Simple advice saves truckers fuel

Good shock absorbers can save you money. That’s the word from Trucktek managing director Sean Jackson who says small measures can produce big savings whether it be empowering drivers to ensure improved fuel consumption or fitting devices to stop fuel theft. “Better-than-standard shock absorbers by their very nature make a truck safer, which is already a good reason to ensure your fleet has the best installed, but there is also the cost element to take into account.” According to Jackson, average shock absorbers fitted on a new truck give anything from 150 000 to 300 000km of effective life. “By comparison, fitting the best will give you some 800 000 to well over 1 000 000km over the same road conditions, using the same driving skills.” He says while this is already a saving on its own, it really starts to impact when you look at the savings across the board. “You save on tyres and fuel efficiency as well. Making sure your fleet of trucks is working as efficiently and effectively as possible is about ensuring you have the best shock absorbers fitted. With fuel being a major cost contribution, any measure that ensures better fuel consumption is a necessity.” He advises fleet managers to investigate the strong link between tyres and shocks. “They are not all the same and there is a strong performance link between the two. A tyre’s function is to grip, whereas shocks are there to provide contact with the road. Tyres will only really perform with good shocks, so to see the benefit of your good tyres you need to install good shocks. The two go hand-in-hand.”