Fuel is 26–32% of fleet operating cost. A 5% MPG improvement on a 50-truck fleet returns ~$200K/yr. Here's where it actually comes from.
Most fuel programs focus on the cheapest pump price. The big money is in MPG, idle, and routing.
6x2 axle configuration (+0.5 MPG), low-rolling-resistance tires (+0.3 MPG), full aero package (skirts + tails + roof fairing, +5–9%), 1,650 RPM cruise spec. Adds $4–8K to truck price, returns in 14 months at current diesel prices.
Class 8 idles 1,800–2,200 hrs/yr on average. APUs cost $8–11K and save $4–6K/yr in fuel + engine hours. Anti-idle policies + idle limits in the ECM are free and cut 20–40% immediately.
Routing software (Trimble, McLeod) typically saves 5–8% on fuel for fleets >25 units by reducing empty miles and dispatch deadhead. Pair with backhaul brokers on top lanes.
Top 10% of drivers beat bottom 10% by 1.5–2.0 MPG — pure behavior (cruise use, gear selection, anticipating traffic). Use telematics scorecards + monthly 1:1 coaching. Don't gamify with cash; gamify with leaderboards and PTO.
DOE data puts the U.S. Class 8 fleet average at 6.4–7.2 mpg in 2024. Best-in-class fleets achieve 8.5+ mpg.
Yes — discounted networks (TCH, EFS, Comdata) typically save $0.05–$0.15/gal vs cash, plus eliminate fraud through transaction controls.