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Here’s Exactly How Speeding Can Affect Gas Mileage and Fuel Costs

Speeding has a huge effect on gas mileage. And that can be a hard hit to your organization’s bottom line.

Of course, there’s also the safety issue of speeding, along with the potential to raise your insurance rates. But even if your fleet somehow manages to speed without getting any citations, just the difference in fuel cost is significant.

How Much Does Speeding Affect Gas Mileage and Fuel Costs?

According to the North Carolina Consumers Council, drivers should expect to lose 1-2% of their fuel economy for every mile per hour they drive over 55mph.

Much of that is the result of drag. The impact is exponential, which makes gas mileage plummet when you drive faster than 55mph. And there’s a real cost. A Class 8 truck averaging 45,000 miles per year would save up to $7,300 per year by driving 55 mph instead of 75.

There’s still a significant difference for smaller vehicles like pick-up trucks. A brand-new pickup averaging 25mpg at 55mph will see its mileage decrease to 19.3 mpg by driving 75 mph. That will also cost your organization nearly $900 more over a full year. Multiply this by the number of vehicles in your fleet, and the difference is clear.

If you want to crunch the numbers for your fleet, try the calculator at mpgforspeed.com.

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What Else Can Impact Gas Mileage?

Speeding isn’t the only bad habit that can cost your fleet. A driver’s braking technique affects gas mileage. And there’s a correlation: The faster you drive, the more likely you’ll need to stomp on your brakes to avoid a collision. By braking less often, you won’t have a constant cycle of acceleration and hard braking. That will help your efficiency.

There are myriad other factors that affect gas mileage: Tire pressure, weight, excess idling, and even cargo boxes can all hurt your fuel economy.

Still, it’s hard to beat slowing down when it comes to increasing your miles-per-gallon and making your drivers more safety conscious.

Here’s What You Can Do

GPS tracking is a game changer for lowering gas mileage. You can set alerts to your GPS devices for traveling above posted speed limits, or even exceeding a custom maximum speed. You can use these reports to coach drivers who need improvement and even reward drivers who prove their commitment to safe, efficient driving.

A fleet telematics solution can help your drivers control their speed, which can add up to big fuel savings each year. Find out more about what our telematics solutions can do for your fleet.

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