“If only the driver….”

[Duck]

Not all company drivers tear crap up. Far too many do, though, and you know it.

And you are right about many companies not keeping thing like this maintained. Is the reasoning being that they are cheap, or that it simply isn’t cost effective when things are tore up so often? Probably a little of both.

Which makes my point. Trailer Tail was a good product, when properly maintained and taken care of.

Newer products have came along, though, that are less of a maintenance issue, so more cost effective for large fleets.

I think the biggest improvements are to be had in the powertrain. Only like 30% of the energy in a gallon of fuel gets converted to crankshaft power, and even less of it makes it to the wheels.

 

[Electric Chicken]

I think the biggest improvements are to be had in the powertrain. Only like 30% of the energy in a gallon of fuel gets converted to crankshaft power, and even less of it makes it to the wheels.

You're not entirely wrong. A lot of the fuel economy from these new Freightliner automatics is their frequent coasting in neutral. My Mack never does that.

Aero and tires are still huge though. I noticed fuel improvements with radials over bias ply due to less drag and heat, and probably better mounting to the hub (most old chassis are on daytons).

A buddy of mine has an automatic 2019 Freightliner with curb sniffer front bumper, side skirts, and a big sleeper with fairings that damn near touch the trailer, and even with the same junk chassis and the same speeds he averaged a good 2mpg better than me.

I could easily offset the payment with the fuel differential if I wanted to run more. If we run hard, the fuel kills me. If we don't run hard, the payment kills him.

 

[Duck]

You're not entirely wrong. A lot of the fuel economy from these new Freightliner automatics is their frequent coasting in neutral. My Mack never does that.

I'm talking about the engine though. A rough figure is 30% efficiency. That means most of the energy in a gallon of fuel is wasted in the form of heat. And mechanical drag. Maybe some day, if the government doesn't interfere, the nerds will figure out how to turn all that heat into mechanical power.

 

[Electric Chicken]

I'm talking about the engine though. A rough figure is 30% efficiency. That means most of the energy in a gallon of fuel is wasted in the form of heat. And mechanical drag. Maybe some day, if the government doesn't interfere, the nerds will figure out how to turn all that heat into mechanical power.

Yeah that's partly why EGR and such came about.

 

[Mike]

I'm talking about the engine though. A rough figure is 30% efficiency. That means most of the energy in a gallon of fuel is wasted in the form of heat. And mechanical drag. Maybe some day, if the government doesn't interfere, the nerds will figure out how to turn all that heat into mechanical power.

Efficiency has improved with the new engines. Not sure where it puts that percentage now, but they are getting much more production out of much less fuel.

Trailer aero is huge, though. Huge as in roughly a 1mpg improvement, depending on where you are with it any aero on the trailer.

I was about to start doing things to my current trailer, but thinking I am pretty close to buying a new one so waiting til I order new to see what my options are with different manufacturers.

 

[Duck]

I was about to start doing things to my current trailer, but thinking I am pretty close to buying a new one so waiting til I order new to see what my options are with different manufacturers.

Isn't there like a two year waiting list for new equipment due to covidiocy?

 

[Electric Chicken]

Efficiency has improved with the new engines. Not sure where it puts that percentage now, but they are getting much more production out of much less fuel.

Trailer aero is huge, though. Huge as in roughly a 1mpg improvement, depending on where you are with it any aero on the trailer.

I was about to start doing things to my current trailer, but thinking I am pretty close to buying a new one so waiting til I order new to see what my options are with different manufacturers.

Keep me updated before you sell it.

 

[Mike]

Isn't there like a two year waiting list for new equipment due to covidiocy?

Not sure what it’s at right now.

 

[mndriver]

Isn't there like a two year waiting list for new equipment due to covidiocy?

14-17 months is the answers I get