newmercman:
NewLad:
I ran fully loaded down to Southfleet on Friday, I then fully reloaded at Northfleet to Thrapston, then ran empty to Bicker in Lincolnshire, I averaged 10.8mpg running at 85kph on the motorways, the most efficient way to save fuel is to accelerate slowly, from Bicker to Peterborough I can average 9.5mpg and that is all single carriageways with lots of roundabouts, it really is about how you accelerate and decelerate upto junctions.
We run heavy too carrying a lot of veg/fruit.
Unless you filled the tank for each leg of the journey the numbers you gave are not going to be true numbers, however even if your dash readout is inaccurate (99% are) if you get 10mpg on one leg and 10.5mpg on another, then there’s a good chance that you used less fuel on the second one 
Well done for trying to get decent mpg anyway, the driver can be responsible for a 30% swing in fuel economy, the best drivers being 30% better than the worst, sounds like you would be up there in the best drivers category 
Funnily enough I did refill at the beginning and the end as the gimp who had the truck before didn’t fill it up.
I used 120ltrs of derv on a 284 mile trip.
The computer said it was 10.8mpg I didn’t actually work it out though.
That computer is pretty close, looks like yours is one of the 1% that are accurate then 
We’re encouraged to drive fuel efficiently via a fuel bonus and the isotrak scoring system, some drivers aren’t bothered though, I’ve seen some average fuel figures as low a 6.2, even pulling a full load of tates on local roads I’ve never dropped below 9.
NewLad:
We’re encouraged to drive fuel efficiently via a fuel bonus and the isotrak scoring system, some drivers aren’t bothered though, I’ve seen some average fuel figures as low a 6.2, even pulling a full load of tates on local roads I’ve never dropped below 9.
I’ll bet you’re actually faster than the bloke getting 6.2mpg as well, there’s drivers and there’s screwdrivers
newmercman:
NewLad:
We’re encouraged to drive fuel efficiently via a fuel bonus and the isotrak scoring system, some drivers aren’t bothered though, I’ve seen some average fuel figures as low a 6.2, even pulling a full load of tates on local roads I’ve never dropped below 9.
I’ll bet you’re actually faster than the bloke getting 6.2mpg as well, there’s drivers and there’s screwdrivers
I doubt it to be fair, the driver trainers say there is nothing in it because a driver who drives more fuel efficiently avoids stopping at lights etc, like I’ve done Bicker to Weston Super-mere without the wheels stopping, but the lads at 56 on a motorway you have no chance, I suppose on local runs there is nothing in it though.
DHL-85kmh, on single roads, cruise control on at 40mph= 11th gear, sod 'em, they know best 
NewLad:
… a driver who drives more fuel efficiently avoids stopping at lights etc, like I’ve done Bicker to Weston Super-mere without the wheels stopping …
This is interesting. I’ve come down the A34 from Great Wyrley to Walsall tonight and I was stopped three or four times by traffic lights changing to red perhaps 50 yards ahead of me. So I stopped (each time), and waited while nothing came through the lights in the other direction … then my lights changed to green and off I went, each time bringing 40 odd tonnes to a standstill then back up to cruising speed. I made more noise, used more fuel and pushed out more exhaust fumes than I would have if I’d just been allowed to continue at 30mph.
It seems to me that it’s all very well trying to save fuel where we can, but a far bigger saving could be effected by councils making their traffic lights behave more sensibly. Or just turning them off altogether in some instances, especially at night.
I somehow can’t help but feel that drivers constantly monitoring fuel usage and looking at online displays on their dashboards (where fitted) are getting distracted from other things going on around them and perhaps even reducing their consideration for other road users?
Take a simple example of a busy roundabout, where at some stage you have just got to put the power on and go. Ok we all know a loaded truck doesn’t have the acceleration of a car and inevitably some cars and vans get slowed down a tad as the truck trundles around the roundabout. Everyday situation which is unavoidable. I just wonder how many drivers would trundle out even slower, take their time and slow other motorists down to a greater extent, just because they were worried about their fuel bonus or quasi interrogations in their transport dept.
Likewise how many hgv’s would turn off their engines at traffic lights to reduce idling time? Great till it doesn’t restart and causes bedlam to the local traffic flow?
Whilst anything that reduces emissions and contributes to the profitability of a business is a good thing, it doesn’t solve two of the biggest costs to operators, namely protracted waiting times at suppliers or drops and ill thought out traffic schemes.
I never even look at my fuel economy readout.
Rhythm Thief:
I never even look at my fuel economy readout.
Nor me.
My company is mad about economy and driver style. They know better to even confront me about my driving as I just give them a blank stare cos it’s just words I hear. I drive how I drive. I pretty much naturally get 100% driver style. Not through trying just by being chilled out.
We have drivers who turn the engine of at red lights etc. I prefer to concentrate on the actual driving.
We have drivers who return and ask what their mpg and style was. Always in ear shot of the boss lol
We have no fuel bonus whatsoever.
i was told one day that i oversped on my digi tach,i replied that as the speed limit in this country is 60mph i could not have oversped,they said under E U rules the limit is 56 mph,my reply to that was i could not give a txxs about eu rules on the speed limit,56mph is ok but i think we should go back to 60mph
truckman20:
i was told one day that i oversped on my digi tach,i replied that as the speed limit in this country is 60mph i could not have oversped,they said under E U rules the limit is 56 mph,my reply to that was i could not give a txxs about eu rules on the speed limit,56mph is ok but i think we should go back to 60mph
They key words in the law are “under its own power” there is nothing to stop you doing 60mph as long as it is gravity that is pulling you up that extra 4Mph.
" ociffer, I’m racing for the boat, 
whilst on a public highway turning on/ off their engines 
to save a DROP of diesel! 
thick screwdrivers would use more on turning the ignition key! 
those who say it in earshot of the boss are RIMMERS!