63mph vs 65 mph

**Cowpie1** · 07.02.2012

I will agree that when loads (grain, bulk, etc) are such that getting that extra load in during the day would make a big difference, then speed can be critical. But most of the long haul stuff, that isn't the case. Now it may be true that one would be able to get in some extra loads in a month, quarter, or yearly average, but what was the cost to do it? If 1 mpg better on todays fuel prices would mean an extra $10,000 in the back pocket over an average year, how many extra loads does it take to NET that same $10,000 and essentially break even on net with the truck getting 1 mpg better? Why work more/harder for the same money in the end? And we haven't even discussed extra tire and mechanical wear by running faster speeds, or the risk of getting one of those revenue collection slips. And remember, the only real comparison here is assuming that each truck is getting the same revenue per mile. And the person not running those extra loads that is also increasing their bottom line with better mpg, is also able to enjoy less time operating the truck and more time for themselves. Revenue is important, but how much of it you keep really tells the story.

**MNdriver** · 07.02.2012

If driving the speed limit is causing that much extra wear and tear, then i need to reconsider my maintenance program

**DThompsonNGI** · 07.02.2012

Originally Posted by BigBadBill

Actually, to worry about the clock is a fools game. We are in a business when done correct you should never have to even take a 34 hour restart. Mice on a wheel. Just spinning away.

BigBadBill, I don't mean to sound dumb here, but what is the correct way so you don't have to take a 34 restart? What kind of freight? When I was driving before coming back into the office there was weeks where I would run out of hours and that was scrunching my log book all I could and be legal. I was pulling a hopper bottom and flat bed.

**US MARINE** · 07.02.2012

Originally Posted by DThompsonNGI

BigBadBill, I don't mean to sound dumb here, but what is the correct way so you don't have to take a 34 restart? What kind of freight? When I was driving before coming back into the office there was weeks where I would run out of hours and that was scrunching my log book all I could and be legal. I was pulling a hopper bottom and flat bed.

In a 8/70 work week if you run 9.50 -10.0 hrs a day and you run on a re - cap you essentially do not have to restart but that's a total of 9.5- 10.0 on duty and driving combined . There are lots of guys who try this but after a few weeks or so you will need a reset . It does not work forever .

**SHC** · 07.02.2012

Originally Posted by MNdriver

I was debating if I even wanted to share this. Figured what the hell, why not feed the fire some more.

WHY is time more important than fuel? Because when you minimize the time you spend on a load, you can carry MORE LOADS. I am not advocating speeding or running 80 mph. I am advocating that you manage your time to its fullest and get out from under a load as quickly as possible.

You have to accept that both FUEL AND TIME are a valuable commodity to get the load in. Saving you both money, time and fuel.

The first sheet is what happens when you look at $2.50 gallon fuel. What is the break even speed. Where Overhead and fuel cost are matching. It's right around 64-65 mph.

When you toss in fuel cost to $3.50 per gallon, it cuts that speed WAY back to 54-55 mph.

To get your speed back, you need to seriously improve your mileage and to get to 8.8 mpg at 63 MPH to the OP original question, it gives you a break even speed of 64-65 MPH.

Oh, but that's just academics....Well, so is the 0.1 MPG for every 1 MPH speed you change. If it's only academics, then why do every CDL mill company have a staff full of academic bean counters telling them to run a truck at X speed.

The one thing you will or should notice. No matter what the speed/time. The over all cost for fuel and time pretty much evens out. So what you loose in time, you gain in fuel. What you gain in time, you loose in fuel.

The kicker comes when you can get out of a load quicker and increase your revenue by picking up that extra load per week by getting out from under that last load an extra day or half-day early because you kept the left door closed and maximized your efforts to deliver the load on-time or early.

This also applies to guys making $1.00 mile plus FSC on a mileage program. Flip it over to a % deal and then there should really be no need to go faster than 60mph if you route yourself properly and you are also booking the proper freight.

I can understand a guy wanting to get 1 more load for the week before his 70 runs out, but I'll just stick with $3 mile and running 4 days a week if I can

**Cowpie1** · 07.02.2012

Yeah, I will leave the running like my hair is on fire to others. I do fine running 60-62 mph, by the house a couple of times a week, home every weekend, off on holidays, and taking two or more weeks off a year. Don't have to juggle hours and get in a reset every weekend. when things are planned right, it makes life a lot easier. And all of this without being on a dedicated run! That 7.5 - 8 mpg doesn't seem so bad.

**Cowpie1** · 07.02.2012

I didn't say that is causes "so much more wear", but it does none the less. Running the speed limit is fine, but by running a little more on the slow side (60-62), I hardly ever have to do the speed up / slow down game with traffic. On occasion, I can step into it to get around so I am not choking up the left lane if I need to pass and traffic is a little congested, then go back to what I was doing. Check with any tire manufacturer, they will tell you that running above 65 increases tire wear by 15%. They have no reason to lie about it. Sure, it isn't quite the expense of what burning thru fuel would be, but it is an increased expense. But then, there are some who just like throwing money into the wind. That's cool. It's their money. With my business, I am a serious bean counter. And it pays off. And it shows... debt free, and the wife didn't have to work to get us there.

**DThompsonNGI** · 07.02.2012

Originally Posted by US MARINE

In a 8/70 work week if you run 9.50 -10.0 hrs a day and you run on a re - cap you essentially do not have to restart but that's a total of 9.5- 10.0 on duty and driving combined . There are lots of guys who try this but after a few weeks or so you will need a reset . It does not work forever .

If I had of run like that my load would not been delivered on time, I had to push all I could get and then some, and by doing that I enjoyed those $1000 plus weeks clear money as a company driver and being home every weekend. We pull flat beds and get hung up a lot loading and unloading. If the government would step in and get on the shipper and receivers back side and start costing them money I would say it would stop and more drivers could run legal and make good money. If my drivers only put in that kind of hours not only would my company not make any money neither would my drivers and loads would not get delivered on time as well.

**otherhalftw** · 07.02.2012

Originally Posted by US MARINE

In a 8/70 work week if you run 9.50 -10.0 hrs a day and you run on a re - cap you essentially do not have to restart but that's a total of 9.5- 10.0 on duty and driving combined . There are lots of guys who try this but after a few weeks or so you will need a reset . It does not work forever .

Your math does not add up...you can't do more than 8.75 hours each day to never run out of hours.....

9.5 x 7 = 66.5, leaving only 3.5 for day 8.

Want to try again to avoid a 34 and run on the re-cap?

**rollin coal** · 07.02.2012

Originally Posted by DThompsonNGI

BigBadBill, I don't mean to sound dumb here, but what is the correct way so you don't have to take a 34 restart? What kind of freight? When I was driving before coming back into the office there was weeks where I would run out of hours and that was scrunching my log book all I could and be legal. I was pulling a hopper bottom and flat bed.

Any freight doesn't matter. You set the rate. Find it, establish a reputation,then you'll never get offered insulting rates or you'll be commanding profitable ones. And worrying about 70 hrs 34 resets will be a thing of the past. Since switching to percentage last fall I've never burned 70 and never really needed a reset although I do typically get 2-3 or more days off every week. Work smart not hard.