On the Road with Henry Albert

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Archive for February, 2012

Day Two of 60 M.P.H. Test

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Unloaded and nowhere to go in Laredo, TX

Hello everyone,

Day two of testing the Cascadia at 60 M.P.H. didn’t go as well as day one. Here is what happened on day two.

1. When I pulled out of Seguin, TX, the dash fuel mileage display started at 9.98 M.P.G.

2. I encountered windy conditions and some rain while heading on I-10 to San Antonio, TX

3. A short traffic jam in San Antonio, TX

4. After getting onto I-35 south to finish my trip to Laredo TX, I experienced a steady head wind all the way to my destination.

5. The end result was a dash fuel mileage readout of 9.6 M.P.G.

6. If all of this wasn’t enough… after delivering my shipment, I found out the load for the return trip to Charlotte, NC would not be ready till the next morning.

The distance traveled for the day was only 197 miles and the distance from the start of this exercise has been 796 miles. I’m anxious to see where the fuel mileage figures go as I finish my trip. Stay tuned to see what happens next,

Henry

To follow how my friends the Caffee’s are doing with their five M.P.H. increase in speed go to… Its A Teams Life

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Day 1 Of 60 M.P.H. Test

Monday, February 27, 2012

Hello everyone,

I just finished the first day of testing my Cascadia and its Detroit Diesel engine at a self imposed top cruise speed of sixty miles per hour. The test started at my usual fueling location in Hattiesburg, MS. Listed below are the results of the test after the first leg of this exercise.

1. Slowing down just 5 M.P.H. only changed my distance traveled for the day by 40 miles.

2. Early figures indicate the time to complete my normal trip from Charlotte, NC to Laredo,TX and back to Charlotte, NC should only take 4.5 to 5 hours longer than when cruising at 65 M.P.H.

3. The dash fuel mileage readout climbed to 10.51 M.P.G. early on in the trip then dropped to 9.45 during a passive DPF regen. The fuel mileage dropped more than normal due to the fact it was early in the trip. After the DPF regen, the mileage climbed once again topping off at 10.05 M.P.G. I stopped for the day in Seguin, TX, parked my truck and idled the engine for ten minutes while microwaving a dinner. Before the truck was shut off for the day, I checked the mileage readout one more time and the reading was 9.98 M.P.G. My actual fuel mileage when figured from the fuel pump and mileage numbers is on average .25 less. This would make my actual fuel mileage figure at the 9.73 mark.

4. To my surprise, it didn’t bother me much at all driving slower. (These great fuel numbers put my mind at ease looking at 10 plus M.P.G. readings on the dash.)

Check in tomorrow to see how day two of this test goes.

Henry

To follow how my friends the Caffee’s are doing with their five M.P.H. increase in speed go to… Its A Teams Life

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60 or 65 M.P.H.? Its time to find out in two ways

Friday, February 24, 2012

Let's see how much slowing down counts at the pumps

Hello everyone,

Do to the overwhelming response to my last blog I will drop my top speed down to 60 mph. The nice thing is my friends the Caffee’s will also be joining me for this test.

The Caffee’s are renowned for their phenomenal fuel mileage in their 2012 Cascadia powered by a Detroit Diesel DD 13. The Caffee’s are often asked what their fuel mileage would be if they were to speed up from their customary 58 mph to 65 mph.

While the Caffee’s and I both get great fuel mileage and use many similar strategies there are also some major differences. Up to this point I have achieved my stellar fuel mileage running 65 mph while the Caffee’s have achieved their phenomenal fuel mileage running 58 mph.

I run 65 mph(the speed most trucks travel) to be of interest to people who read my blog. The Caffee’s decision to run 58 mph is purely a business decision to run as efficiently as possible.

Both of us attend many truck shows and we are constantly asked how much it would affect our fuel mileage if I slowed down and the Caffee’s are often asked what would happen if they were to speed up.

