Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/324702
Join these Current Members: ©2014 ROADPRO BRANDS Join these Current Members: Become the Voice of RoadPro Henry Albert Jeff Clark - Member of the Freightliner® Team Run Smart. Henry Albert - Owner of Albert Transport, Inc., member of the Freightliner® Team Run Smart. Libby Clayton - Voted as Runner Up in Overdrive's Most Beautiful contest. Maggie Stone - Voted and won Overdrive's Most Beautiful contest. George Parker (& Wendy) - Spouse team on the road, blogs for Overdrive. Thomas Miller - Captain of America's Road Team. Jim Adamire Robert Stoviak Your Name Could Be Here Sign Up Today... Visit roadprobrands.com and submit our online survey for consideration. roadprobrands.com Henry Albert Answers 11 Questions About How He Broke 11MPG. Henry Albert, owner of Albert Transport, Inc., based in Statesville, N.C., had been trying to achieve the holy grail of breaking 11 mpg in one fuel run with his 2013 Freightliner Cascadia Evolution with the Detroit DD15 engine and DT12 transmission. Finally, last year on a route from Meridian, Miss., to Laredo, Texas, and back - a total of 1,770 miles - Albert reached his goal with an amazing 11.488 mpg. Albert, also the Overdrive Magazine 2007 Trucker of the Year, is a member of Freightliner Trucks' Team Run Smart and the RoadPro Professional Driver Council and has been widely recognized for his extraordinary business and professional trucking expertise. While he's even exceeded 12 mpg on a single day run, an entire fuel run is a different story. Certainly, his equipment factored into the milestone, but he says it's the little things that matter and add up. Q: Equipment definitely counts? A: It's the most important decision you make in this business. Start out with the most aerodynamic equipment you can afford. Some of the cutting-edge components I have include a body-integrated antenna, cab extenders with filler piece between the side skirts and extender body, lower front air dam, elliptical-shaped mirrors, chassis side-fairing enhancements, an ATDynamics Trailer Tail and wide-base single tires. Q: What tires do you run? A: Michelin X-One tires, wide-base single tires on the drive and trailer axles, customized mudflaps and stainless steel wheel covers. I check tire alignment and meticulously check the pressure with a tire pressure monitoring system Q: Mudflaps matter? A: Absolutely. I trimmed the inside edge of my mudflaps to fit the wide-base single tires to prevent airflow obstruction around the wheels. I also cut the corners to lessen drag. Q: Is it true you moved your license plate? A: Yes. You can increase airflow by removing it from the usual position below the left turn signal and bolting to the lower part of the trailer body. Moving that license plate may have saved me somewhere between $400-700 per year. Not much, but it adds up. Even if it was only $100, it's too easy not to do. Q: What other aerodynamic tips do you share? A: Make sure your sideskirts are properly mounted. I use a NoseCone and SideBurn package, with no bug deflector or sun visors. I plated over the rain gutter. Q: Are you that guy running in the slow lane? A: My ideal speed, if the load allows, is 62 mph and I'm content to drive below the speed limit as long as I'm not holding up anyone else and it makes sense for the load. You have to do the math to determine the best speed but generally, you can go slower than you think you can. Q: Do you use your cruise control? A: I will and I recommend it when the conditions are proper to do so. Q: Under what occasions will you idle? A: I never idle. It's a pet peeve of mine, and I just don't do it. Buy an APU. Q: Does driver technique factor in? A: Look ahead. Anticipate and drive proactively. Use progressive shifting and be alert. Q: How do you plan your trips? A: I study road conditions, consider tailwinds and headwinds and try to avoid wet and hot roads. I also plan to stop at most fuel-efficient rest stops. Q: Do you always keep up with the numbers? A: Yes. You need to set your threshold high and then use that as your benchmark. I'm always on a quest for better ways to raise my fuel economy. C O U N C I L VO I C E Brought to you by the RoadPro Pro Driver Council © RoadPro Family of Brands www.roadprobrands.com Text INFO to 205-289-3555 or visit www.ovdinfo.com Untitled-5 3 6/3/14 8:41 AM