The company has a department with the short name “Eco”. “Eco” comes from the ancient Greek word “οἶκος” – “house” and is the initial part of the terms “Economy” and “Ecology”. The tasks and goals of the department are simple – to reduce the amount of energy spent on transporting goods. In short: “more cargo with less fuel.” Less fuel used to transport the same amount of cargo means lower costs and fewer emissions. Economics and ecology.

Although technology is constantly improving, the greatest influence on achieving these goals is the qualifications and motivation of the person driving the vehicle. Eco-department instructors work directly with drivers – they train, advise and evaluate. All instructors are certified specialists and, importantly, have extensive experience as truck drivers. Therefore, in a company with thousands of drivers, each of their achievements is assessed individually and rewarded immediately after the end of their service.

Briefing

We teach and remind the basic principles of economical driving every time drivers go to work.

Help

We observe and help improve
driving during work

Assessment

We evaluate efforts and
reward immediately.

Drive economically, environmentally and safely!

Our best instructors

A team consisting of true professionals who know their business

PLAN

  • Plan your route in advance. Whenever possible, choose smooth roads or routes that require less overload on the engine and allow you to brake less.

  • Check for the latest weather and driving conditions. Try to avoid rush hours.

  • If you are driving on the road for the first time, pay close attention to the terrain ahead of you and to any approaching turns or slopes. Try to see road signs warning of roundabouts or speed limits from as far away as possible.

  • Driving on constant routes give you advantage of knowing all the turns, hills and speed limits. You can foresee many circumstances in advance, plan and perfectly apply driving techniques for this route.

ALWAYS CHECK YOUR TRUCK

Some drivers know their truck almost as well as they know themselves. While driving, they sense and notice even the slightest differences in engine sound or vibration and proactively detect problems before minor problems develop into problems that force them to stop. We expect drivers to have years of experience, knowledge of the truck and the habit of always monitoring the condition of the truck.

  • Before your trip, make sure the vehicle is operating as usual. Listen for unusual sounds, check for air leakage, oil or coolant leaks, headlights, lights, hitches, load securing equipment, etc.
  • Make sure the seat and mirrors are adjusted correctly.
  • Check condition and pressure in the tires regularly and make sure they are properly inflated. Too low air pressure has a significant impact on fuel consumption over time.
  • Check whether the technical condition of the truck, trailer and load securing equipment complies with the laws and regulations of your specific country and international standards.
  • Be professional – always check your truck. Time will be saved.

CHECK THE CARGO

  • The weight of the load is directly related to the fuel consumption.

  • Check weight on the axles and comply with legal load weight limits.

  • Follow the instructions for proper load distribution and immediate securing of the load.

  • During the trip, regularly check security and condition of the cargo.

ACCELERATE PROPERLY

  • Accelerate to a constant speed as quickly and efficiently as possible. Please note that efficient acceleration does not mean pressing the accelerator all the way down. However, acceleration should not be too slow, as this will increase the period of time during which fuel consumption will be high. Choose the “correct mean”.

  • Automated Transmission: The accelerator is an electrical switch linked to the truck’s control units. Press the accelerator evenly to “show” your intention to the injection system – the desire to accelerate as efficiently as possible. If you release the accelerator while changing gears, the system will not understand your intentions and will accelerate more slowly and waste fuel.

  • Manual transmission: Start in first gear and downshift. When switching,  skip secondary gears, accelerate as efficiently as possible to a constant speed. Double press on the clutch or pressing the accelerator while changing gears wastes fuel and can cause clutch wear.

MAINTAIN A CONSTANT SPEED

  • Drive at a constant speed, keeping it as low as possible (depending on the circumstances).

  • Once you reach a stable driving speed, use the highest possible gear with the engine running at the lowest possible speed.

  • Avoid sudden braking and increasing speed.

  • Pay attention to traffic conditions and always maintain the proper distance from the vehicle in front.

USE OF CRUISE CONTROL

  • Try to use cruise control as often as possible, which helps to maintain a high driving pace and avoid unnecessary speed fluctuations.

  • Use full-time cruise control on roads with a flat surface or roads with a light traffic.

  • Don’t forget that stable speed can be maintained at lower speeds and in lower gears.

MOVE BY INERTION

  • Bear in mind the weight of the truck and try to drive by inertion whenever possible.

  • Get into the habit of taking your foot off the accelerator when the truck coasts, no fuel is consumed at all. If the truck is equipped with”I-Shift”with the”I-Roll”function, the fuel consumption when coasting is the same as when the engine is idling. However, the engine and transmission have a lower level of resistance, so by harnessing the kinetic energy of the truck, you can make much greater distance.

BRAKE EFFECTIVELY

  • Decrease speed slowly from as far as possible.

  • Reduce your speed in advance to safely avoid obstacle ahead.

  • Do not move your foot from the accelerator straight to the brake pedal – this is extremely ineffective. Just reduce the speed due to inertion.

OVERCOME HILLS EFFECTIVELY

  • Make the most of the terrain to minimize fuel consumption.
  • 1. Increase your speed before climbing.
  • 2. Ride in the highest possible gear for as long as possible.
  • 3. Release the accelerator just before the top of the hill.
  • 4. Use the inertion of the truck when driving downhill.
  • 5. Use additional brakes to maintain speed limits.
  • 6. Just before the end of the descending, feel the inertion of the truck to get as far as possible before pressing the accelerator.

AVOID IDLING THE ENGINE

  • Always try to avoid idling the engine unnecessarily.

  • If you have to stand for more than a few minutes, turn off the engine!

  • Idling is not free. When engine is on, it consumes 2-3 liters of fuel per hour.

  • The engine will warm up to operating temperature faster while driving with less pressure on the engine rather than stand still.

  • Idling is not required when securing cargo, refueling or completing paperwork.

MAINTAIN YOUR VEHICLE REGULARLY

  • In order to keep your vehicle running efficiently, always use the correct engine oil and air filters. Fill in the suitable oil recommended by the manufacturer to keep the engine clean and running efficiently. For proper maintenance, always consult with your technician.

CONSOLIDATE TRIPS AND USE ONBOARD DEVICES

  • Plan your trips in advance. This will allow you to bypass busy routes and spend less time of expectation. Devices onboard will help you to save time and choose the right route.

Contact us: eko@bleiras.lt