Mercer

Just a quick FYI about the engine oil. All you have to do is pre filter it before you use it and also dont be the one to use it in a DPF truck.... Just make a little setup for it with a small pump and a couple filter setups from a tractor supply store. That will clean it enough where it will run your truck fine and also not do anything to your fuel filter. O yeah I would not suggest using it below about 40 degrees also atleast if it is in large amount of over 1/2 your tank. Might be to thick.

 

Katz,

we can't do much about fuel price, but understanding how fuel surcharges are calculated is important. for the most part they are based on a truck getting 6mpg, that has been the standard for quite some time. FSC is intended to offset the price difference between fuel at around 1.25/gl and the current price. If you are getting over 6mpg then the pays a higher percentage of your actual fuel cost. If you religiously keep track of mileage (like at www.mygauges.com ) you can see changes as you upgrade your truck, and the seasonal differences like the drop in mpg during winter months for those who run in the north. Blended diesel has less BTUs/gl and thus less power.

At some point as fuel price, and thus FSC, increases, the FSC alone will pay for the fuel cost. Knowing not just your mpg but your fuel cost per mile lets you know exactly where you stand. Most people do NOT accurately track mileage and cost.

I've looked at BullyDog but don't think it is available for my engine, 1998 N-14.

High flow air filters should help too, I'm looking into that. After you get above 7mpg each change you make that improves mpg will have less effect, but of course in the long run it all adds up. I figure by the time I get my truck exactly the way I want it then it will be time to get rid of it. Or someone will crash into it. I lost a brand new Freightliner, six weeks old and never made first payment, when I got turned over in a windstorm in WI, 100+ mph winds. Weather service only could measure to 100 so they don't really know. It was pretty wild. Insurance company not happy, and what, did they think I was happy about the whole ordeal?

 

One of very few complaints I have about Mercer (or Landstar for that matter) is FSC is included in the rates you see on the board. Some areas, like CA, CO, UT among others, I don't see higher FSC being reflected in the rates.

I adjust my minimum rate accordingly, but it seems the selection of loads keep getting narrower and narrower.

I'll check out the link you posted. Thank you. I've been keeping track of my fuel consumption on my own spreadsheet and I attached the screen shot. In addition to usual mileage, mpg, etc, I also keep track of the height and weight of loads.

My friend is leased to STI (high-value segment of North American). He and his wife get paid by miles, plus separate FSC. Their best year was 2008 due to high FSC.

You're right. I think they only have it for ISX or ISM.

http://www.bullydogbigrig.com/cummins_power_pup.php

This was part of the reason why I chose BD over PDI tune. When time comes to get a new truck (which may never happen if EBOR is madated to O/O trucks), I can either transfer BD to the next truck provided it has a CAT, or I can sell it on Ebay.

I've been trying to find a dry, non-oiled highflow air filter myself.

The following is a second-hand info, but the filter oil (especially if used excessively) tends to stick to compressor blade, charge cooler, etc, attracting whatever dust that gets through and cause damage. Us flatbedders go to some dusty places, so I'm a little weary of wet filters.

I'm sorry to hear that.

 

looks like you have a good grip on tracking fuel, way better than most. Again it takes a lot of discipline to keep the records. That's the difference between drivers that run a business and those that just drive a big truck.

As far as separating the FSC from the linehaul rate, I don't think it really matters, we do get to see it on the settlement. Bottom line is if you know you true cost per mile you know whether a rate is acceptable to you or not. Would you turn down a load at $4/mi if there was no fuel surcharge? Likewise if the surcharge was 1.50/mi but the linehaul was only 80¢ would you say no due to the 'cheap rate'. The total rate is all I concern myself with. Consider the weight, does it tarp, what's the weather and terrain, all that stuff.

I don't know of any dry reusable air filters yet, but if they were made of the right synthetic material they should stand up to being washed and rinsed if done right. Maybe that's why most of them use paper, they know it won't last. Just replaced mine yesterday and it was pretty nasty. Enough that I wonder if it has affected my mpg. I don't have a restriction gauge on my air intake to know how bad it was.

 

Katz, this is from YOUR state ... and what is going to hurt those of us with older but perfectly good trucks. Right out of a load posting now ...

"DRIVER MUST HAVE A 2004 OR NEWER TRUCK AND
A CLEAN AIR CERTIFICATE"

Another load I can't pick up. $2.55/mi

 

I know shingles pay better but my travel agent let good paying loads to KS? ( was that an oxymoron?) in hope of that gravy run....and all we got was pebbles.....lol I mean Pueblo

 

Point taken. At current fuel price, I'd take either of your example loads provided they aren't 50-mile runs.

Looks like mygauges.com doesn't support Internet Explorer. I don't want to install any extra on this loaner computer, so I'll have to wait until I get mine fixed.

One habit I have to change is I almost always take minimum amount for fuel advance. Hence lots of "N/A"s in MPG column of my spreadsheet as I often don't have enough on my card to fill up.

Donaldson-Amsoil's Powercore filter is a dry variety, if I'm not mistaken. They offer those for select Freightliners (don't know which kind), but not for KW as far as I know.

It's not just truckers who are suffering, but local farmers, road construction companies, and anyone/any business who use diesel equipments. Or anyone who runs any kind business for that matter.

The state is controlled by people who think groceries grow on store shelves and blacktop and concrete are naturally-occuring substances. Then they keep electing those hyper-liberal Democrats, each time expecting different result. And you know what the definition of insanity is.

Producers are fleeing out of the state, and there's ever increasing number of "Welfare is my constitutional right!" crowd. I'm getting out before sheyat hits the fan.

I only hope this lunacy doesn't spread to neighboring states.

 

Must be a port load!

 

Katz ... I didn't realize mygauges.com wasn't suitable for IE ... no real loss I never use that anyway. But, good to know. That site handles the partial fuel-ups just fine. One thing though is you have to know your price per gallon, which we don't have unless you call TCH or go to their site and see how much you actually paid. Then have to calculate by total price and gallons. But it is easy enough to do and I like the results it shows you.

REDD ... yeah, a port load, not a container so no transfer from one trailer to another. CA is trying to outlaw that practice now real hard, they want us all to be green.

Where is everybody this weekend?

 

what's wrong with port loads? I used to go 3-5 time into my local philly port, a day?