Archive for August, 2011
How To Drive Your HGV In A Fuel Efficient Way
With the prices of fuel going up and down sporadically it is important to try and maximize fuel efficiency so that you can reduce your costs during both low and high price times. Also since fuel is a finite resource it is environmentally friendly to try and reduce wastage. Here are some tips:
It is better to drive at a steady pace then to jackrabbit between high and low speeds. You can reduce your fuel consumption by as much as 40 if you reduce hard brakes. The correct way to accelerate is to do it slowly and smoothly and get into a high gear quickly.
It is important that you drive under the posted speed limit for legalitys sake but also because you will save fuel if you go slower. For instance going from 55mph to 75mph can make your fuel consumption go up by 20.
If you are in the habit of letting your engine idle while you wait for it to warm up you are wasting fuel. In the winters you need to idle the engine for no longer than thirty seconds.
If you tires are not fully inflated you will end up wasting fuel. Underinflated tires increase consumption by 6. Check the pressure every month on cold tires. If the tires need to be inflated get it done before you start your drive.
When you are driving make sure you are driving in the highest gear you can. Driving in lower gears wastes fuel. At the same time letting an engine run in a high gear on hills and corners also wastes fuels.
You can also reduce costs by using your air conditioner sparingly. If you think its cold enough outside open the windows. This will also help you stay awake on long drives. Depending on the speed though using an air conditioner can be efficient. So the faster you are the more efficient it might be to turn the air conditioner on due to wind resistance on the windows.
Choose the fuel that best suits your vehicle. You can check with the owners manual to find out which one to use.
Make sure you vehicle is serviced regularly. Poorly tuned engines can increase fuel consumption by as much as 50. Dirty air filters can increase your fuel consumption by 10. Even using the wrong oil can cause you to use more fuel.
Before you turn the ignition off make sure you shut down any power accessories. This way next time to start the vehicle these wont pull unnecessary power.
When you get fuel make sure you the gas cap is on tight and properly.
Whenever possible make sure the engine is under a shade. This will keep the engine cool and reduce the need for air conditioning in the cab as well as reduce fuel evaporation.
Hopefully these tips will help you increase your fuel efficiency when out on the road and increase the profits you can make.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;HGV Courses
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J. Mikula is a business writer and consultant.
How To Choose The Best Equipment Trailers?
Equipment trailer is one of the most important utility vehicles for all those who deal in heavy industry building supplies automobiles and numerous other goods and services where there is a constant use of equipment trailer and utility trailer.
Well in case you plan to buy a new car hauler or gooseneck trailer one should go for the right kind of trailer or hauler so as to benefit the most from perfect trailer that makes the loading and unloading work easy. First of all while buying a utility trailer one has to know exactly what kind of trailer one is looking forward. It means regarding its use one can classify the trailers such as car carriers tandem axle custom trailers motorcycle and ATV equipment trailers dump trailers take 3 trailers titan trailer and single axle to name a few. Application and user end purpose is one of the most significant factors while choosing the equipment trailers. The decision of open and enclosed trailers purely depends upon the utility that is going to be served by the equipment trailer. For products that are no weather friendly or fragile one should go for enclosed equipment trailer so as to enhance the safety and security of cargo. In comparison to open trailers enclosed trailers are of much help as they are free from spoil sport weather that can damage the cargo while ferrying from one place to another. It may be that open trailers are relatively cheaper than enclosed trailers yet one may have to pay heavy price if the goods are damaged. Same rule applies for choosing a single or double axle trailer. With single axle equipment trailer one gets just a single load carrying axle. Usually the single axle trailer comes with the option of breaks. Well if you are plan to felly heavy cargo it is essential to have trailers that support break. In case of heavy stuff it is essential to go for double axle trailers that have two axles for load bearing. These are some of the important features that one should definitely check before buying a good equipment trailer for ferrying heavy goods from one place to another.
While buying equipment trailer one should never ever compromise on quality. One should research more about the equipment trailer manufacturer or provider so as to avail the best quality trailer. Always remember that a good manufacturer will definitely provide guaranteed products that come with heavy load bearing capacity.
So for all those who are looking forward to buy equipment trailer or car hauler it is essential to have a clear idea about ones preference and utility. This will definitely give you an added advantage while choosing a perfect trailer that ensures quality good ferrying service from one place to other. In case of specific requirements one can go forward for custom made trailers such as custom smokers custom utility trailer golf cart trailers air force trailers and numerous other to name a few. So get the best trailer for ferrying goods and services. For more information about equipment trailer log on to www.texasbraggtrailers.com
About the writer: Texas Bragg is the first to establish high quality standards all others are measured for in the manufacturing of utility trailers car haulers dump trailers equipment trailers and goosenecktrailers.
How To Be A White Van Man
Perhaps youve just started on a new business endeavour or the new addition to your family means you can no longer fit everyone into your old faithful hatchbackWhatever the reason buying a van is a decision which needs to be looked into carefully.
First of all decide if you definitely need to buy one outright. Leasing will give you the chioce of making small monthly payments for a fixed term after which you can just return the van to the company leasing it or take a new van on a new leasing agreement. If you take out a personal contract purchase you can have the option of buying it outright at the end of the term.
Once youve decided how to pay for your van decide on the type you need. This will obviously depend on what youre going to use the van for purely business purely personal or a mixture of both. Is the van going to be used for haulage or just driving the family around? Do you need storage units in there? Do you want a 4×4 pickup transit? All these factors need to be considered. Theres no point buying a van that is larger than you actually need or has extra features that you arent going to use.
Size is a factor is determining fuel costs. Generally speaking larger vans use more fuel and they are also more difficult to manouevre. Smaller vans microvans are generally safer and more economical but can be more difficult to maintain than larger vans. Do your research into reliability for several types of van before buying or leasing.
Examine the other costs involved. If you choose to buy a van outright can you afford the repayments? If youre going to be using it for business are your profit margins enough to cover all the costs? Look at your business mileage many leasing companies place a restriction on this which if exceeded can land you with some hefty charges.
Van insurance is a must. Business use insurance policies will usually have a host of optional extras such as legal expenses cover breakdown cover replacement vehicle cover and glass cover. Check your policy to make sure that these are included if you require them. Commercial van insurance tends to be a higher level of cover than personal insurance as tools and equipment need to be covered too and therefore the costs will be higher.
The best times to buy your van are around christmas when the showrooms are dropping prices to make sales targets or the months coming up to new registration which take place in september and march dealers like to remove their excess stock to make way for vehicles carrying the new plates.
About the writer: J Tillotson is a UK author specialising in insurance.