It’s how you drive it

Truck drivers have a huge influence on fuel consumption. This was demonstrated by Christian Scheiflinger from Austria, who, thanks to well-planned driving, was the winner in the world finals of The Drivers’ Fuel Challenge 2014, organised by Volvo Trucks.

“All the 23 finalists are highly skilled,” says driver development manager at Volvo Trucks, Andrew Low, who is responsible for The Drivers’ Fuel Challenge competition track. “You have to adapt to traffic and know how to use the enormous power of a fully loaded truck in motion. A knowledgeable driver knows how he or she should use the truck’s weight advantageously.”

Figures from Volvo Trucks show that a fuel-efficient driver can save up to ten percent in fuel consumption, which, in the long run, means big savings for a trucking company. For Scheiflinger, who won the title “World’s most fuel-efficient driver”, this type of driving has almost become something of a sport …

“It’s very important to know the system; you have to know how the vehicle reacts to your input,” says Scheiflinger. “If you have a full understanding of the vehicle, what it is doing and how it reacts, you can improve your driving and improve the fuel efficiency.”

Volvo Trucks states that the challenge, the final of which took place in Gothenburg, Sweden, is one of many ways the company highlights the benefits of good driving.

“It’s about creating an awareness of the difference each individual driver can actually make,” Vesna Jovic, project manager for The Drivers’ Fuel Challenge at Volvo Trucks, reiterates. “The Drivers’ Fuel Challenge is one way for us to contribute to this understanding. Fuel-efficient driving is something that all drivers can learn, but it takes time and hard work every day.”