Well this is finally going to happen Team Caffee is going to increase their speed to 65 mph and I am going to drop my speed down to 60 mph. It is going to be interesting to see how these changes will affect both of our operations.

We are both planning on starting our tests on February 27^th with me updating my blog and the Caffee’s will post an update on their blog. Depending on what initial impacts we see will determine how long we will continue the exercise. If the immediate impact is detrimental to our fuel mileage the test will be short because the bottom line is to see how we can improve our fuel mileage.

You can follow TeamCaffee’s progress as we move down the road on this adventure http://www.expeditersonline.com/trucking/writer1/index.html

Till next time be safe,

Henry

Team Caffee’s Cascadia.

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60 or 65 M.P.H. ?

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Hello,

I have always tracked my fuel mileage at 65 M.P.H. maximum speed. The decisionfor this speed was I felt that it would be a fair speed in which to give you information regarding the fuel economy of the Cascadia. I’m aware that many of you drive slower or even faster in your own trucks. Recently, I had a driver ask me what fuel mileage could the Cascadia and Detroit Diesel obtain at 60 M.P.H? I replied, maybe I need to try it out at 60 M.P.H. This got me to thinking it might be interesting to see the results being the truck is set up to be optimal at 65 M.P.H.

I decided to get feedback from you, my readers and see what you think? If you have an interest in knowing the fuel mileage results, I will be happy to take a week or two and run at 60 M.P.H maximum speed to see what the end results would be. Click on the comment button and let me know if there is any interest on this issue. Till next time… be safe,

Henry

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A Walk Down Memory Lane With Freightliner

Monday, February 20, 2012

Hello,

As Freightliner moves toward its 70th Birthday, I want to invite you to take a walk with me down memory lane as we travel back to the days of the 1940′s when the “slinky” was invented and the first Freightliner truck came into being…

The 1950′s brought television mainstream into many American homes. The rock and roll revolution began. Freightliner introduced a truck that solved a variety of problems with the WF 64 Model.

The 1960′s brought us the first computer video game. We sent the first humans on a space flight to the moon. Freightliner experiemented with gas turbines and power dollies.

The 1970′s brought the first super computer and floppy disks. Disco was born and a shift begins toward conventional trucks.

The 1980′s brought us video rental stores and Freightliner introduced its aerodynamic conventional tractor.

The 1990′s brought us digital technology. E commerce becomes common place and the Freightliner “Century” class was born.

The 2000′s brought us “Reality T.V.” , GPS and social networking. Freightliner debuts the new “Cascadia”.

The above information is just a glimpse into the historical timeline from the 1940′s to the 2000′s. I hope you take time to visit the “70 Years of Innovation” countdown at … http://www.freightlinertrucks.com/70years. Till next time, be safe…

Henry

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A Surprising Change

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Hello,

I have noticed a change lately in conversation among company drivers. Normally, when we talk about fuel savings, I’m speaking with an owner operator or fleet owner. In the past, these folks always seem to have much more invested and expressed more interest and concern over fuel savings.

To my surprise, the subject of fuel has sparked the interest of company drivers. Lately, drivers are coming up to me with questions regarding various ways and techniques to get better fuel mileage. Recently, some have discussed their fuel bonus program within their company and this gives them more incentive. Company drivers are asking me questions regarding ways to operate their Detroit Diesel in the most efficient manner. Also, they’re interested in the various ways in which I’ve modified my trailer to increase fuel mileage.

It’s sure nice to see everyone getting in the game of trying to conserve fuel and save our natural resources. After all… it’s our children’s future we’re saving. Till next time, be safe…

Henry

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Another Unseen Feature Of The Cascadia Dash Board

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Hello,

This post is based on a question I received on my Face Book page from Lester Baird.

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Did you get to spec the truck when you got it? Did you get to pick what gauges would be in it and where they would be on the dash board?

