Nationwide, class 7 and 8 trucks get on average about 6 miles to the gallon. Now, what if we told you that you might be able to push that number up to 11.

You might be thinking, reaching 11 miles per gallon in your truck is an impossible task. However, nothing is impossible, and with a few tips and tricks, you might be able to get there.

Continue reading below to find out five tips that will boost your fuel economy to levels you never thought possible.

5. Maintenance Is Key

Remember, keeping your vehicle maintained will not only make it last longer but run more efficiently. Proper maintenance of your truck and engine can help increase your fuel economy by a whopping 5%.

Along with keeping your engine and truck in good condition, you’ll also want to make sure your tires are inflated. When tires don’t have enough pressure, the truck will burn more fuel to compensate.

It’s estimated that you’ll lose 0.2% in gas mileage for every one psi lower than the recommended pressure level.

4. Cut Down on Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving results in frequent braking and accelerating which leads to a lot of fuel being burnt. Of course, it may be difficult to cut out aggressive driving completely, but you’ll need to try.

Some of the most aggressive drivers could save up to 20% in fuel economy by reducing constant accelerating and braking. However, most drivers will likely benefit from a 5-10% boost in the fuel economy by keeping aggressive driving to a minimum.

3. Stop Speeding

The habit that costs truckers the most when it comes to fuel economy is speeding. By going from 65 mph to 75 mph, your truck will burn up to 27% more fuel.

Now you might be thinking, speeding is necessary sometimes because you’re in a hurry. However, speeding doesn’t make a huge difference in time over a large distance.

All speeding does is use more fuel, wear down your truck, and create more risk for you and the drivers around you.

2. Reduce A/C Use

It’s estimated that trucks will impact fuel use up to an astounding 30%. Although that figure may be a high estimate, it’s thought that the A/C cuts into fuel economy by at least 3%.

That means that if you want to see some gains in mpg during your next trip, you might need to fry a little. Of course, that might be a big ask, especially for truckers who are driving in places with sweltering heat.

1. Keep Cargo Low and Even

Although you may not have a fancy new truck with a lot of aerodynamics, you can still benefit from the same principles. To save on fuel and increase your fuel economy, you’ll want to keep your cargo load low and even.

Sometimes it’s not possible to keep cargo low, but loads that are tall should be closer to your cab. The fewer things that stick out from your truck, the more aerodynamic and more efficient it’ll be.

Maximize MPG’s

If you follow these tips, you’ll save fuel and increase your total miles per gallon. Although 11 mpg might be a bit of a stretch, getting an increase in gas mileage will save buckets of money in the long run.

That’s why it’s good practice to try and maximize your miles per gallon at all times.