Am I the only 1 to think that EOBRs are going to keep me from making $???

You have just backed my argument for having no logbooks at all.
If one is involved in a tragic event, there will be a detailed investigation tracking the drivers movements for the last x number of days regardless of his log book entries.
The only concern with the log book will be as a source of an additional violation.

 

Shop rates are only a matter of supply and demand. There is a definate shortage of good mechanics out there. Also you have to factor in that shop's cost are going up just like yours. Liability insurance, workman's comp, medical insurance, electric, etc are going up for them as well.

Fuel is averaging only 28-29% of my gross. What are you doing blowing 45-50% out your stack?

I guess we all can belly ache about how it is difficult. I don't like what is going on. But I make adjustments in my business to limit the damage from increased costs and reduced rates. Heck, get some tools and do some of your own repairs. I can order filters, oil, and parts online and save a lot over getting them at a dealer. I buy all my lubricants in bulk and it is delivered and tailgated FREE to my door. Look for specials on parts you know you will need to replace in the near future (ie brakes, shocks, starters, alternators). Shop around for various repair shops and get quotes on repairs you can't do yourself to cut cost. Get into some sort of fuel network and cut you fuel costs. You can use a laptop computer and a wireless card to check fuel prices along a run to get the cheapest cost (all the truckstop chains have their fuel prices online). Get a laptop routing program or GPS and cut the amount of extra miles you are running or a more efficient route. Make sure your engine is running efficiently (get that charge air cooler and routing piping pressure tested occasionally). Make repairs or replace components BEFORE they cause a real problem on the road. Plan your maintenance around how freight is running. I took advantage of the Labor day holiday to get my overhead run, jake brake adjusted, fix a oil leak starting, replace a turbo accuator that was starting to act goofy, pressure check the charge air cooler and fix a small leak starting in one of the silicon boots from the turbo to CAC. It will be a short week anyway and winter is coming on.

You can curse the darkeness or flip on a light. When I look at what others have dealt with, like, during the Great Depression and WWII, it kinda seems lame to just sit around complaining about my condition all the time instead of putting my efforts towards coming up with solutions. Those of us that have been around a while have seen times worse than these. The early 80's were worse than this in many ways. No one seems to remember the farm crisis that took down a lot of families that occured in the 80's as well. Or the mortgage interest rate then was around 20% and unemployment was higher.

Oh well......

 

The 8/2 SB provision is bs. 5/5 would be a much better option. Or at least any 2 periods.

 

I was running a 1998 pete 379, 455 cat factory settings and when fuel hit $1.63 a gallon it was taking 40% of my gross and sometimes more to cover fuel. I pulled a flatbed, a good load usually paying around $1.30pm. Since then I have switched over to a 60 series detroit 500hp and the fuel savings blows my mind. Alot of the things you have written in this post are very insightful to me. Thank you. Carrying a computer for fuel, routes and parts is something I have never done or thought of. I have usually just bought everything on the run. As for the fuel, I know places here and there that are cheaper, but often I buy it on the run as well. I guess things are going to change wheather I like it or not, and the way its going one will have to be college educated before long to get behind the wheel. But change is coming and your right, if one is going to make it your going to have to roll with the changes. I like what you wrote about how to save with the little computer I can pack with me, sounds like a good investment. Thank you.

 

It is a good investment, Randall. It is amazing the savings you can get by doing a little research online with a laptop when you are sitting somewhere. You can take advantage of checking out something while it is still fresh in your mind. Fuel is where I probably get the best value in using my laptop on the road, but I also get email alerts from various places when there are specials on parts. The sky is the limit on how you can benefit from a laptop on the road.