For those in the trucking industry, fuel consumption is a critical factor impacting profitability and operational costs. Understanding which trucks offer the best fuel economy in real-world conditions is invaluable. This analysis shares personal tracking data to provide insights into the fuel consumption of various truck models under similar operating conditions.
The data presented here is based on single one-way trips using various trucks, all equipped with automatic transmissions in economy mode and realistic fuel consumption settings. Cruise control was consistently set at 65mph, and routes were generally similar, primarily utilizing I-10 out of Tucson and I-25 out of Las Cruces. Load weights were also kept comparable. It’s important to acknowledge that external factors such as traffic, weather, and weigh stations inevitably introduce some variability into the results. This is not a perfectly controlled experiment, but it offers a practical comparison of fuel consumption across different truck and engine configurations. Trucks were also specified with realistic configurations, avoiding unrealistic pairings like high horsepower engines with economy-focused setups.
Here’s a breakdown of the observed fuel consumption for each truck:
Freightliner
- Cascadia IDP DD13 DT12-DA: Tucson to Fort Collins, 915 miles, 121.6 gallons, 19t load, 7.524 MPG
- IDP DD13 DT12-OA: Tucson to Lamar, 795 miles, 111.7 gallons, 20t load, 7.117 MPG
- IDP DD15 DT12-DA: Tucson to Fort Collins, 904 miles, 124.1 gallons, 20t load, 7.284 MPG
- DD16 DT12-OA: Tucson to Lamar, 795 miles, 126.1 gallons, 20t load, 6.304 MPG
Mack
- Anthem MP8 505C mDrive (direct drive): Tucson to Fort Collins, 915 miles, 146 gallons, 20t load, 6.267 MPG
- MP8 415C mDrive (overdrive): Tucson to Denver, 854 miles, 128.3 gallons, 20t load, 6.656 MPG
- MP8 415C 13spd: Tucson to Denver, 864 miles, 127.3 gallons, 20t load, 6.787 MPG
- MP7 395C mDrive (direct drive): Tucson to Sterling, 971 miles, 142 gallons, 20t load, 6.838 MPG
Kenworth
- T680 ISX15 500 10spd: Tucson to Denver, 854 miles, 145 gallons, 19t load, 5.889 MPG
- ISX15 450 13spd: Tucson to Colorado Springs, 780 miles, 130.3 gallons, 19t load, 5.986 MPG
Peterbilt
- 579 ISX15 450 13spd: Tucson to Colorado Springs, 780 miles, 130.3 gallons, 19t load, 5.986 MPG
- 579 MX13 455 13spd: Tucson to Lamar, 791 miles, 125.6 gallons, 19t load, 6.297 MPG
Volvo
- VNL ISX 15 500 13spd: Tucson to Denver, 876 miles, 142.6 gallons, 18t load, 6.143 MPG
- VNL D13 475 13spd: Tucson to Denver, 871 miles, 135.7 gallons, 19t load, 6.418 MPG
International
- LT X15 450/1650 13spd: Tucson to Denver, 919 miles, 143.6 gallons, 19t load, 6.399 MPG
- LT A26 450/1700 13spd: Tucson to Denver, 891 miles, 136.6 gallons, 19t load, 6.522 MPG
Observations on Fuel Consumption
Based on this data, the Freightliner Cascadia IDP DD13 DT12-DA showed the best fuel consumption in this comparison, achieving over 7.5 MPG. It’s important to note that the Mack MP7 and other Mack models also demonstrated competitive fuel economy figures. Trucks equipped with the Cummins ISX15 engine generally showed lower MPG compared to other engine options in this dataset.
Choosing the Best Fuel Consumption Truck
Selecting the “best fuel consumption truck” depends on various factors, including engine type, transmission, load weight, route, and driving habits. This real-world data provides a valuable starting point for understanding potential fuel economy across different makes and models. While the Freightliner Cascadia with the DD13 engine performed exceptionally well in these tests, further research and testing under your specific operating conditions are always recommended to determine the optimal truck for your needs. This data serves as a practical guide to inform decisions related to fuel efficiency and truck selection.
