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Fuel Efficiency Tips That Actually Work

7 min read

Fuel is your biggest variable expense. At 6 MPG, every tenth of a gallon saved per mile adds up to thousands of dollars per year. Here are proven ways to improve efficiency.

Driving Habits

Maintain Steady Speed

Use cruise control on flat highways. Speed fluctuations waste fuel. Every acceleration burns diesel; coasting is free.

Slow Down

Air resistance increases exponentially with speed. Dropping from 70 to 65 mph can improve fuel economy by 5-7%. That's real money over a year.

Progressive Shifting

If running a manual, shift up early. Keep RPMs in the efficient range. Lugging the engine wastes fuel, but so does revving high in each gear.

Anticipate Traffic

Look ahead. Start slowing early for red lights and traffic. Coasting to a stop uses less fuel than braking hard from full speed, and you might not even need to stop.

Minimize Idling

Idling burns about a gallon per hour. Turn off the engine when stopped for more than a few minutes. Use APUs or shore power for overnight climate control.

Truck Maintenance

Tire Pressure

This is huge. Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance significantly. Check pressure cold, at least weekly. Proper inflation can improve MPG by 3% or more.

Alignment

Misaligned wheels create drag. If your truck pulls to one side, you're wasting fuel and wearing tires. Get it checked.

Air Filters

A clogged air filter restricts airflow to the engine, hurting efficiency. Check and replace as needed—it's cheap insurance.

Fuel Filters

Clean fuel filters ensure proper fuel delivery. Replace on schedule.

Regular Service

A well-tuned engine runs more efficiently. Don't defer maintenance hoping to save money—it costs more in fuel and repairs.

Aerodynamics

Trailer Gap

The gap between tractor and trailer creates turbulence. Slide the fifth wheel forward when possible, or use gap reducers.

Side Skirts

Trailer side skirts smooth airflow under the trailer. They can improve MPG by 4-7% at highway speeds.

Trailer Tails

Boat tail devices at the rear of trailers reduce drag from the vacuum behind the trailer. Another 1-5% improvement possible.

Close Windows and Vents

Open windows at highway speed create significant drag. Use AC instead—it's more fuel efficient than the drag penalty.

Route Planning

Avoid Congestion

Stop-and-go traffic kills fuel economy. Sometimes a longer route with steady speeds uses less fuel than a shorter congested one.

Consider Terrain

Mountains burn fuel. If alternative routes exist with similar distance but less elevation change, they might be more efficient.

Plan Fuel Stops

Buy fuel where it's cheaper. Apps like GasBuddy help find the best prices. But don't drive far out of your way for a few cents—do the math.

Weight Management

Don't Carry Unnecessary Weight

Every extra pound requires fuel to move. Clean out accumulated junk. Don't carry more DEF or supplies than you need.

Load Distribution

Proper weight distribution affects aerodynamics and rolling resistance. Balance the load as well as legal requirements allow.

Tracking Your Numbers

You can't improve what you don't measure. Track:

Gallons purchased
Miles driven
Calculate MPG per tank and over time
Note conditions (load weight, terrain, weather)

Look for patterns. Does MPG drop in certain conditions? That's where to focus improvement efforts.

The Math

At 100,000 miles per year and $4/gallon diesel:

At 6.0 MPG: $66,667 fuel cost
At 6.5 MPG: $61,538 fuel cost
Savings: $5,129/year

Half an MPG improvement is worth over $5,000 annually. That makes almost any efficiency investment worthwhile.

Summary

Fuel efficiency isn't about one big change—it's about many small ones. Drive smoother, maintain your equipment, reduce drag, plan routes wisely, and track your numbers.

Small improvements compound. Getting from 6.0 to 6.5 MPG puts thousands back in your pocket every year.

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