Last time I checked, AAA reported the national average of diesel fuel costs at $5.54/gallon. That’s a 63% increase from last year. Government officials are working to initiate policies to alleviate inflated gas prices. Until that happens, it’s up to foremen and operators to monitor their own fuel costs. AS part of the Compass family, you know that we wouldn’t leave you hanging. We did some research and found 4 things you should be doing to cut back on fuel costs.
In Context: It would cost $934.04 to fill this 2015 Kobelco SK500LC Excavator at the current fuel prices!
Limit Idle Times – reduce the amount of time your machine is running when it is not in use.
- If you have an older engine, restrict idle at shut off to two minutes.
- Turn off equipment during lunch and breaks
- Keep morning warmups under five minutes
Experts say that idle time accounts for up to 50% of total running time.
Follow Maintenance Schedules – just like your personal vehicle, consistent maintenance will greatly benefit the long-term health of heavy equipment
- Fuel economy is affected by things such as blocked air filters, improperly working thermostats, oil filters, and engine liming
- Tire pressure should be inflated to the correct PSI and tracks should be adjusted to the proper tension
- Check blade edges and rounded bucket teeth on a regular basis. Dull blades or bucket teeth have more resistance causing the machine to work harder
Train Operators – good crew is hard to find, but if you take the time to train operators the right way, you will improve employee loyalty and retention while attracting new workers.
- Train operators to avoid quick acceleration, hard breaking, excessive engine revving, and speeding
- Streamline communication processes between teams to eliminate employee down time and unnecessary equipment use
- Make sure operators know how to position the equipment in a place where it will be the most productive with minimal movement
CAT reports that a skilled operator can use 10-12% less fuel every day than an unskilled one.
Select The Right Machine for The Job –
- Bigger machines use more fuel, so make sure you aren’t using a machine that is bigger than necessary.
- On that same note, make sure the equipment you are using is capable of the workload you are putting on it. Overworking a machine can lead to higher fuel costs and costly repair bills.
- Consider adding versatile equipment to your job site to achieve lower, more consistent fuel costs. Skid steers like this 2018 CAT 289D Skid Steer are a great choice for construction and landscaping job sites looking to downsize their equipment.
If none of these adjustments work for you and your machine continues to guzzle fuel, don’t get frustrated! Get a new machine!
Compass Auctions is known for having newer model heavy equipment with low hours. This 2019 Volvo Excavator EC300EL with 788 hours and this 2018 John Deere Backhoe are perfect examples of the heavy equipment we have on a monthly basis. You can find these machines and 20 other heavy equipment lots in the July Day 1 auction. The auction will start on July 27th @ 10AM ET. Visit the catalog to view the full lineup. Pre-bidding is open now!
Registering & Bidding
It’s bidding time! Make sure you are registered to bid with Compass Auctions & Real Estate, so you are ready to go on auction day. Not sure how to register? Check out our Auction Crash Course. Take a look at the auction calendar to find out when pre-bidding starts. Learn how to bid in our Auction Crash Course.
Have a Machine You Want to Sell?
At Compass Auctions & Real Estate, we offer a concierge level of service to help you sell your heavy equipment. We list, market, and accept payment for your item so all you have to do wait for us to send you a check. Also, with our Sell in Place program, you don’t have to worry about transporting your property.
If you have heavy equipment that you’d like to sell at auction, give us a call at 800-729-6466 to get started.
About Compass Auctions & Real Estate
Compass Auctions and Real Estate hosts monthly auctions featuring heavy equipment, firearms and ammo, industrial equipment, vehicles, jewelry and collectibles, and restaurant equipment. We’re here for you! If you have any questions about any of the items available for auction, feel free to give us a call at 800-729-6466 or email info@soldoncompass.com for more information.
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