ATRI releases fleet fuel economy, usage findings

Oct. 18, 2016
The American Transportation Research Institute released results of an investigation of fleet fuel economy and fuel usage.

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), in conjunction with the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) and research sponsor ExxonMobil, released results of their investigation of fleet fuel economy and fuel usage.

Nearly 100 fleet managers provided their views on current and future trends in fuel-saving technologies as well as the advantages and disadvantages of alternative fuels.  These fleets operate just over 114,500 heavy-duty truck-tractors and approximately 350,000 trailers.

The study found the median fleet-wide fuel economy of 6.5 miles per gallon was being achieved through the use of a variety of fuel-saving technologies.  For truck-tractors, aluminum wheels, speed limiters and low rolling resistance tires were reported as the most common fuel-saving technologies.  For trailers, low rolling resistance tires, aluminum wheels and weight-saving technologies were identified as the most common technologies. 

Fuel-saving technologies which have shown the best and worst returns on investment were also investigated.  Aerodynamic treatments and idle reduction technologies or strategies were identified by respondents as technologies which have shown both the best and the worst return on investment.

"This report shows which technologies fleets are using and which ones they are more skeptical about," said Steve Niswander, vice president, Safety Policy & Regulatory Relations with Groendyke Transport, Inc. and Chairman of ATRI's Research Advisory Committee.  "It also serves to highlight the difficulties fleets face when deciding which technologies are the best investments."

The report found limited use of alternative fuels with biodiesel blends identified as the most common alternative fuel being used today.

The Technical Report, titled A Survey of Fuel Economy and Fuel Usage by Heavy-Duty Truck Fleets, and Executive Summary, are available at www.atri-online.org.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

The Road Ahead: 2025 Trucking and Fleet Insights

Discover how fleet operators are impacted by challenges like driver onboarding delays and complex compliance, and the critical need for technology to boost efficiency and cut ...

Driving Growth: How to Manage More Freight

Ready to grow your trucking business? Whether you have 25 or 200 trucks, this guide offers practical tips and success stories to help you expand with confidence. Discover how ...

How to Maximize Fleet Management with Vehicle Bypass

Join us on February 18th to learn how truck weigh station bypass systems boost fleet performance and driver satisfaction.

Optimizing your fleet safety program using AI

Learn how AI supports fleet safety programs with tools for compliance monitoring, driver coaching and incident analysis to reduce risks and improve efficiency.