiency?

Your profitability is at stake, whether you manage a large fleet or you’re an owner-operator, because for most trucking operations, fuel is your highest expense other than labor. It’s certainly your greatest variable cost. The importance of carefully spec’ing your new Freightliner cannot be overstated.

Here’s what you need to know.

The “right” choices for designing a fuel efficient truck depend on how you’ll use the it. Factors that affect fuel efficiency include:

• Local, regional or long-haul service duty.
• Trailer type, which affects cab style.
• Load type, which affects engine, transmission and gearing choices as well as performance settings.
• Driving conditions and delivery requirements. Terrain effects traction, which effects engine and transmission choices as well as the number of drive axles and type of tires you’ll need.
• Driver requirements, such as personal preference for manual or automatic transmission, or the need for an auxiliary power unit.

The ideal truck is ultimately a trade-off that gives you the performance you need without wasting a drop of fuel. The less it weighs, and the sleeker it is, the more fuel you can save.

Cab style.

• Day cabs are lightest and have the shortest wheel base, so they’re more maneuverable. Their low profile is good for hauling lower profile trailers, or you can add roof fairing to improve efficiency with taller trailers.
• Mid-roof cabs are also good for lower trailers, but if you need a sleeper you’ll have a longer wheel base and the tractor will be heavier.
• Raised roof cabs are best for regional or long-haul duty. They’re the most aerodynamic for either dry van or refrigerated trailers.

Performance.

Engine size, horsepower and torque all affect performance. Your goal is to achieve optimum RPM to get the job done with minimum fuel usage, which is why gear ratios become so important, as does choosing manual versus automatic transmission. Serviceability and life expectancy can affect fuel efficiency, too.

Tires.

Larger tires go farther with each revolution, enabling you to travel faster at a given axle speed. But tire type matters as well as size. Wide-based single tires are more efficient and lighter, but if a tire blows you have no back-up to keep rolling. Dual tires – much improved in recent years – offer better traction in difficult conditions, and if one blows you can still get to the roadside or even down the road to replace the tire. But more tires add more weight.

The overall rule of thumb? You’re looking for speed, torque and good mileage. You can have any two.

Look for US EPA SmartWay certification.

This program recognizes specific vehicle designs and equipment that can collectively lower your tractor-trailer’s fuel consumption by 10%-20%, when combined with newer, cleaner engines. “SmartWay” components include things like fairings and body extenders, aerodynamic mirrors and bumpers, low rolling resistance tires and idle reduction technology.

Considering all these factors as you build your new Freightliner will give you the most economical fuel efficiency. But you’ll also get the best truck for the job, overall. Top performance means greater productivity. Lower fuel consumption saves money. That adds up to lower total cost of ownership, and that protects your profitability, both today and down the road.