FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – PHH FirstFleet announced the results of its 18-month, telematics-based fuel study of U.S. truck fleets in the grocery, manufacturing, fuel, and retail markets. This benchmark multi-phased study goes beyond speeding and idling, indicating several major fuel-saving tactics as fuel prices continue rising. The study also offers a Top Five Tip List for fleet managers heading into the second half of 2007.

The PHH FirstFleet Fuel Study was headed by Applications Engineer, Ezel Baltali. Along with a team of engineers, Baltali developed the following hypothesis: By slightly over-spec’ing engines in order to run more consistently in the “sweet spot,” choosing a gear ratio low enough to suit a fleet’s application and location, and enabling the correct fuel-efficient, engine-specific parameters, fuel economy will improve by 0.3 MPG (or around 5 percent).

The study’s findings showed that the hypothesis is correct. When combined with other variables including progressive shifting, APUs and chassis improvements, this “sweet spot” is where both fuel efficiency and performance are maximized. Additionally, the study concluded that slightly over-spec’ing engines improves fuel economy, which equates to a savings of approximately $2,000 per tractor per year (assuming 100,000 miles are driven per year).

In conjunction with the results of PHH FirstFleet’s Fuel Study, the company is announcing a Top Five Tip List for achieving better fuel economy:

In the future, PHH FirstFleet’s Fuel Study is expected to explore the relationship between maintenance, cost-per-mile, and fuel efficiency. Leveraging PHH Onboard telematics and engine control module (ECM) data to correlate maintenance alerts (e.g., when cylinders misfire, battery voltage is abnormal, or preventative maintenance needs to be scheduled), PHH FirstFleet expects to determine an even better cost-per-mile strategy and/or establish better maintenance procedures, which may improve MPG.