Here’s an interesting fact: Improperly inflated tires are the cause of one road call per year per tractor-trailer, according to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) study. And the American Transportation Research Institute says that tires cost fleets $0.038 per mile or $1.50 per hour. This represents about 2% of a fleet’s total variable operating costs.
To be quite obvious, a truck can’t run without tires, and it can’t run efficiently without properly inflated tires. A 0.5-1.0% increase in fuel consumption is seen in vehicles running with tires underinflated by 10 psi.
Tire pressure systems — either automatic tire inflation systems (ATIS) or tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) — can help fleets keep tires at their proper inflation levels.
The two systems work differently, but their goal is to help fleets manage tire inflation pressure.
ATIS monitors tire inflation pressure relative to a pre-set target and re-inflates tires whenever the detected pressure is below the target level. The system alerts the driver that the tires are being re-inflated but does not report on the actual tire pressure. The system relies on the vehicle’s compressed-air tanks or draws air directly from the surrounding environment using a self-contained pump. Today, approximately 15% of tractors and 85% of trailers are equipped with tire pressure inflation systems installed.
TPMS monitors pressure and, in some cases, temperature, for each individual tire. The system transmits the data and displays it to the operator and/or fleet. The TPMS monitors each tire based on a pre-set target pressure, and issues alerts based on the difference between the target pressure and the actual measured pressure in the tire. Today, approximately 25% to 30% of tractors and 15% of trailers are equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems.
Our recently updated Confidence Report on ATIS and TPMS found that most fleets we spoke with recognize the benefits of proper tire pressure and are considering the adoption of technologies that better ensure that tractor and trailer tires are inflated properly.
We also found that manufacturers of these products are continuing to develop systems in order to improve performance, provide better reliability and lower overall costs.
When selecting a system to help monitor tire pressure, it is important to match the specific capabilities of the system with your fleet’s needs. Both driver training and establishing internal operating procedures are essential for successful implementation of these systems into your fleet.
If you are considering adding a tire pressure system to your tractors or trailers, check out our Confidence Report in the tire and rolling resistance section of our website. Our technology selection chart identifies the major characteristics of the various systems, and a payback calculator allows you to input your own data in order to estimate the payback period of the technology for your operation.
The FMCSA report also pointed out that only 15% of tire-related roadside events are the result of sudden tire damage. That means 85% were caused by slow leaks that were not found during a driver’s normal pre- or post-trip inspection. Leaks that would have been identified by a tire pressure system. Something to think about.