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It was my understanding you could remove any of the gauges and put them in another position and the gauge would still work as designed. This is accomplished through the use of multiplexed wiring .

The first step to this project is to remove the dash panel as shown in a earlier blog. http://sliceoftruckerlife.com/blogs/henry-albert/2012/02/08/whats-in-a-dash/

Next, as pictured below, you want to disconnect the jumper wire harnesses between the gauges.

After removing the jumper wires, simply twist off the black securing ring in a counter clockwise motion and remove the gauges. Next, install the gauges into the desired location. Twist the black securing ring clockwise, reinstall the jumper harnesses and screw the dash panels back in place.

In order to see the ease of this process, I experimented by switching the water temperature and the turbo boost gauges. I wanted to try this operation and thought it would be nice to have the boost gauge higher in the dash for easier viewing. This will help me to monitor turbo boost while driving for fuel economy. The total time for this project was about a half hour.

Till next time be safe,

Henry

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POW/MIA Tribute Truck

Monday, February 13, 2012

Jeff Edwards, a London, Ky.-based driver for Schneider National

I was driving down the road last week when I noticed one of the POW/MIA tribute trucks. This weekend, I decided to do a little research and thought it would be neat to share with you what I’ve learned about this special tribute which happens each year.

Every year since 2002, Daimler Trucks North America employees at the Freightliner Trucks manufacturing plant in Cleveland, North Carolina, have paid tribute to U.S. veterans by transforming a Freightliner truck into a super-sized symbol of the company’s respect for veterans.

Plant employees volunteer their time to help design the tribute truck In 2011, the Ride of Pride artwork was designed to show support for active-duty personnel, retirees and families who have lost someone in service to the United States, as well as for prisoners of war and those still missing in action.

Some employees take the opportunity to join the truck on its 400-mile ride from the plant to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., for the Ride of Pride event. The one-of-a-kind Freightliner Ride of Pride truck is escorted by hundreds of motorcyclists as part of an annual Memorial Day ceremony honoring veterans, POWs and MIAs. Before its Memorial Day weekend trip, the truck tours North Carolina, making stops to pay tribute in several communities.

A former shift manager at the Cleveland Truck Manufacturing Plant—who is also a Vietnam vet came up with the idea and proposed the project in 2001 when he and other employees were searching for a way to honor veterans as Memorial Day approached. Initially, the idea was to decorate a Freightliner truck and drive it to the local veterans’ hospital for a visit. From there—with the support of plant management, Daimler Trucks North America, vendor partners and the community— the idea took off. Though the founder retired from the company in 2009, he continues to serve as project lead, assisted by another Freightliner employee who is also a Vietnam veteran.

Every year, Freightliner Trucks customers customize one of their fleet trucks for this special event, then put it into service after the Ride of Pride.

Till next time be safe,

Henry

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Can Cab Over Tractors Make A Come Back?

Friday, February 10, 2012

Hello,

While stopped this evening, I was searching around on YouTube when I came across a cab over Freightliner Argosy. This truck offers lots of great amenities including, a shower, bathroom, kitchen, eat in area and a bedroom on the lower level. A staircase leads to the upper level where you will find a nice lounge area. I would be quite comfortable driving across the country in this most luxurious truck. My wife told me she would be ready to go out on the road with me full time if we had a truck like this. This truck sure beats the cab-overs from my past. Here is the link for you to check it out yourself… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZaB4dcoAxg let me know what you think? Be safe,

Henry

uZaB4dcoAxg

FREIGHTLINER RV TRUCK OF THE FUTUR WHIT NEON KIT

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Whats Behind A Dash Board ?

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Hello,

I had some time the other day to check out a feature on my Cascadia that often goes unseen. The dash board has been designed so you can remove it with ease. Not only are the panels easy to access but Freightliner also made the wiring long enough so you have room to work once the panel has been removed. In the pictures below, you can see how easy the mission of replacing a bulb to a gauge would be in the Cascadia.