Semi-trucks and commercial vans are fuel-hungry. Even when freight rates are high, the price at the pump can put operators in the red. Diesel prices are high, and trucking is a low-margin industry.

Companies should use these clever fuel management strategies to increase their fleet’s fuel economy and fight rising diesel costs.

1. Clean the Air Intake

The global diesel shortage has sent fuel prices to record highs and has drained countries’ reserves to historic lows. In Asia, prices reached a high of $200 per barrel in March 2026. Even six months later, they hovered at around $180 per barrel. As a result, companies are looking for unconventional ways to pay less at the pump, such as cleaning the air intake.

Clean air intake is crucial for maintaining power output and fuel efficiency. A clogged or dirty air filter restricts airflow to the engine, forcing the system to overcompensate by producing a richer mixture. The hit to performance may initially go unnoticed, but efficiency will gradually degrade over time. For heavy-duty semi-trucks that use dry paper filters, it may be better to replace the filter rather than wash and reuse it.

2. Consolidate Shipments

Trucks carrying no freight on return trips burn through fuel without generating revenue. Combining several less-than-truckload shipments is a clever workaround.

Shipment consolidation raises the value of each mile traveled by optimizing weight distribution and routing. By eliminating empty miles, companies increase profitability and improve fleet capacity.

3. Practice Platooning

Truck platooning involves multiple trucks traveling closely together in a convoy. The leader sets the route and speed, acting as adaptive cruise control. The truck in the middle consumes 17 percent less diesel, while the one in the rear uses 13% less. Even the leading truck sees a 10 percent fuel savings.

The science behind truck platooning is simple. To overcome aerodynamic drag, trucks consume a considerable amount of fuel. By using a convoy, drivers can increase fuel efficiency. The level of improvement depends on the space between trucks and the distance traveled. One assessment found this slipstreaming method reduces drag by 30 percent on average.

Trucking companies can also train less experienced drivers by assigning them to follow seasoned leaders in a platoon. As a result, they may save money on labor. This approach also enables companies to curb bad driving behaviors by creating a culture of accountability. Preventing drivers from braking harshly and rapidly accelerating improves fuel economy.

4. Use Radial Tires

Since tires account for up to 30 percent of a combustion-engine vehicle’s fuel consumption, this is one of the first places operators should look when overhauling their fuel management strategy. Reducing rolling resistance lowers energy use, improving fuel economy. However, having friction between the road and the tread is essential for handling and braking.

Using radial tires to increase contact area while cushioning irregularities in the road can reduce rolling resistance without decreasing stability at higher speeds. As a result, fuel economy increases. Another clever fuel management strategy is to maintain tire pressure. Low pressure creates drag, resulting in poorer fuel economy.

5. Turn the AC On

Running the air conditioner while idling drains fuel. However, while driving, it’s more cost-effective to run the AC than it is to roll down the windows. At highway speeds, open windows create considerable drag. To compensate, trucks consume more fuel than the AC compressor ever would.

6. Take the Scenic Route

Between parking in a staging area, precooling in a yard, getting stuck in traffic and stopping at rest stops, idle hours add up. While idling, a typical commercial van consumes 1.5 to 2.5 liters of fuel each hour. Across a 50-vehicle fleet, just one hour of idling per vehicle per day can waste 2,250 to 3,750 liters of fuel each month.

Routing through congestion points during peak hours exacerbates this problem. For example, in Jakarta, the congestion level approaches 60%, so traveling 10 kilometers takes nearly 30 minutes.

To reduce idle hours, operators can route trucks through rural areas. Driving longer distances may sound counterintuitive, but it’s cost-effective. If taking a route that’s an extra 30 kilometers long uses as much fuel as idling for an hour, drivers might as well go the extra mile. With the time they save, they can run more revenue-generating loads.

7. Electrify the Power Take-Off

Operators must distinguish true idling from operational idling, such as that from refrigeration units. Nonindependent units typically rely on the truck’s main engine via a power take-off. Running reefers independently on stand-alone electric motors allows them to operate even when the main engine is off.

Although the up-front cost of retrofitting a fleet with electric transport refrigeration units can be high, running on shore power rather than idling can decrease diesel operating costs by 40 percent, saving thousands of dollars annually.

Making Your Fleet Fuel-Efficient

Fuel management strategies cover maintenance, routing, training and operation, improving overall fuel efficiency. The less energy trucks need to move, the further they can travel, resulting in more revenue-generating trips.