Do you remember that old oil filter advertising campaign about the cost of not maintaining your car? “You can pay me now or you can pay me later,” the commercial said. The message was that an inexpensive oil change now can prevent an expensive major overhaul later. A new oil filter is cheap compared to what it will cost you when your engine burns up. One way or the other, you will pay: it’s just a matter of when – and how much.
Times have changed and all kinds of dashboard monitors can remind us about low oil levels and maintenance schedules. Yet the moral of the story is the same. Preventative maintenance can prevent larger trucking costs later. It can also reduce costs today.
In the trucking industry, when it comes to trimming your annual expenses, the cornerstone of cost containment comes down to one word: mileage. With fuel representing roughly 40% of the average motor carrier’s operating costs, anything you can do to increase your miles per gallon and decrease your trucking costs per mile will be reflected in your bottom line.
Improved maintenance can increase your mileage in a number of ways. Small percentages can add up to big savings if you can increase the number of miles you get per gallon. Let’s look at some simple maintenance measures you can take to keep your truck running more efficiently and more economically.
- Up to 10% more mpg with new air filter
- Up to 4% more mpg with properly turned engine
- Up to 3% more mpg with optimal tire pressure
- Up to 2% more mpg with correct oil type
If you were to realize these maximum savings with each of the above maintenance tasks, you could potentially get 15% more miles to the gallon. That could decrease your fuel bill by 15% – a major savings that could help your operations become more profitable.
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