Running with JCT, Part Deux

I run on recaps all the time and still run for fuel economy. Which for me is 63mph @1250rpm. If the load can't make it running at that speed, I have no problem putting in for a swap. I swap the load to Auburn, Wa because I was an hour short of OTD. Could I have made it at 67mph, yes, but why sacrifice my fuel economy for no additional pay? Don't let the load dictate your earnings.

 

I'm on the swap board for this load. 16 hours available against 992 miles to go. Touch and go if I can make it going full max speed where I can and running into traffic and work zones etc. Will top off one more time before delivery and expect to be ever closer to 7.5 mpgs.

 

You will get closer to the 7.5mpg by running the truck at the sweet spot. Weather you do or not is up to you. But don't expect high fuel economy by running a 58-63mph (depending on gear ratio and @ 1250rpm) truck at 68.

I personally don't run against the governor at all for safety reasons. If a steer tire blows, you will need that reserve power to keep the truck on the road. I also use it to get around a 62mph truck in a timely manner. Then it's right back to 63.

 

The Wilco Hess in Wildwood, Fl is converting to a PFJ tomorrow.

 

That's a shame I liked the wilco.

 

They can make it whatever they want as long they keep the Steak n Shake.

 

Anyone ever deliver to Sygma in charlotte, nc? I heard it sucks. I've never been there before, so I just want to know what I'm getting myself into.

 

Been running real hard all day, SensorTRACS is showing 7.9 mi/g which is reflective of the flatter ground I've been on-- started in OK City now in Jackson TN, compared to Arizona and New Mexico which killed my mi/g

 

I wouldn't go by that. There is nothing on the truck that can accurately measure fuel economy. The ECM is just guessing. It can be used as a tool to see if what you doing is helping or hurting fuel economy, but only if you can see it while you drive.

 

This is my opinion, and only my opinion. No judgement being passed on anyone.
While JCT's pay scale is towards the bottom of the industry, they do provide some additional perks that make the company a little more appealing, i.e. FSC on MT miles, paid empty @ full rate, pay for all tolls, etc.

That being said, we are currently earning $1.10/ mile on paid miles. Even with no expenses at all, that amount is going to be lower as we hardly ever run the exact paid miles. Figure around $1.00/mile.

So now the goal is to keep as much of that $1.00/mile as possible.

The biggest, largest, single most important factor that will help us keep as much of that as possible is fuel, broken down into 2 categories: how much we buy it for & how much we consume.

1. I've always been an advocate of buying as much of the cheapest fuel you can whether you need it or not. Now before anyone starts hollering "I don't need that fuel for this trip" or "that'll put me in the negative" or whatever, keep this in mind.
YOU ARE GOING TO BURN DIESEL NO MATTER WHAT. Driving, putt putting around parking lots, idling, or using an APU. The goal is to burn the cheapest fuel you can. Why burn $2.29 fuel when you can burn $2.09 fuel. You're gonna use it so use the cheapest fuel.
The matter of making less profit on a trip......sure, it'll be less, but then again, that's that much less fuel you'll need for the next trip.

2. Fuel usage. Everyone knows that the higher your MPG is, the less fuel you burn and the more money you'll keep.
Just look at some simple numbers.
We'll take 10k per month and the current national average minus 10¢. ($2.487 - 10¢ = $2.387)

@ 6.5 MPG = 1538.46 gallons = $3672 in fuel.
@ 7.0 MPG = 1428.57 gallons = $3410 in fuel.
@ 7.5 MPG = 1333.33 gallons = $3182 in fuel.
@ 8.0 MPG = 1250.00 gallons = $2984 in fuel
@8.5 MPG = 1176.47 gallons = $2808 in fuel.
Most guys I've spoken to are happy with their 7.0 MPG. More power to you, but if you increased it to 7.5 MPG, you'd save an additional $228/month or $2736/year.

Sure, not a humongous savings, but combine that with cheap fuel and that number multiplies.

Fuel, 2 ways, is within your control.....CONTROL IT. Never let a load dictate you business profits or losses. So you have to swap, swap and keep rolling and accumulate miles on 2 different loads instead of 1.

Ok, said my peace.....best of luck to all.