Fleet Details
Your Idle Fuel Cost
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Visit Freight SocialFormula:
Annual Cost = R x C x I x n x 260
- R = idle fuel consumption rate (gal/hr)
- C = cost per gallon ($)
- I = hours idling per vehicle per day
- n = number of vehicles
- 260 = annual work days (5 days/week x 52 weeks)
Weekly cost uses 5 work days. Monthly cost uses 22 work days (average work days per month).
Data Sources:
Idle fuel consumption rates are based on the Argonne National Laboratory study (2014), commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy. Class 8 diesel trucks consume approximately 0.64 gallons per hour at idle.
DOE Fact #924: Idling Fuel Consumption for Selected Vehicles
Frequently Asked Questions
How much fuel does a semi truck burn while idling?
A Class 8 tractor-semitrailer burns approximately 0.64 gallons of diesel per hour at idle, according to a 2014 study by Argonne National Laboratory commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy. Class 7 straight trucks burn about 0.49 gallons per hour, and Class 6 medium trucks burn about 0.44 gallons per hour.
How much does truck idling cost per hour?
At $3.50 per gallon of diesel, a Class 8 semi truck costs approximately $2.24 per hour to idle (0.64 gal/hr x $3.50/gal). For a fleet of 10 trucks idling 3 hours per day, that adds up to $67.20 per day or over $17,000 per year.
How much does idling cost a trucking company per year?
The annual cost depends on fleet size, idle hours, and fuel prices. A 10-truck fleet averaging 3 hours of idle time per day at $3.50 per gallon spends approximately $17,472 per year on idle fuel alone. That is equivalent to roughly 33 full tanks of diesel burned with the trucks parked.
What is the average idle time for a commercial truck?
Typical idle times for commercial trucks range from 1.5 to 6.0 hours per day depending on operations, climate, and driver behavior. Long-haul trucks in extreme climates tend to idle more for heating and cooling. The national average for Class 8 trucks is estimated at 3 to 4 hours per day.
How can I reduce truck idling costs?
The most effective ways to reduce truck idling costs include installing auxiliary power units (APUs) for cab climate control, implementing idle-reduction policies with driver scorecards, using automatic engine shutdown systems, providing shore power connections at terminals, and tracking idle time per driver with telematics to identify the highest-idling drivers.