Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/319866
64 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | JUNE 2014 EQUIPMENT: LOW-ROLLING-RESISTANCE TIRES not getting the same cost per mile, though, because these new tires are designed for fuel economy, not mileage." Walenga counsels fleets that need a better understanding of the new fuel-ef- ficient tire dynamic. "With conventional tires, it was easy," he says: To determine cost per mile, divide the tire's cost by its accrued mileage. Today, fleets have to in- corporate fuel – in the form of fuel costs and gallons burned – into the equation. "This new method gives you your total tire cost per mile," Walenga says. "The first thing fleet managers say when they do the math is 'That's a bigger number,' but it only looks big compared to the fig- ures they're used to seeing. The context of tire cost and fuel savings have to be built around that number." Getting the math right can have a huge positive effect on a fleet's bottom line. "The largest expense for any trucking company is usually the cost of fuel," Estupinan says. "In many cases, it can account for 39 percent of a fleet's total expenses." According to studies conducted by Giti Tire, a single commercial truck can use as much as $70,000 worth of diesel a year, which translates to about 20,500 gallons. "On a tractor-trailer combination, the steer tires contribute 15 to 20 percent to total tire fuel economy, drive tires 30 to 40 percent, and trailer tires about 40 to 50 percent," Estupinan says. "Considering that trailer tires have the biggest impact on fuel economy and that trailer tires represent the biggest population in the average fleet in America, selecting the proper trailer tires for the fleet will have the biggest impact on miles per gallon consumed than any other wheel position." The first step is to use more fuel-efficient U.S. Environmental Protection Agency SmartWay-verified tires, starting with the trailer axles and continuing with steers and drives. "Following the math on these numbers, we see that a 20-truck/trailer fleet can save as much as $42,000 in a year simply by switching to SmartWay-certified tires," Estupinan says. Chris Han, commercial tire marketing manager for Kumho Tire, urges fleets to consider, evaluate, check and determine for themselves what tires work best for them. "They should do this by placing a few sets of tires on a trial basis, and following them through the first life and retread stage," he says. Fleets also should keep in mind that rolling resistance is only part of the fuel consumption picture, Han says. "Not all fleets are converts to wide-based single tires, yet tests have shown that they have the lowest rolling resistance and deliver the best possible fuel economy," he says. Text INFO to 205-289-3554 or visit www.ccjdigital.com/info The Right People. The Right Service. The Right Places. Locations Coast to Coast in the United States and Canada Find your local VIPro TruckForce™ Service Center by calling 800.494.4731 or by visiting www.viprotruckforce.com WIN 1of 10 Bosch 12V Max 5pc Cordless Kits *Contest entry open from June 16th to August 31st, 2014 at participating VIPro TruckForce™ Service Centers only. No purchase necessary. Items may not be exactly as shown. See in-store or on-line for official contest rules and regulations. Void where prohibited by law. *When it comes to truck maintenance and repair, trust your local VIPro TruckForce Service Center to keep you on the road. Have your next service performed by the experts at any participating VIPro TruckForce Service Center before August 31, 2014 and Enter to Supported by These Quality Brands: an EnPro Industries company SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST!