How to Save Fuel When Driving a Semi Trailer? 

   ------10 Tips for You From Questvehicle! 

        To face with problems of high fuel prices and low freight rates, fuel saving means 

earn more money for logistic companies. How to save fuel when driving a semi-trailer? 

How to save fuel has become a topic that semi trailer driversalways talk about. Here 

is a summary of the most useful "eight tips to save fuel" which can teach you how to 

drive a semi-trailer with less fuel.

First "Don't" - don’t drive fast, plan the route well 　　

Traffic jams in the city are becoming more and more serious. Every time you drive out, it is best to 

plan the driving route. To save fuel, Sometimes it is better to take a few steps to avoid the 

congestion, instead of being stuck in a long queue of semi trailers, trucks . In addition, pay 

more attention to road repair and diversion information, choosing the nearest route will 

naturally save more fuel.

Second "don’t": don’t open windows at high speeds, 

                           and adjust the air conditioner appropriately 　　

Many semi trailer owners/drivers think that turning off the air conditioner and opening the windows for 

ventilation can save fuel at high speeds. In fact, when the speed is higher than 80 km/h, the wind 

resistance of opening the windows consumes more fuel than the air conditioning system. 　　

In addition, a semi-trailer with air-conditioning consumes about 1 liter of fuel per 100 kilometers more 

than without air-conditioning. Therefore, try not to turn off the air conditioner when you drive in the 

city area at low speed.

Third "Don’t": Don't be rushed when driving, go out as early as possible 　　

Some car owners, especially young car owners, get up in the morning and do not go out before time. 

Therefore, every time they go out, they are irritated, accelerating and braking constantly. This is very 

fuel-intensive. It is recommended that car owners set aside a little more time when traveling, driving 

easily and saving fuel.

Forth "don’t": Don’t let tire pressure lose air, wide tires increase fuel consumption. 　　 

Under-inflated or over-inflated tires will both increase fuel consumption. Check tire pressure regularly. 

In addition, Suggest not to use the wide tires, otherwise the fuel consumption will increase with the 

increase of wheel resistance.

Fifth "Don’t": Don’t warm up the semi trailer for long time. 　　

The weather will affect the fuel economy of vehicles to a certain extent. For example, rainy days will 

increase fuel consumption due to tire slippage; high temperature in summer, strong heat radiation, 

and more use of air conditioning will reduce the technical indicators of the truck, resulting in 

increased fuel consumption. It is suggested that drivers go out as little as possible in bad weather.

Many semitrailer drivers like to warm up the car for a while before driving on the road in the morning, 

but if doing it too long, it will undoubtedly have trouble with your wallet. In fact, you can first let the 

semi trailer drive slowly and uniformly for one or two kilometers to achieve the effect of warming up 

the truck.

Sixth "don’t": Don’t drive truck "extensively", and maintain the engine frequently 　　

In order to achieve the goal of fuel saving, the previous "extensive" truck usage habits need to be 

changed. In particular, you must take care of the engine, and repair it immediately if there is a 

problem. Because no matter what the problem is, they will reduce the efficiency of the engine 

and increase the fuel consumption of the truck.

Seventth "Don’t": Don’t Refuel the trailer blindly, and the capacity will be sufficient at morning or evening

 According to the principle of thermal expansion and contraction, the refueling time can be selected in 

the morning or evening when the temperature is low, and you can get a little more gasoline. 

In addition, after a night of precipitation, the oil in the morning is usually relatively pure.

Eighth "don’t": Don’t let the engine run idling, try to change the line as little as possible 　　

Avoid idling the engine, the fuel consumption of the engine idling for 3 minutes can allow the trailer to 

travel 1 km. Therefore, when waiting in line, traffic jam, or waiting for more than 1 minute, you can 

consider turning off the engine. And don’t change lanes often, try to keep driving straight.