How much slower is an HGV than a car?

How much slower is an HGV than a car?

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V8mate

Original Poster:

45,899 posts

189 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
quotequote all
I'm creating some analytical tables for a haulage firm. They run 44t 6x4 trucks with three axle trailers at maximum weight.

Google Maps suggests typical journey times for routes, but these are, obviously, for cars. By what factor is a truck typically slower?
1.5x car journey time? 2x?

citizensm1th

8,371 posts

137 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
quotequote all
How long a peice of string do you have?

Max speed will be 56mph on the flat but can they do that fully loaded up an incline?

So you need to know the route the gradients of the route traffic density etc

Some days I can do Leicester to Uckfield in 3hours 45 another day it may take me 4hours 15 and that's with no major delays just a small variance in traffic which may mean I have had to slow down and speed up a few more times.

Good luck

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

30,254 posts

235 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
quotequote all
V8mate said:
I'm creating some analytical tables for a haulage firm. They run 44t 6x4 trucks with three axle trailers at maximum weight.

Google Maps suggests typical journey times for routes, but these are, obviously, for cars. By what factor is a truck typically slower?
1.5x car journey time? 2x?
Does Google maps tell you about low bridges? That might make a significant difference.

I'd imagine any transport office could give you a UK wide average truck working MPH.

Glenn63

2,757 posts

84 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
quotequote all
I live next to my depot in Leyland and it takes 3 hours to Abington services in the truck and 2 hours in the car. Little bit extra in the wagon as thats drive time including hooking up driving round the yard etc.

Could vary massively as if your fully loaded in double decker say, every junction/ roundabout/ setting off from lights, takes a huge amount longer than in a car.

And as above the route you have to take in a HGV may be significantly longer, like if heading north on M6 to head over the A66 for example for have to go a further 2 junctions on the M6.

As a rough guide to give my self plenty of time I just say a mile a minute plus half again (ish) so 60 miles will be 60 mins plus another 30 mins.

Edited by Glenn63 on Thursday 18th February 12:28

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

30,254 posts

235 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
quotequote all
It'd need to factor in breaks too for journeys over a certain length.

Venisonpie

3,271 posts

82 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
quotequote all
V8mate said:
I'm creating some analytical tables for a haulage firm. They run 44t 6x4 trucks with three axle trailers at maximum weight.

Google Maps suggests typical journey times for routes, but these are, obviously, for cars. By what factor is a truck typically slower?
1.5x car journey time? 2x?
Take a months worth of tacho data and you'll find your answer about average speeds. It will shock you how low it is.

V8mate

Original Poster:

45,899 posts

189 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies so far. I'm certainly ensuring that any routes I'm putting into Google Maps are HGV-friendly; no nipping through villages or backroads etc.

And I'm dealing with the loading and tipping times separately.

Really interested to hear of as many experiences as possible thumbup

Glenn63

2,757 posts

84 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
quotequote all
Mile a minute plus 50%, if that goes over 4 hours add another 45 mins for a break and you won’t be far off.

V8mate

Original Poster:

45,899 posts

189 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
quotequote all
Glenn63 said:
Mile a minute plus 50%, if that goes over 4 hours add another 45 mins for a break and you won’t be far off.
Thanks thumbup

the tribester

2,391 posts

86 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
quotequote all
And take into account the unloading time, dependant on what they are carrying, and how well the drivers are treated at drop off point.


redandwhite

479 posts

129 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
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wind and weather would play a part too (or is that taking it too far) smile

anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
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Glenn63 said:
Mile a minute plus 50%, if that goes over 4 hours add another 45 mins for a break and you won’t be far off.
You mean 40mph?

citizensm1th

8,371 posts

137 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
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Just for giggles generally motorway and a roads

V8mate

Original Poster:

45,899 posts

189 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
quotequote all
citizensm1th said:



Just for giggles generally motorway and a roads
That's really interesting!

Especially your average speed; I was guessing at 40-45mph for journeys longer than 10 miles, but 37mph makes quite a difference!

V8mate

Original Poster:

45,899 posts

189 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
quotequote all
V8mate said:
citizensm1th said:



Just for giggles generally motorway and a roads
That's really interesting!

Especially your average speed; I was guessing at 40-45mph for journeys longer than 10 miles, but 37mph makes quite a difference!
Over 10mpg though?! What's the unit?

DaveH23

3,236 posts

170 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
quotequote all
Depends on the HGV and the car.

This may be of no use at all but worth 3 mins of your time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT_YK2GZ5Yg&ab...

citizensm1th

8,371 posts

137 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
quotequote all
V8mate said:
Over 10mpg though?! What's the unit?
DAF cf 330 euro 6 twenty six tonner 2016 model stuffed to the gills with eco stuff and a auto box that always defaults to the most economic settings.

Which is great for mpg but makes it even slower unless you use manual gear changes.

Up a gradient fully loaded like a motorway junction it's borderline dangerous as it won't pick up speed and you are trying to join the motorway at thirty miles an hour

So I boot it and hold the gear as long as I can in manual and then normally you can join at a reasonable speed.

Glenn63

2,757 posts

84 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
quotequote all
citizensm1th said:
V8mate said:
Over 10mpg though?! What's the unit?
DAF cf 330 euro 6 twenty six tonner 2016 model stuffed to the gills with eco stuff and a auto box that always defaults to the most economic settings.

Which is great for mpg but makes it even slower unless you use manual gear changes.

Up a gradient fully loaded like a motorway junction it's borderline dangerous as it won't pick up speed and you are trying to join the motorway at thirty miles an hour

So I boot it and hold the gear as long as I can in manual and then normally you can join at a reasonable speed.
Our place has gone to gas trucks that are similar to that. No guts what so ever, slight gradient and down to 30mph, takes an age to get up to speed especially on an uphill slip road. Put your foot down or hold onto the revs manually and you get a bking off the Microlise and your score will hit rock bottom laugh
Used to drive heavy haulage Scania 580 v8 and pulling a normal 44 tonne they wouldn’t slow for anything pulled like a train! Averaged 3mpg though...

As for the op it all depends on the roads, our yard to Abington is all motorway average about 50mph, our place to Harrogate over the a59 average is down to 32ish.

Edited by Glenn63 on Thursday 18th February 14:34

loggo

410 posts

112 months

Monday 22nd February 2021
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Remember A to B will not be the same as B to A.

s p a c e m a n

10,777 posts

148 months

Monday 22nd February 2021
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In case you're not aware there is a low bridges Google map that may come in handy..

https://www.google.com/mymaps/viewer?mid=1-FmXUpuq...