What's the absolute optimum speed for fuel mileage?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by PermanentTourist, Jun 4, 2022.

  1. Another Canadian driver

    Another Canadian driver Road Train Member

    1,181
    4,264
    Nov 14, 2021
    ALBERTA
    0
    I'm only human. I must confess that I love speed. The faster I drive, the larger the grin on my face.
    But, as a business owner, I was able to manage my reloads to wait for me and drive as slow as I could get my weekly 3300 miles done in 5.5 days plus my 1.5 day reset at home.
    Good planning beats speeding cost wise every time. Except when unexpected happens. 5% only.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. PermanentTourist

    PermanentTourist Heavy Load Member

    749
    881
    Nov 9, 2016
    48 states + Canada
    0
    Overall, I agree with you. But again, it's a matter of Lifestyle. I could run hard and take short breaks and race against the clock - and come home two days earlier, exhausted (If I don't end up getting stuck somewhere doing a 34 reset). Then I would climb into bed and sleep for 3 days straight. Also I would turn into another fat trucker, because I would stress eat on the road and not have time for my hour long evening walks.

    Instead, I come home well rested and fresh and in better physical shape than when I left, and then go hard on my hobbies and projects and fun stuff. And then I actually use the trucking time as my time to rest up, like a private vacation from family stress.
     
    Elroythekid, Dino soar, peterd and 9 others Thank this.
  4. PermanentTourist

    PermanentTourist Heavy Load Member

    749
    881
    Nov 9, 2016
    48 states + Canada
    0
    I have a fast car at home that I play with, so I get that out of my system. And honestly, I don't like driving trucks fast, the truck somehow tells me that he doesn't like it.
     
  5. Another Canadian driver

    Another Canadian driver Road Train Member

    1,181
    4,264
    Nov 14, 2021
    ALBERTA
    0
    You have a great plan. Stick to it. You'll be fine.
     
    Dino soar, peterd, Siinman and 4 others Thank this.
  6. God prefers Diesels

    God prefers Diesels Road Train Member

    4,198
    22,261
    Jun 26, 2020
    South Texas
    0
    I run hard, but when I come home, I'm probably staying for two weeks. So when I'm on the road, I try to pound it out as hard as I can. I'm the hardest working laziest MF'r you ever met. Like a light switch, it's one or the other.
     
  7. PermanentTourist

    PermanentTourist Heavy Load Member

    749
    881
    Nov 9, 2016
    48 states + Canada
    0
    I know exactly what you mean. You are a work hard and then be lazy person.

    Me, I'm similar but slightly different. Overall, I really like trucking - it doesn't feel like a job, but more like another hobby that happens to be profitable, especially when I do it my lazy way. If I did it the hardcore way, I'm afraid that I won't like it as much anymore. And then I won't want to do it.

    I'm the type of lazy person that is physically unable to do things that I don't like doing. I have gotten fired from every single job that didn't involve driving and not constantly dealing with management.
     
  8. Wasted Thyme

    Wasted Thyme Road Train Member

    7,729
    38,304
    Jan 27, 2020
    GOAT watching
    0
    I'll partly disagree. You only lose that day IF you can deliver it on day 3. If not. You're still stuck waiting for day 4 AND burnt up all that fuel.

    At Stevens. The only time I would churn and burn. Were loads to The Communist State. Get there early and you could drop it for the local guys to deliver. Pick up a loaded trailer for the outbound.
     
  9. PermanentTourist

    PermanentTourist Heavy Load Member

    749
    881
    Nov 9, 2016
    48 states + Canada
    0
    Yep! And I prefer to spread it out and do at least a bit of driving everyday instead of getting there a day early and then sitting bored while your batteries die and the fridge food starts spoiling ( unless it's some really interesting place, like delivering concert stuff and being able to park close to some cool cities downtown and then touristing around for a day.)
     
  10. Another Canadian driver

    Another Canadian driver Road Train Member

    1,181
    4,264
    Nov 14, 2021
    ALBERTA
    0
    If it makes you feel better:
    You are not alone. We are a small minority with a powerful lobby.
    Our Motto:
    Our way or the highway.
    Or.
    Our way on the highway.
     
  11. God prefers Diesels

    God prefers Diesels Road Train Member

    4,198
    22,261
    Jun 26, 2020
    South Texas
    0
    Oh, absolutely.

    Things are different in the flatbed world. Our "appointments" are usually FCFS "whenever you can get there", and we're generally stuck pulling a 34 on weekends, so it's hard to hit a 70. You can run on the weekend far away, but then you pushed out of the region you wanted to hang out in. We don't really have appointments like you guys do. At least not regularly. It changes the dynamic.
     
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2022
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.