Fuel planning

I fuel up at the beginning of the day, every day. Time saved will more than offset fuel prices. And this is especially crucial if you're on elogs. You don't want to fuel up after you have started your clock.

 

Seriously? How does that math add up?

Assuming you pay for fuel......

If you run 600 miles per day at a average of 7.5 MPG, that means you burn at least 80 gallons. If fuel down the road is 30¢ less, that means an extra $24 spent?

Going on duty for 15-30 minutes in a 14 hour period does not affect productivity through out the day, especially if you incorporate the mandated 30 minute break.

As a company driver, I can possibly understand that logic....as an O/O or L/P, it is not good business sense.

 

I COULD pay less for my fuel by using the company's fuel card at the big chains, where I'd get their cost-plus discount rather than paying the pump price. Personally, I'd rather pay the pump price across the street at the independent fuel stop that's 15-20 cents per gallon cheaper than the big chain's advertised pump price even if it is still higher than the discounted rate the company receives. I don't think it is right to charge people different prices for the same commodity, especially when some of the largest carriers are getting cost-MINUS discounts. That's why the chains overcharge everybody else who isn't "big" enough to qualify for any other discounts...they have to make up for the losses they see selling to the large fleets. Hell, even the merchandise inside on the shelves is 3x what it would cost to buy a similar (but better quality) item up the road.

Like I've been saying, if the ATA really wants to "level the playing field" as they claimed in pushing elogs and speed limiters, they ought to happily pay full retail price for everything they need just like the rest of us. As long as they don't, I'm going to do what I can to NOT subsidize them by staying away from those businesses who give them ridiculously large discounts and raise prices for everybody else to make up for it. Want proof? Drive past any "Road Ranger/Pilot" and compare the "truck" diesel price to the "auto" diesel price. Same commodity, brought from the same hub. One off-loaded into Pilot-owned tanks and priced to make up for the discounts given to large carriers. The other off-loaded into Road Ranger-owned tanks where nobody is subsidizing the purchase of anybody else's fuel.

 

On paper. Fuel everyother day. Fueling lands around when i gotta log a 30 minute break. I hate logging that break then going down the road a tad to log fuel.

.25 line 4 for fuel.
.50 line 1 for 30 minute break.

 

If you get Level 1 inspected, and you're not a union driver who never fuels the truck, you may have a hard time explaining how you've driven for days and have not logged any fuel stops

 

If your truck averages $80-$100/hour, and you total up the time it takes to slow down, find your way into a fuel stop, wait for the idiot ahead of you in line to finish his 30 and GTF out of the way, pump your fuel, pull forward & sign the ticket, make your way back out to the highway, and get back up to speed. If it takes you 30 minutes, it has cost you twice as much in TIME as it saved in lower price. By fueling at the start of your day at the fuel stop where you stopped for the night, your 14 begins at the pump.

 

I fuel in the middle of the day often enough. I combine it with a 30 minute break and shower since I get a fair amount at independent places. I know some people think that is stupid or a waste of time but it works well for me. I also never have to wait for someone to finish their 30 minute break at the pump.

 

Sorry, but I have to stick to my original argument. Regardless of the truck income per hour, you can still achieve your goal daily. That's why we have a additional 3 hours to deal with our on duty stuff: pre trips, post trips, fuel, loading/unloading, and all the other work stuff that is required.

Taking my earlier example of a potential $24 extra expense for fuel and do that only 2x per week and you're looking at an extra $192 per month in expenses.

So I ask again, HOW is the extra time it may take to fuel at a place that will save you money not worth it???

Think about this.....trying to justify a PROPER pre trip AND fuel in a 15 minute segment may not fly with some uppity D.O.T inspector. Banning comes to mind...