How broke were you when you entered the trucking business ?

With this reply, keep in mind I'm not OTR any more and recently transferred to a dedicated regional account and they run that entirely different. They run the OTR similar to the megas, but the dedicated accounts are a whole different animal. We are asked to use a Loves as primary and a PF/J as secondary but we can fuel wherever we want to. Our fuel cards work anywhere that takes T-check whereas the OTR fleet driver's cards will only work at a Loves or P/FJ. If they are in a jam and need fuel at a TA/Petro or wherever they have to call to get authorization and the fuel dept will open up the card for that one store and for just enough to get them to a Loves or P/FJ. But to share on how we do fuel for 99% of the fleet:

Along with the load assignment message, my company sends the OTR drivers a "fuel optimized" route, which is half arse "fuel optimized" and mostly "most direct" which can be the longest time-wise and depending on topography, much worse on MPG because you have a heavy load dragging steep grades on slow back roads when the extra 20 or 30 miles on flatter interstates would have been much better on MPG in the end. It will also have a fuel stop in it. The software looks at where you emptied out and where you are going for next pick up and delivery and how much fuel you have in your tank (which you told it when you sent your empty call - always tell it you have 1 notch less than you really do. Keep a reserve). The software monitors state's average prices and then selects a Loves or P/FJ along the "fuel route". The software knows we use Loves and P/FJ but isn't set up for a "preference" (why is beyond me - they can write the software code to do all that but not set a preference?) so the company tells you to look at it and if it doesn't send you to a Loves and you know there's one you can get to without going stupid outta route or running real low, then go to the Loves. Loves is primary, but you can go to a P/FJ if you need to. Can't go anywhere else without prior authorization.

There are so many Loves now that this has never been an issue for me. They're popping up faster than truck stop guides can keep up with them. I'd have had to have pushed my fuel down to the "don't go there" point to be in a jam. Oh, and while we're on fuel: One of the first things I learned in this biz (the hard way) was the only thing that will lie to you faster than a fuel gauge when the float gets down to 1/4 is an ex spouse or G/BF. Do NOT trust a fuel gauge at or below 1/4. I found it best practice (by running out of fuel when the gauge said I had a little under 1/4) to consider 1/4 as empty and plan my fuel stop accordingly.

 

Yeah, I'm not real familiar with Wilco or the others since they have never been on any of the companies I worked for authorized stop lists. They always used one of the mega chains/ franchises. Now that Pilot and Flying J and TA and Petro are joined it's kinda like just a couple chains dominate the industry with all the megas fueling there and the smaller chains get the smaller companies and independents/ OO's.

 

Yes, but back then your trucks had stone wheels and you used your feet to accelerate and brake... 😜

 

(b)Lowe's??? 😁

 

How broke am I??

Well, we barely make enough to pay the house payment and most of the bills, we're falling behind on the credit cards because we have to use them to keep living. We're leaning hard on our younger son to pay back his debt in larger and larger payments, because he is WELL employed and can afford to help his old folks out. We're trying to hold out long enough to get to June and get unemployment from the enforced layoff (school bus drivers, the both of us) to carry us long enough to get me thru school and into a truck.

It's gonna be close...

EDIT: Oh, and the house payments jumped $600 a month because they goofed on the escrow; but they're gonna drop $400 this month because they got caught up.

 

im actually filthy rich and just wanted to see how you peasant truck drivers lived

 

We have solutions for you 1%ers:

 

Ever think about taking a shower? Might get some of that filth off ya!

 

That thing I posted should lop the stink right off of him...

 

gonna need to hog that hole out a little bit, don't think mine would fit in there