Fuel for load or fill tank?

You did say that he runs flatbed. I often fuel after loading, so I know how much fuel I can put on and still scale. Sometimes it's really tight and if I filled my tanks, I would be overweight.

 

If the guy referenced in the original post is running local -- why carry unnecessary weight by filling all the way up?


I run OTR and since I tare under 32,000 with a van I rarely have to worry about weight. So I just fill up at the cheapest (less IFTA) station en route. The only time I do a partial fill is just to get to a cheaper area. I'm using an app called fuelbook that can automatically sort cheapest fuel less ifta by highway for 3 states at a time. Paid $3.28 last tank @ a ma & pa in San Simon, AZ

 

We get that too on the reefer side. That point though is putting off a low-cost fuel purchase in favor of doing it down the line for no other reason than cash flow will cost you in the long run.

 

i could see the weight factor. we all do that. but he's only hauling oilfield equipment 300 miles. don't know what he's hauling. but every load i've hauled has been about half to 3/4 of the gross allowed weight. some of that stuff, is pretty big stuff and won't take much to fill up a trailer.

others mentioned IFTA. but we don't know the guys situation in that aspect. wether he pays it or is leased on and they pay it. nor do we know what his route is. and wether he uses the same pump.

me personally, can't see buying just enough to make the trip, every day. but who knows, maybe he's paid daily. and is trying to keep a daily cash flow coming in as much as possible.

losta variables we don't know. all we know, is that he buys just enough for the trip, to haul oilfield equipment 300 miles.

as for packing the extra weight of fuel. i can't see 700 pounds effecting fuel mileage. specially if he hauls different loads that will give him different weights on each load. and he's pulling a flat.

the only time i've bought just enough fuel. other then to get me home for the weekend. was if i was low. and i'm heading to another state where i can fill up at a cheaper price. i also didn't have to worry about IFTA. company paid that.

 

700lbs would affect mileage by roughly 0.25%. For a guy running 300 miles/day, 5 days/week, 50 weeks/year @ 6mpg & $3.50/gal -- thats $110/year.