Small Fuel Tanks

Because not everyone has the common sense to understand that you cant fill 150 gal tanks before picking up a load.

I have twin 150 gal tanks on my truck and I love being able to run 1300 - 1400 miles between fill ups if I had to. So I understand your frustration. But even my boss wont buy any more trucks with 150's. Our newest trucks have 100 and the DEF tank on one side and either another 100 or maybe a 125 if they are lucky on the other. Still more then enough to go over 500 miles but that extra 100 gals they are missing does cut things back a bit.

We run reefers. My truck is very heavy to begin with. I not only have to watch being over on the drives,.. but can easily go over gross with just 44k in the box if I dont watch how much fuel is in my tanks. Hell I have a scale ticket from 3 weeks ago. 43950 lbs in the box according to my bills. With the needle just below 3/4 tank fuel, I scaled out at 79640 with my rears set in the 5th hole to even out the load. Very nose heavy on my drives.

Not everyone can handle the added responsibility that comes with having twin 150's. I wouldnt take it personally. Just know that there were probably many idiots before you that brought your company to opt out on the larger tanks. Its the same with some companies that opt for stationary 5th wheels. They dont teach new students how to slide the 5th wheel or rears while in 'CDL' school,.. much less teach students when, why and how much to slide them.

Hurst

 

Companies don't want to have to rely on driver having to think.....And they believe that the only way to waist a drivers time or energy...In not to use it!...

 

This has been my gripe about the trucking industry since forever....The Shipper always wants MORE....Longer ..Bigger...Heavier....Trucks....Doubbles ...Tripples....Just in time delivery....Storing his freight in our trailers...Purchase new equipment...And we just give it to him FOR FREE

 

It is not that the companies do not want to rely on the drive to think. The truth is that there are to many drivers out there that can not think.

 

But not me and you?

 

My truck has duel tanks the truck draws off of the passenger side and the generator draws off of the driver side. I was explaining to a friend yesterday that the pickup tubes extend to near the bottom of the tank. When we use the generator the driver simply closes one of the valves on the transfer tube. But my friend was insisting that we needed to shorten the generator pickup tube so that we do not run out of fuel. He has. If I screw up and run it dry it will be me priming the engines and paying the bill to get the fuel delivered.

 

but you have to have a base weight to start with. If I'm 36K empty with full tanks, there is no way I can take more than 44K and even attempt to be legal. I know my truck well enough that I can vary my fuel before heading to the customer to make sure I can take the load and get back to Denver. In my case, weight can vary by upt 1,000 lbs across the same container/chassis combo. A steel box on a steel chassis with 3/4 tanks and I'm 36,700. Aluminum box on a painted steel chassis and I'm 35,600 empty, steel box on a galvanized chassis and I'm 35,900. Knowing this, the only variable is fuel, hence I have to adjust accordingly. As a result, with these new trucks, especially the sleeper, the cut down tank will help the driver adjust even better.

 

Some people have a tremendous lack of training, and/or ability to think for themselves. The fact is, that you may have a perfectly good employee there, that never received proper training. Or you may have one who just says, "well, let's see what I can get away with."

Of course he does. Who doesn't want to maximize their profits by cutting their costs. And there are enough majors out there that will drop their drawers and bed over to get the loads. Or rather, pull down their driver's drawers, and force them to bend over.

 

I have no problem with the shipper wanting more ....And not wanting to pay for it......My problem is with us..( The Trucking Industry)..just giving it to him...

Every time you work and don't get payed....Somebody else is able to get payed without having to work...I used to work for a guy ..Years ago.....He had a big sign posted...."Help Wanted...Man To Work For Nothing....Giving Free Estimates"....