Are you confident your vehicles are driving with tires at the proper PSI? If not, you could be losing 1.5% in fuel economy and 30% of tire life.
Turning a profit is—and always has been—a difficult proposition. With ever-shrinking margins, increased fuel costs, and robust competition, fleets now have to look to every element of their operation for cost-savings. And that includes the part of the truck where the rubber, very literally, meets the road.
The Cost of Under-Inflation
According to the American Trucking Association’s Technology and Maintenance Council, tire under-inflation by as little as 10% can result in a 1.5% decline in fuel economy; under-inflation by 20% can result in a 30% reduction in tire life. All told, tire under-inflation leads to:
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80,000 accidents per year
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90% of all tire failures
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5.4 million gallons of wasted fuel each day
Factors Affecting Tire Pressure
The right PSI for a truck depends on the weight of the load and temperature fluctuations. Manufacturers build some flexibility into tire design, but changes in ambient temperature, payload weight, and repeated drive cycles can all cause pressure variances that lead to under-inflation.
Other Benefits of Proper Tire Management for Fleets
Proper PSI can also save a trucking company millions of dollars. For example, a 0.1 MPG improvement at Walmart can represent $3–$5 million in annual savings. Additional advantages include:
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Safety: Improved handling, stability, and braking
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Fewer Breakdowns: Reduced roadside service calls
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Fuel Efficiency: Lower fuel consumption
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Tire Longevity: Extended tire life
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Maintenance Efficiency: Streamlined shop workflows
How Solera TPMS Integrates with Your Fleet
Solera works hand-in-hand with aftermarket Tire Pressure Monitoring Solutions (TPMS) and ATIS products to provide real-time data and alerts to drivers, fleet managers, and maintenance teams. Our TPMS delivers clear notifications of inflation events so you can intervene before a blowout or breakdown.
Key Features of a Good TPMS Solution
A best-in-class TPMS should offer:
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The backing of a company with deep industry experience
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Responsive, knowledgeable customer support
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A driver-friendly in-cab interface
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A comprehensive back-office portal that integrates with professional services
Why Solera TPMS Stands Out
Solera’ TPMS is feature-rich, highly customizable, and integrates seamlessly with solutions from Doran and PressurePro. Every alert clearly identifies which tire needs attention, so maintenance managers can act quickly and precisely.
Tire inflation may not be the flashiest part of fleet management, but it’s one of the most cost-effective. In an industry where every dollar counts, a robust TPMS is a game-changer—helping you avoid costly breakdowns, improve safety, and boost your bottom line.
If you’d like to learn more about how our TPMS and other fleet-optimization tools can work for you, get in touch here.
