Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/409537
26 | Overdrive | November 2014 I f there is a bright spot in the tumultuous trucking industry, it has to be the unprec- edented gains in fuel economy made over the last few decades. Not too long ago, a long- haul tractor logging 6 miles per gallon was considered heady stuff. Today, for- ward-thinking drivers routine- ly see 8 mpg on long runs. Cutting-edge operators like Mesilla Valley Transportation of Las Cruces, N.M., push the envelope past 10 mpg. Own- er-operator Henry Albert, a former Overdrive Trucker of the Year, considers 9 mpg "aver- age" and is working actively toward a consistent 12 mpg. Operators like Albert have practices, such as idle reduction and gentle braking and acceleration, to help keep fuel use down. But they also carefully spec the right trac- tor, trailer and aftermarket components to keep fuel use to a minimum. We asked readers of Over- driveOnline.com to choose the five technologies and design features they believe contribute the most to fuel economy. The top five results include two aerodynamic fea- tures and three other diverse components. Some manufacturers make bold claims about how much fuel their products can save. We listed 22 components and technologies and asked readers to rate their favorites to see what the voice of experience has to say. BY JACK ROBERTS