
Sree Rama Rao A S, Senior Vice President Sales, Marketing and Aftermarket, Volvo Trucks, VECV
For long haul operators, fuel accounts for roughly a third of total operating costs. Finding ways to reduce fuel consumption makes business sense. And, by reducing fuel you reduce emissions, which is good for the environment. Fortunately, a lot can be done – step by step. And Volvo is committed to leading the way.

Fuel saving is pure profit
The price of diesel at the pump and your true fuel costs are not the same thing. Actual fuel expenditure is calculated like this: Annual km x Fuel consumption (L/100km) x Price of diesel. An annual fuel savings of just 1% would increase gross profit by quite a lot, probably somewhere around 1.8%, per year, per truck. Imagine what this would mean during a four-year truck ownership – and an entire fleet! What's more, the actual fuel savings potential from Volvo's current fuel efficiency offer is probably closer to 3% or more – and we're working hard to make it even higher.
How to burn less fuel and make more profit
A Volvo truck is designed inside and out to promote fuel efficiency. Aerodynamic design and efficient engines are perfect examples.
Some of Volvo's current, industry-leading fuel efficiency features:

The I-Shift transmission helps the driver to change gears at the perfect time – throughout the entire drive. When driving in Economy mode, every gear change is timed precisely to let the engine work at its most efficient rpm range. I-Shift alone can help operators cut fuel costs by up to 3% compared to a manual gearbox, depending on the driver and drivers' conditions.
Monitoring fleet fuel consumption
Volvo's fleet management system allows customers to monitor fuel consumption in real time from the office through an intuitive web interface. Operators can analyse trends and find out where there's room for improvement, guided by built-in reports on fuel, driver behaviour and environmental impact.
Training for fuel efficiency

Achieving sustainable results
"At Volvo, we are committed to continuously raising the bar when it comes to fuel efficiency. A holistic approach is vital – this is how big gains in fuel efficiency are made. Technology improvements and driver behaviour improvements, for example, go hand in hand when it comes to achieving the fuel-saving potential. It's all about combining the truck's intelligent features with Volvo's industry-leading services to realise sustainable fuel-saving results."