• Factors affecting fuel mileage include engine size, transmission and differential gearing, vehicle speed and aerodynamics, terrain, and ambient temperature during vehicle operation.
• To achieve fuel economy, fleets may place an emphasis on equipment specifications, fuel quality, routing efficiency, or maximizing loads.
• Fleets should convince drivers to slow down and avoid excessive shifting, high RPM driving, and idle time.

Factors affecting fuel mileage

Many factors play a part in determining how economically a vehicle consumes fuel. Some examples include the:

• Size of the engine
• Transmission gearing
• Differential gearing
• Aerodynamics of the vehicle
• Speed the vehicle operates at
• Terrain the vehicle operates on
• Ambient temperature the vehicle must operate at

Achieving fuel economy

Fleets can take different approaches to a fuel-economy program. They may place their emphasis on:

• Equipment specifications
• Fuel quality
• Routing efficiency
• Maximizing loads

Driver efforts

The driver is the end-user of fuel-efficient equipment, quality fuel, and a well-maintained vehicle. As such, fleets must convince drivers that the easiest and cheapest way to save fuel is to adopt a less aggressive driving style. Specific practices that should be encouraged by the fleet to improve fuel economy include slowing down and avoiding:

• Excessive shifting
• High RPM driving
• Idle time

Drivers that drive with fuel efficiency in mind will operate the vehicle in a manner that will also reduce maintenance problems. This is because the same driving habits that increase fuel mileage — smooth steady acceleration and deceleration, low RPM and progressive shifting, and minimal idle time — reduce wear and tear on the vehicle. The less wear and tear the vehicle is undergoing, the more effective the preventive maintenance (PM) program can be.