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- - Idle time...? (https://www.classadrivers.com/forum/new-truck-drivers-get-help-here/35069-idle-time.html)

What is considered good (% wise) for idle time (also mpg - if that's possible).

Thanks. 8)

Idle - 10% depending on season and location. MPG - 6 to 7 depending on load. BOL

Company management will say no more than 5% idle time. Real-life, however, when dealing with the heat and your hours of service - closer to 50-60%.

Mileage depends on a lot of variables: drivetrain, weight you're hauling, area you're running in, etc.

My '02 Volvo 770 gets an average of 6.5mpg hauling 44,000 average load into/out of central WV. When I ran to Austin, TX a few weeks ago, taking 12k/lbs down and 4k/lbs back, I was getting 11.5-12mpg.

Re: Idle time...?

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbrown

What is considered good (% wise) for idle time .001% would be good (not going to happen) (also mpg - if that's possible). our 08 volvo 780 with d13 autoshift has an avg. mpg of 6.6 mpg for 166k miles and that includes idle fuel...!

Thanks. 8)

if it's hot in texas and we are on a 34 the truck is going to be running most of if.

all our company has ask is that we try to cut our idle time back 1 hr pre day

Since so many operations are different, it's hard to say what is "good" to some might be horrible to others.

Equipment has a huge factor. If you are running a super light weight tractor and trailer with light loads on flat ground in 60 degree temps with no wind and alot of sunshine(just about every truckers dream load)
add a tri-pak generator....then your numbers are going to look great.

MPG depends on several factors like driving habits, tire pressure, rolling resistance, air resistance, time in each gear, size of the engine, gearing of the read-end, tire size, tread depth and design, how often you change your oil and, oddly, how much idle time you have.

Idle time depends on who long you allow the engine to run without being in gear. A generator will greatly reduce your idle time...down to 2 to 4 percent...which is warm up and cool down.

I'd to know much more to determine what good would mean to your trucking operation.

Good luck