Truck Driving Jobs

tdriver1959 · #31 11-25-2006, 01:20 AM

our trucks are limited to 65 on the foot and 63 on cruise. In Oregon i do around 56-59 and Washington 62-64 Idaho i use the foot to get 65 my fuel mileage for heavy 88,000 and light 45,000 # loads is around 5.8 to 6.4

60363 · #32 11-25-2006, 01:42 AM

I work for a Canadian company driving a 2006 FTL Columbia. It's limited to 65 mph on foot and 62.5 mph on cruise. Recently the management started complaining about our poor fuel mileage and they turned down the governor to 62.5 mph (!) both on foot and cruise. "Show us 6.5 mpg and we'll turn it up back to 65 mph," said the fleet message on my satellite.

So, even governed at 65 our trucks had very poor mileage! Which is understable to me because:

But when I buy my own truck I'll probably stick to 65 mph where it's allowed. I think at 70 the fuel cost outweighs any time gains....

allan5oh · #33 11-25-2006, 05:41 AM

Having less torque doesn't mean you're going to get less fuel mileage. Actually, in my findings, the opposite is true. Best engine for fuel mileage I've ever driven is a m11 in a box shaped international. It consistently got better then the "bigger" higher torque detroits, cats, cummins, volvos, macks, on the same run doing the same thing.

GMAN · #34 11-25-2006, 12:08 PM

As I recall, Allan, those M11's got pretty decent fuel mileage. I think a lot of people didn't like them because they didn't put out that much horsepower. I believe most were around 330-350 hp. :?

NascarFan · #35 11-25-2006, 01:02 PM

I drive the speed limit + 5mph.

PackRatTDI · #36 11-25-2006, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMAN

As I recall, Allan, those M11's got pretty decent fuel mileage. I think a lot of people didn't like them because they didn't put out that much horsepower. I believe most were around 330-350 hp. :?

I think the M11 range was from 290 to 400.

Gibby · #37 12-02-2006, 07:02 AM

Depends on the road conditions, most of time on our 65mph roads I run 72, on our 70 mph roads I run 77, on the 75 mph roads I run 82.. truck not limited, I haul livestock, and when you have to cover miles to get the animals there alive, you move down the road and you only stop for fuel.The longer they are on the trailer the more wieght they lose... the more wieght they lose, the more money you lose.

roadranger · #38 12-03-2006, 12:30 AM

I just got my own truck and it came governed at 68 (66 according to the GPS with 25% rubber). I never run states that are higher than 65 and the times I went faster than that were either due to inattention or passing someone who passed me right back making me regret it :shock: . So, I'll leave it as it is. Why be bear bait, or fund the terrorists with the extra fuel bought and burned, or beat on the truck and stress yourself out driving like an idiot 4 wheeler 8) ? I will let the truck push itself faster downhill and going the speed limit lets me stay off the brakes more. On an electronic engine bad MPG is more using the brakes too much than too much throttle. Fuel burned goes into accelerating the truck and getting you down the road - using the brakes (Service or Jake) converts that energy from speed to heat and you have to make it up by burning more fuel. I don't leave the jake on - just turn it on going down hills that need it. With it on all the time every time you let off and blip the jake you are wasting fuel!

Big John · #39 12-03-2006, 10:48 PM

Gibby, who do you drive for and where do you live in Kansas?

Justruckin · #40 12-04-2006, 02:09 AM

I had a 98 Volvo with that M-11. The darn thing got 8 miles to the gallon consistently, but couldn't get out of its own way if pulling a heavy load.

It was a great auto parts hauler, which I bought it for. And it did the job for three years with little if any problems. I bought her for $17,000.00 and sold her for $10,000.00. The guy that bought it hauls his tractors to shows and a little grain. He loves it, it was a pretty clean little truck.