Truck owners know that their trucks make money for the company. But many don't know that speeding drivers can cost the company money, as well. It is important that your company's fleet be operated at appropriate speeds to ensure that you aren't throwing money away on truck maintenance and fuel costs caused by speeding truck drivers. Provided is a list of money-saving facts fleet owners should know about their trucks
The ideal speed for a large truck is 50-55 miles per hour. Increasing the speed of a truck also increases the energy required to move it. Hence, if a truck is driven at 60 mph, it will require 73% more horsepower to move the vehicle, and 159% more horsepower at 70 mph.
An increase in speed will also increase tire temperature, resulting in premature wear and tear of truck tires. If a driver of a truck is frequently speeding, the truck's tires will break down more rapidly, costing you a lot of money in tire replacement and repair.
An increase in speed will also cause premature wear of the following parts: bearings, clutches, gears, drive trains, and suspension. Truck maintenance costs hover around 38% for trucks that are routinely driven at speeds between 50 to 60 mph, but those costs can skyrocket - reaching up to 80 % - if the truck is routinely driven at 70 mph.
If you think that a truck in idle uses less fuel than a truck in motion, think again. Research shows that 80 - 120 minutes of constant motion is equivalent to an hour of idling. It is estimated that up to 800 gallons of fuel are wasted every year due to trucks idling instead of turning off their engines.
The distance needed to stop a truck also increases with the speed of the vehicle, so a speeding truck will take longer and travel further before it can stop. A truck traveling at 50 mph takes 275 feet to stop; a truck traveling at 60 mph takes 375 feet; and a truck traveling at 70 mph takes 500 feet. This is why speeding is a factor in a significant number of truck accidents on the road.
If truck fleet owners heed these truck facts, and instruct their drivers accordingly, they can save a lot of money in unnecessary costs. When truck drivers are instructed to obey the above speed limits, not only do they have fewer accidents, they also preserve the life of the truck and the tires, and conserve fuel as well. Sunstate Equipment Co. offers tire maintenance services and repair for all types of large trucks and heavy equipment. Call 1-800-387-6078 to schedule an on-site fleet tire inspection.
The ideal speed for a large truck is 50-55 miles per hour. Increasing the speed of a truck also increases the energy required to move it. Hence, if a truck is driven at 60 mph, it will require 73% more horsepower to move the vehicle, and 159% more horsepower at 70 mph.
An increase in speed will also increase tire temperature, resulting in premature wear and tear of truck tires. If a driver of a truck is frequently speeding, the truck's tires will break down more rapidly, costing you a lot of money in tire replacement and repair.
An increase in speed will also cause premature wear of the following parts: bearings, clutches, gears, drive trains, and suspension. Truck maintenance costs hover around 38% for trucks that are routinely driven at speeds between 50 to 60 mph, but those costs can skyrocket - reaching up to 80 % - if the truck is routinely driven at 70 mph.
If you think that a truck in idle uses less fuel than a truck in motion, think again. Research shows that 80 - 120 minutes of constant motion is equivalent to an hour of idling. It is estimated that up to 800 gallons of fuel are wasted every year due to trucks idling instead of turning off their engines.
The distance needed to stop a truck also increases with the speed of the vehicle, so a speeding truck will take longer and travel further before it can stop. A truck traveling at 50 mph takes 275 feet to stop; a truck traveling at 60 mph takes 375 feet; and a truck traveling at 70 mph takes 500 feet. This is why speeding is a factor in a significant number of truck accidents on the road.
If truck fleet owners heed these truck facts, and instruct their drivers accordingly, they can save a lot of money in unnecessary costs. When truck drivers are instructed to obey the above speed limits, not only do they have fewer accidents, they also preserve the life of the truck and the tires, and conserve fuel as well. Sunstate Equipment Co. offers tire maintenance services and repair for all types of large trucks and heavy equipment. Call 1-800-387-6078 to schedule an on-site fleet tire inspection.