Cutting Cost

Don't forget what this thread is about! Saving money! How you spend that saved money isn't my business or the topic of this thread. I am simply stating one way to save money is don't buy unneeded accessories.

 

I've started cooking some meals in the truck.It saves some money,more relaxing and u dont have to listen to all the calling out the federal marshal stories from nuckle head drivers.lol Also I try to keep on top of any issue that might creep up.Must work cause I've never had a repair issue out on the road.

 

There ya go, oneshot. You got it figured out.

I am home each weekend, so I prepare a batch of meals there and put them in the truck fridge and use a 12v meal heater to heat them up and eat. Make my own coffee as well. I am pretty much self contained in this truck. I have movies and t.v. shows on the laptop and can watch Fox news video clips on the iPhone.

I do my own oil changes and lubes. I get a very good 50% synthetic blend oil delivered free to my house for $9 a gallon. I put the used oil in another barrel and they haul it away for free when they deliver the next oil. Except for major repairs, I will generally turn my own wrenches and do a lot of repairs. I do a lot of internet searching for parts and pricing. Have a couple of local parts suppliers that have pricing closer to wholesale than resale that I use a lot.

Main thing is, I plan my runs, don't waste time screwing off, and drive more moderately to stretch my fuel better. I don't drive like grandma, but I sure avoid trying to get poll position at Daytona out here.

Results? The first quarter, after all expenses, repairs and maint, fuel, health ins, estimated tax set aside, truck payment.... everything except what I pay myself... my cost per mile on ALL miles the truck turned (loaded, empty) came in at around .86 a mile. Base rate I get is around .99 average with a .48 FSC. You can figure out how much was my Net per mile.

Oh yeah.... I don't do chicken lights and chrome all over the place. The only chrome is what came on the truck when I bought it. I painted the fuel tanks because I HATE to waste time shining aluminum. I do like the truck clean and I did shell out a few hundred when I bought the truck and had some decent looking graphics made up (you know.. the name on the door, truck number, etc). Otherwise... if it doesn't make me money or save me money, it doesn't go on the truck.

 

Preventative maintenance is called "preventative" for a reason. It saves the time, cost and lost wages associated with unexpected repairs. Do it you self and save even more!

Tires are crucial. Cheap tired often cost more in the long run. More expensive tires may actually have a lower cost of ownership. Some tires just roll further and do so mre efficiently. Carry good spares but more importantly change them before they become a problem. A tire bought at home will always be less costly then a tire bought on the road. Learn to do it yourself and you'll save even more.

Someone said that fuel is your largest controllable expense. It's absolutely true! Everybody wants to use less... But what about how to buy it cheaper?

I'm lucky enough to live in a refining town in an oil state. Fuel is almost always cheaper for me at home and seems to get more expensive the further I am from home. So I always leave town with s full tank of cheap fuel and arrive back home as near to empty as possible. Also, if I see a good price somewhere I pull in and top off. Even if I still have 1/2 to 3/4's showing on the gauge. But if I'm running in an area with high fuel prices, and need to buy some, I only buy enough to get me to the cheaper fuel. (BTW, I drive a pre-ULSD truck in a post-ULSD world. I see verifiable power and mileages gains by using fuel additives. Lucas is my favorite but others work too. I see proof of these gains in my quarterly IFTAR filings.)

I also pack and prepare my own food and drinks. But sometimes I just don't have the time or desire for another "truck cooked" meal. So in that case I'll let my "driver rewards" points pay the bill. Or better yet... Buy fuel somewhere that gives a free meal with purchase.

There's so much more but my thumb is tired of typing on my phone. Lol.

Just work smarter, not harder.

 

Knowledge, self sufficiency and compliance will prevent almost every unexpected cost.

 

When you drive your own truck. If you own trucks and hire drivers, the driver is the single largest controllable expense.

 

100% true!!! Everyone loves to preach aerodynamics to increase fuel mileage, goofy snake oil gadgets like air tabs and fail to realize the driver makes all the difference. A good driver in a W9 or 379 can bury a bad driver in a bubble truck for fuel savings. Ever wonder why companies castrate the HP and speed and turn on engine settings like progressive shifting. Because they know most steering wheel holders can't govern themselves. Most successful owner operators have their right foot connected to their brains through their wallets. Very rare to find a company driver this way.

Most OO's could save a ton of money just by planning ahead. Had a friend (out of business now and driving for a company) who wouldn't buy tires unit he absolutely needed them and was desperate. Then he was at the mercy of the tire shop. Used the worthless Pacific Pride fuel card without ever checking the price. Would jump around different tire and truck repair shops instead of finding a good place and building a good relationship with them. The stupidity never ceased with him, his alternator was slowing dying. But instead of picking one up and replacing it over a weekend he let it go and paid a shop to do it on the road. His 2hr $200 repair job a monkey could do, cost him over $400 because he didn't plan ahead.

 

I yanked all the doo-dads off of my truck... even built a new bumper in my shop and painted it battleship gray... if it shines it ain't mine!

There are some wholesale fuel dealers who will fill your fuel tanks from their delivery trucks and give you wholesale pricing... there's a retired AMOCO dealer here in town who used to do that. I'm trying to find another now... my son fuels at a trucking companies' fuel pumps and gets a 31 cent discount because he pays cash... and he gets 51 cetane fuel.

 

eating in the truck will save you alot of money.I had a fridge with freeze and micro.you will eat healthier and lose weight too,crock pot and lunchbox heaters are good too

 

There's a relatively new single burner butane camp stove on the market. It's light weight and starts with the twist of a knob just like you gas stove at home. I've seen them in the truck stops for $29. I got mine at the sporting goods store for $19.