Fleet Fuel Study Reveals Improvements in Average Fuel Economy

The North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) recently updated its Annual Fleet Fuel Study (AFFS) after a three-year pandemic-related hiatus, noting gains in fuel economy that have helped 15 fleets save a combined $550 million.

The report is an important resource for fleets seeking to improve the fuel efficiency of Class 8 trucks because it offers critical insights into real-world fuel-efficient technologies and practices being used today.

Some of the most notable findings in the report were:

• Average fleet-wide fuel economy increased slightly – from 7.15 mpg in 2017 to 7.23 mpg in 2021

• The 15 fleets in the study, operating a combined 75,000 trucks, saved $550 million in 2021 compared to average trucks on the road

• Fuel-saving technology usage increased from 17% in 2003 to 41% in 2021

• The national fuel economy average for 1.7 million tractors in over-the-road operation climbed from 5.98 mpg to 6.24 mpg

• Regulations will drive freight efficiency through the next two decades. The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) powertrain improvements phase 2 regulations have steps for the OEMs to comply with in Model Years 2024 and 2027 and a GHG phase 3 is being studied by the Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, for implementation next decade.

To collect the data for this report, 15 fleets were asked to fill out a questionnaire about their use of 86 fuel-efficient technologies and practices for their tractors and trailers.

Preventative maintenance – including regular filter replacement – is one of the 86 technologies and operational practices mentioned in the survey. According to NACFE, in addition to ensuring sale and reliable performance and avoiding expensive breakdowns, preventative maintenance translates to fuel savings between 5-10%. In addition, 75% of survey respondents say they see a strong or very strong link between preventative maintenance and fuel economy.

The report includes a benchmarking tool that allows any fleet to input the technology specs they are currently using and see how well they stack up against the technologies used by the 15 benchmarking fleets.

To read the full report, visit: https://nacfe.org/research/affs/