Strategies to Conserve Fuel

More than 250 million vehicles consume millions of barrels of petroleum every day in the United States. On-road passenger travel alone accounts for more than 2.5 trillion vehicle miles traveled each year. Vehicle fleet managers and drivers, corporate decision makers, and public transportation planners can use these strategies to conserve fuel.

Idle Reduction 

Find ways to reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse emissions by idling less.

Idle Reduction

Idling Facts

• Medium-duty trucks use about 2.5 billion gallons of fuel to idle each year, or 6.7% of the total fuel they consume.
• More than 650,000 long-haul heavy-duty trucks idle overnight for required rest stops at least some fraction of the time, using more than 685 million gallons of fuel per year.

Idle reduction describes technologies and practices that reduce the amount of time drivers idle their engines unnecessarily. Reducing idling time has many benefits, including reductions in fuel costs, engine wear, emissions, and noise.
Drivers idle for a variety of reasons, such as to keep vehicles warm, operate radios, or power equipment. Each year, U.S. passenger cars, light trucks, medium-duty trucks, and heavy-duty vehicles consume more than 6 billion gallons of diesel fuel and gasoline—without even moving. Roughly half of that fuel is wasted by passenger vehicles.
Idling can be reduced without compromising driver comfort or vehicle equipment operations

Driving Behavior 

Read about strategies and techniques to improve driving behavior, conserve fuel, and save money.

Parts and Equipment 

Learn about outfitting your fleet's vehicles with devices that save fuel.

Fleet Rightsizing 

Evaluate your vehicle needs to build and maintain a sustainable, fuel-efficient fleet.

Vehicle Maintenance 

Discover ways to improve your fleet's fuel economy through regular vehicle maintenance.

Transportation System Efficiency 

Find ways to conserve fuel by reducing vehicle miles traveled and improving transportation system efficiency.