January 2008, Work Truck - Feature
The Fleet Manager's Guide to Comparing Fuel Economy
By Sean Lyden
If you’re planning to expand your truck fleet or replace aging trucks this year, one important factor to guide your decision is projected fuel economy. Just a modest 2 mpg improvement can create anywhere from several hundred to $2,000 or more in annual fuel savings per vehicle, operating 30,000 miles per year (depending on the truck class and assuming $3.05 per gallon fuel costs). Multiply that savings by the size of a truck fleet and the potential is obvious.
When evaluating manufacturers and their truck offerings, what resources are available to most accurately research and compare projected fuel economy?
The answer depends on the size of the truck you’re looking to compare. For example, if you’re acquiring a vehicle from a mid-size to a 1/2-ton full-size pickup or van, most of the research can be done easily on the Web. Vans, trucks, and SUVs under 8,500 lbs. gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) are required to meet federal fuel economy standards. Therefore, each vehicle’s projected fuel economy ratings for both city and highway driving are published and easy to access through Web resources.
However, vehicles 8,500 lbs. GVWR or above are exempt from federal fuel economy requirements, making it more challenging to project fuel economy. These vehicles include 3/4-ton and 1-ton pickups, vans, and medium-duty trucks (such as cab-overs and conventional chassis cabs).