Good point, they will never do it but still, good point!!

Unfortunately, we have had 55mph trucks for quite some time. It gets exceptionally boring going that slow, but they save a good amount on fuel. We run US Mail and, as I gather it, the Post Office does pay a certain amount of fuel. Keeping it simple, if you were allotted 100 gallons a month, but only pumped 75, you come out ok. However, if you use 120 gallons a month, you eat that 20 gallons out of your bottom line.

RTC tries to maximize their MPG by keeping their trucks slow. It does get annoying having the "kings of the road" flying past you, as if you're going that slow on purpose. RTC pays by the hour, too. Very well.

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"Haulin' mail from New Castle, PA!!!"

Last night parked at the I80 in Walcott I could not believe the trucks idling all night. The temp was around 60 degrees. I know we are being watched for excessive idle but I would bet turnin the truck down will be next.

I can understand why the trucks are being idled.

The parking lots smell of urine.
They may have a cooler with fresh foods that must be kept cool.
They may have CPAP machine needing juice.

Well that only works to a certain extent. Bob might have purchased a million gallons of diesel at a price of 2.75/ gallon last year and the truck companies would honor that to a certain extent. But they have it set so that after the fuel reaches a certain point, Bob starts paying more.

I can understand that too. On the subject of the parking lot odor, I can never understand why people just dump their pee right out. At least dump the bottles in the grass!! Sheesh!

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"Haulin' mail from New Castle, PA!!!"

The Volvo/Volvos suck bad. I was getting 6.9 out of a Freighliner and a DD60 at 70.

The major players do NOT pay the pump price either. They negotiate steep discounts based on the volume of fuel purchased for that month. This is a major reason why owner ops cannot compete. The JB Hunts, Swifts, and Schneiders out there are getting cheaper fuel across the board as compared to the small independants and owner ops.

Yes the price of fuel is going up for everyone but some companies are getting a better deal than the other smaller players. Not necessarily fair but thats business.

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Knowledge is Power

I've done 63 to 65 across I 80 in NE.....BY CHOICE so that I could get good MPGs. I feel the pain of the company drivers but don't really share much sympathy. In rough economic times we all gotta tighten the belt.

Besides when your company slows down your miles like that ask them for a raise to equal where you were before.

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Wanna be here. Forgive me for speaking on the subject of the reduction in mph from 70-60 & the loss in wages. How much in cents per mile will this cost drivers. Drivers should demand that amount of loss be added in cents per mile to there exsisiting cents per mile. Well lets figure it out.
70mph-60mph=10 mph x .35 per mile= $3.50 an hr, which equal's 35.00 a day for a 10 hr day. So you have to take a $35 a day cut in wages or about $700.00 a mo. WOW,WOW. Of course I know you all don't drive 70 mph, 10 hrs a day but u got the idea. With the huge increase in food & and ALL fuel, (utilities). I don't know how you can take it.
You must get roughly about $.405 a mile now in order to make up the differance. You may not be able to support your families. This is bad! Can anyone say what this will do to you? This is what is called a "threat to Our National security!"
What has caused this huge increase in fuel costs?