Need some advice

Okay, so I got a new gig. Quit TMC and am now running an Owner Ops truck. It's a beautiful baby. I believe it's a 2WS Cat 550, but turned to 625 and then added a PDI turbo. She runs on 24.5's, straights, 18 speed, and a 300" stretch pulling a step. Nice little flat top 379. What I'm looking for is fuel saving advice, as we all know pay depends a lot on fuel and driving habits. I've never been a pedal pounder, and I've only ran twin turbo C-15's, and the new ISX's. So my main thing is how can I treat this baby the best and get some decent mileage out of her? I know it's a thirsty Cat, so I am not expecting much better than 5.5-6 on good weeks. Thanks in advance!

 

I suppose I should have been a little more specific. I'm in the national guard so I have that insurance, I do my own retirement stuff, have for a couple years, and I'm pretty covered in that aspect. Literally his first words were "you're my only employee, and as of now I can't offer health benefits, but that can change as we get more into it." I will be driving an owner operators truck, I will be his employee, not an owner operator. I will see all of the income to the truck, because I will be running it like it is my own. I work the load boards and pick where, when, and how I want to run. He definitely doesn't need me to work for him, he's quite comfortable in how he lives and such, I'm more so driving his pride and joy because he wants to see it out on the road. He's got his own full time job, and does some local work himself. I just am learning the owner op side through him. Kind of the perfect scenario. I make a percentage of what the truck makes, and 100% of any tarping fees.

Obviously fuel will put a dent into the revenue, so that's why I'm asking for fuel help. I've read a few guys using scan gauges, and I need to look more into it. Is it anything like the Cat readout that the newer ones have? Shows boost, mpgs, and some other crap, or is it more of an independent type?

 

Danny, I figured about 65, so that will be nice. Being at 62 for the past four years, it'll be quite hard to fight the urge to do 70, but hey, gotta make money.