SEMI-TRAILER MARKET CURRENT SITUATION AND DEVELOPMENT TREND
Chinese trucks sell best in Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and other places, often can see the figure of Chinese trucks, in Vietnam, the share of Chinese trucks even reached 50%. Trucks are also popular in Africa and are selling well, with demand reaching 300,000. The continuous development of domestic trucks has brought more and more attention to Chinese brands. African truck drivers not only love Chinese trucks, but also love dump truck especially used truck tractors. Used tractors are also popular products in Africa. In Africa, there’s a lot of demand for trucks. After all, trucks are a means of transportation, they’re a large vehicle, and they make it easier for a lot of people to work.
Large truck is the main force of logistics industry, is related to the national economy and people’s livelihood of the important equipment. As we all know, the current logistics industry is not good, the main reason is low freight, high costs. The toll and fuel cost account for the vast majority of the daily consumption of big trucks.
Toll is rigid expenditure, there is no way to reduce, and fuel costs can be reduced by certain technical means and operating habits. Here’s how to drive big trucks more fuel-efficient.
Nowadays, large trucks generally use turbocharged diesel engines, carrying a 10-speed or 12-speed gearbox with the function of high and low speed conversion, which requires higher operating skills of the driver.
Although the drivers of big trucks are all professional drivers, most of them have a low level of education and are not strong in accepting new knowledge and technologies. Generally, they will drive as the master teaches them, which leads to many drivers not having good driving habits.
Good driving habits can reduce the incidence of vehicle failures, prolong the service life of vehicles, maximize vehicle operating benefits and minimize fuel consumption, so that every drop of fuel is effectively used, and obtain a higher energy efficiency ratio. Data show that good operating habits can reduce fuel consumption by 10 to 15 percent.
1. Maintain the correct tire pressure
Too low tire pressure will increase the rolling resistance of tires, resulting in higher fuel consumption. Nowadays big trucks are overloaded, so the pressure of the tires should be higher than the standard value.
2. Smooth start and acceleration
When the truck is ready to start, it must confirm the surrounding traffic conditions. In addition to looking at the mirror, the blind area of the vehicle also needs to pay more attention to confirm the safety of the left and right, and grasp the timing of acceleration.
3. Correct and timely switch gears
In the process of normal driving, with the change of road conditions and the surrounding environment, the driver needs to make the corresponding operation in a timely manner and switch the gearbox to the corresponding gear, so as to make the vehicle run more efficiently and economically.
This requires high operational skills of the driver. A highly skilled driver will reasonably choose the gear position of the gearbox according to the power output characteristics of the engine. Also don’t shift gears at random, as each shift will break the traction, which means lost time and speed. Therefore, shifting gears will increase fuel consumption.
In general, the engines of large trucks have a wide range of maximum torque output and a good low-speed torque. At high torque output, the speed ranges from 1000rpm to 1400rpm, and the economic speed ranges from 1100rpm to 1300rpm.
Therefore, low speed, large load is the most suitable turbocharged diesel engine working state. We pay attention to the throttle control and gearbox gear when driving the vehicle, try to keep the engine tachometer pointer in the range of green scale, there will be better fuel saving effect.
In terms of specific operation, if the truck starts on the flat road without load, we can start with a higher gear.
For example, use fourth or fifth gear,Heavy vehicle or to use the second gear to start, to avoid the clutch caused too large load. After starting, you need to quickly cross over the low gear area. If necessary, you can jump over the class and add gear. Early change to the high grade is beneficial to save fuel.
When the vehicle reached the high-grade area, to step by step to shift, to avoid the towing situation. When the vehicle is driving in the highest gear and the throttle speed has no obvious improvement, the vehicle is short of power at this time, and it should be changed into the second grade driving in time to improve the engine speed, so that the driving force can meet the requirements of heavy load and reduce fuel consumption.
When uphill to advance into the low gear, as far as possible not downhill shift, prohibit in the downhill change of high and low speed. It is forbidden to glide in neutral when going downhill. It is forbidden to change high or low speed. It is forbidden to change into low gear when the speed is higher than 30km/h.
The gearbox of many big trucks now adopts the Fuller gearbox with double pair shaft structure. This gearbox has no synchronizer, so when shifting gears, the clutch must be completely separated, and the operation method of two-foot clutch and two-second shift is adopted. The specific operation method is as follows:
Low gear for high gear, with rapid and agile action, first step down the clutch pedal, at the same time relax the accelerator pedal, and then change the gear lever into neutral position, quickly lift the clutch pedal and then step.
At the same time, change the gear lever into the high gear position, lift the clutch pedal, and fuel the door at the same time. When the clutch plate just contacts, pause for a while, and then lift the clutch pedal completely after the clutch plate is fully in contact.
High-grade kickdown, as agile action, first step down the clutch pedal, relax the accelerator pedal at the same time, the shift lever into neutral position, quickly lift the clutch pedal, quickly and at the same time a foot pedal again then loosen the accelerator pedal (add empty oil is to improve the speed of the engine speed to drive transmission driving gear).
Then quickly step down the clutch pedal and change the gear lever into a low gear position. The whole movement should be quick, compact and precise.
4. Maintain economic driving speed
The economic speed of large trucks is generally 40-60km/h, and it is the best to maintain the speed of 80-100 on the highway. At this time, the gearbox should be in the highest grade, and the indicator of the engine tachometer should be in the green area. Under the premise of safety, keep the economy of the speed of uniform driving more fuel saving.
5. Avoid unnecessary braking and parking
When driving, we should master the distance with the truck in front of us and try to avoid frequent braking. Slow down when the lights are red, let the truck glide with gear on, avoid braking, and do not stop. Doing so will reduce fuel consumption by eliminating the need for vehicles to start from a standstill.
According to statistics, it takes about 0.5 litres of fuel to accelerate a tractor trailer weighing 40 tons from 0km/ h to 60km/ h. This is also one of the important reasons why many truck drivers do not want to slow down and stop.
6. Let the vehicle keep low wind resistance
Wind resistance is a factor that cannot be ignored that affects fuel consumption. Opening the Windows when the truck is driving at high speed will significantly increase the vehicle wind resistance, resulting in higher fuel consumption. When the speed is higher than 80km/h, please close the window.
In addition, reasonable cargo loading. Avoid ultra – hypersonic width will lead to increased vehicle driving resistance, which will lead to increased fuel consumption. Wind resistance can also be reduced by appropriately reducing the speed against the wind. And in the roof of the guide hood, more can achieve the purpose of reducing wind resistance.
7. Reasonable use of engine polymorph torque switch makes the vehicle more fuel efficient
Many big trucks now have engine polymorphic torque switches, also known as fuel saving switches. Rational use of it can also effectively reduce fuel consumption. For example, when the truck uphill driving, overtaking, higher load need high power, you can choose a higher gear.When the truck is light load, no load, you can choose a lower gear.
The above is a personal summary of some big truck driving and fuel saving experience, write out to share with you, I hope the majority of truck drivers have a certain help. Large trucks are the bread and butter of many people, for whom saving gas means saving money.
With the freight market so depressed and chaotic, saving fuel and cutting prices may be their only way to make money.