Although engine idling may appear harmless, you may not be aware of the financial costs and truck damage it causes.
Idle wastes fuel and money
Did you know a truck that idles up to 6 hours daily will consume 1,800 gallons of fuel a year?
- For every hour you idle, you burn one gallon of fuel.
- If a truck idles for 6 hours per day and operates 300 days a year, it would consume 1,800 gallons of fuel per year, simply idling
- At $4.29 per gallon of diesel, this idling comes with a price tag of $7,722 per truck
Idling causes engine wear and tear
Did you know that idling time does more engine damage than starting and stopping? Running an engine at low speed (idling) causes twice the wear on internal parts compared to driving at regular speed. Thus, it increases maintenance costs and shortens the lifespan of the engine.
MK’s #1 repair due to excessive idling:
The most common repair we see related to idling is replacing the DPF filter. Replacing the DPF filter can cost between $2,500 – $10,000 which also leads to 3-4 days of downtime. Not to mention multiple Regens and further damage to DEF pumps and/or 1 box can also occur from high idling.
BT Scorecard:
Idling is also a metric category within the BT Driver Performance Scorecard. As of right now, your score is affected when your engine is idling for more than 3 minutes without moving. To improve your score in the idling category, see the tips down below or contact your DM.
What can you do to help reduce idle time?
- Turn off your engine if waiting to load or unload
- Turn off equipment during breaks
- Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for minimum warm-up time – usually 3 to 5 mins
Sources:
What is the true cost of truck idling time?