october2021 - 27

Combined, issues in these areas could impact
30 to 50% of fuel consumption, though the report
notes that no truck would conceivably have problems
with all of them at the same time. But the
intent was to point out even minor problems on
small components add up over time.
Roeth explained simple things like lubricating
the fifth wheel can pay off: " If you've got a sticky
fifth wheel, it might dogleg the
tractor-trailer a little bit. " This
would lead to a less aerodynamic
profile and more tire wear.
And oftentimes it only take a
little extra attention to preventive
maintenance and inspections,
from checking air filters
and engine oil purity to the
truck's alignment.
" The more you maintain the
truck and address issues, from
rattles on aerodynamic devices,
clogged diesel particulate filter
or any other filter, or air leaks
in the charge air cooler system,
those things all lead to a little
better fuel economy, " Roeth said.
And if the goals of the shop
and operations side are aligned,
the trucks should be better positioned
to reach a clean bill of
health and maximize fuel efficiency
benefits.
But how to achieve ultimate
fuel efficiency is easier said
than done, as well. It is possible
with a smart approach from the
get-go, and remembering not to
hit the brakes on monitoring a
truck's fuel efficiency after a
year or two of service.
" The first thing is to start
off on the right foot with the
right equipment, " said Daryl
Bear, lead engineer and COO of
Mesilla Valley Transportation
Solutions. " Spec'ing the most
fuel-efficient vehicle, and
having a strong maintenance
team that'll keep it up, that's a
winning package. "
After
all, what
good is
spec'ing the best engine or
low rolling resistance tires
if routinely clogged filters or
underinflated tires negatively
undo any positive gains?
" The maintenance team is
really the group that has to
deal with whatever the powers
that be decided to put on the
equipment, " Bear continued.
" So having a strong maintenance
team and good practices-and
just maintenance
people who care-makes a huge
difference in the fleet, and really
makes a huge difference in
what you can adopt from a fuel
economy perspective. "
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Starting off right
For an aspirational look at what is possible, look no
further than the Shell Starship 2.0 results, which
NACFE assisted in validating. Fitted with the latest
advances in engine oil, aerodynamics, powertrain,
and more, the " hyper-fuel-efficient truck, " as Shell
Lubricants called it, achieved a 10.8 mpg average
while hauling 47,100 lbs. of artificial coral reef from
San Diego to Jacksonville, Florida, this past summer.
This was an improvement of 21% over the 2018 run
of 8.94 mpg, and was due to upgrades in the chassis
(from a 2015 International ProStar to 2021 LT) and
powertrain (from prototype 2015 Cummins X15 to
the mature 2020 X15 Efficiency Series), along with
aerodynamic tweaks, such as adding the TruckLabs
TruckWings automated tractor-trailer gap sealer.
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october2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of october2021
