Eco-driving for trucks:
adopt the right gestures and reduce your fuel consumption

eco conduite poids lourd

Heavy goods vehicles are major emitters of greenhouse gases. However, it is possible to reduce their impact on the environment by adopting a more eco-responsible driving style. In Europe, trucks are responsible for 25% of CO2 emissions from road transport, even though they account for only 5% of all vehicles. Moderate, controlled driving can reduce fuel consumption by up to 20%. Smoother, more virtuous, safer driving will have an impact on fuel consumption and truck maintenance. These savings will have an impact on the truck's TCO (Total Cost of Ownership). A truck's eco-driving attitude considerably limits its fuel consumption and carbon footprint. Several techniques can be used to avoid pollution, but the key to eco-driving a truck is anticipation.

Eco-driving in the truck transport sector

If truck drivers adopt an eco-friendly driving style, transport companies cansave thousands of euros on fuel per truck. What's more, eco-driving reduces maintenance costs (such as tires and brakes), as well as accidents, CO2 emissions and other substances harmful to the environment. With fuel prices on the rise, more and more truck drivers and fleet managers are taking an interest in HGV eco-driving, and in tools such as the NavXL HGV GPS application.

7 eco-driving tips for HGVs, the right way to save fuel

Truck drivers can adopt a rational driving style to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Here are a few simple everyday gestures to help you save fuel and reduce your carbon footprint:

Read the road as far as possible and anticipate situations

Make the most of your vehicle's momentum by anticipating situations. Use the truck's accumulated kinetic energy as efficiently as possible, whether in gear or in neutral. It's by anticipating your actions and keeping the right engine speed that you'll improve your results. Tip: imagine driving without brakes!

Maintain your truck

Remove all unnecessary loads. Check tire pressure regularly: under-inflated tires lead to over-consumption. Maintaining your truck's air and fuel filters helps limit CO2 emissions.

Plan your journey with a truck GPS system

Taking the right route from the outset reduces your impact on the environment by avoiding unnecessary detours. TheNavXL Truck GPS Navigation application lets you choose from 3 routes adapted to the size of your truck. For each route, you'll be shown the distance to be covered, the time required, the cost of tolls and even CO2 consumption. For each route, NavXL calculates the number of traffic circles, intersections, traffic lights, slow-downs and gradients to indicate the most economical route for your truck.

Accelerate gently and change gear early

Sudden changes in speed can increase fuel consumption by 20 to 40%. It's best to change gear early to reach the highest gear quickly, then drive at a constant speed at low rpm. The ideal is to maintain a constant driving speed, optimize engine ratios and avoid overspeeding.

Respect safety distances

Respecting safety distances enables you to better anticipate slowdowns and traffic flows (lift the foot instead of braking/accelerating). Eco-driving recommends the use of engine braking, which releases less carbon dioxide.

Switch off the engine during stops

Turning your engine off and on is equivalent to 15 seconds of engine speed. Think about this the next time you're at a traffic light or in traffic jam.

Other good eco-driving habits for HGVs

Maintain a good driving position on your seat. Limit the use of air conditioning and heating. Drive with windows closed. Cover tipping trailers with a tarpaulin.

Anticipation is the key to successful truck eco-driving.

Anticipation means making the best use of the truck's inertia to avoid braking and then having to accelerate immediately afterwards.

- Anticipating a gear change

If the speed limit changes from 80 to 50 Km/h, it's best to lift off well before the 50 sign (or village entrance) to take advantage of the truck's inertia, so as to reach the sign at the right speed without having to brake.

- Anticipating a slowdown

If you respect the safety distances, it will be easier to just lift off in the event of a slowdown rather than braking/accelerating.

- Anticipating an intersection or roundabout

If you're driving at 80 km/h on a flat road, your truck will be able to travel 600 meters "free of charge" to get to this intersection without braking.

The NavXL Truck GPS application indicates when to lift the throttle with a beep and an on-screen display. NavXL knows your weight, speed, road gradient and distance to the next intersection. This indication lets the driver know exactly when to stop accelerating, to make the most of his truck's inertia.

Truck eco-driving training, a support solution for truck drivers

Dedicated truck eco-driving training courses are available to raise drivers' awareness of the challenges of eco-responsible driving. The LécoFrance eco-driving program is ideal for all sizes of HGV fleet. An eco-driving trainer will teach drivers the right reflexes and the keys to eco-driving trucks. By analyzing FMS data (e.g. braking behavior, speed, rpm, emergency stops and engine idling) and comparing it with data collected BEFORE the LécoFrance training course, we can see that within 2 months drivers are applying the right reflexes and considerably reducing their fuel consumption.

The LécoFrance NAV truck GPS application shows the driver the route with the lowest CO2 emissions. During navigation, the application provides the driver with anticipation alerts to help him achieve his objectives. The driver will also be rewarded for reducing consumption, with access to a product catalog or gift vouchers. By 2022, drivers who have followed the LécoFrance truck eco-driving training program have reduced their consumption by 7 to 12%, or around 345 euros per month per truck!

HGV eco-driving sheet and rational driving courses

The truck eco-driving sheet is a document describing the actions to be taken to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from heavy vehicles. It is intended for drivers and road haulage companies.

Truck eco-driving training: the trainer's role

During the course, drivers are made aware of the importance of HGV eco-driving. The trainer reminds them of the keys to reducing the fuel consumption of heavy goods vehicles, which in turn extends the vehicle's lifespan. Engine speed reduction and anticipation are the key words in truck eco-driving. The truck eco-driving method is based on smooth, fluid driving to reduce fuel consumption.

formation eco conduite
  • Empowering truck drivers
  • Focus on fuel consumption and how to reduce it
  • Avoid using your brakes: The new way to drive your truck rationally
  • Anticipating future situations, a new eco-driving method
  • Truck eco-driving training and courses

To find out more

Leading truck GPS brands that facilitate eco-driving through anticipation

SNOOPER: Inventor and still leader in truck GPS, Snooper remains the best choice for routes adapted to your truck's size.

AGURI: Aguri truck GPS units feature easy Wi-Fi updating, Internet access and the option of adding applications. Aguri truck GPS units are distributed by most truck dealers in France and Europe.

NavXL: Truck GPS application for IOS and Android smartphones. NavXL integrates unique truck eco-driving functions, such as an indication of CO2 consumption per trip and anticipatory eco-driving aids.

Truck eco-driving training and rewards for truck drivers:

LécoFrance NAV: The LécoFrance NAV IOS and Android application gives access to eco-driving training videos, lets you consult your performance and compare it with previous results, and select rewards from the gift catalog.

Find out more about eco-driving for HGVs and tips for rational driving:
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