Do Any O/O's Run Strickly at 55MPH?

As long as I remember MI has 55 min posted speed limit, forgot the last time I was there. Myself I keep it around 60 with 10 sp tranny I know thats the best speed for my engine, done it, tested too many times. The slower I go the better fuel economy I get, talking about my truck, everyones truck spec'd differently.
Well I pulled at $4-5 rate and would still keep it around 60 If I had enuff time to deliver on time.

A little math 8000 miles per month/6mpg=1333 g with $3.80 per gallon=$5065.
8000/7.5(My lowest mpg)=1066g with$3.80 per gallon=$4050
Thats at least $1000 a month, 12 months and thats $12.000!!!
Not counting tire wear.
You can make your truck payment or pay your rent + cell phone bill and more, and thats what I do!
And seriously how many trucks you see flying (70+)these days in 75 states???
Most drivers are doing around 62-65! I used to do 70-75 all the time back in '07 but not anymore.
About logs logging at 55. If you dont have to do more 605 per day then you have nothing to worry about.

 

You have not been around ambulance chasers much have you. You can be doing everything right,safe and some nonworking recipient class east of skin n bones plowed into you you will be looked at and if any thing is out of order your done. Im an o/o and do not run 75 in nm or az but do stay with the flow of traffic 55 is a hazard do what you want.

 

I read in one of the little truck stop magazines (the free ones you can pick up on the way inside) that there's an O/O for Dart who runs 55 and gets about 8mpg.

 

As long as you're running the MINIMUM speed, you will not get a ticket.

A friend of mine got a ticket for obstructing....oh did I mention he was dragging an axle on the ground, LOL. Come on......

I'd love to see a show of hands of how many people got a ticket for driving the minimum speed with a truck in perfect working condition. Would certainly never happen where I drive.

 

With my truck i get 6.5 with the cruise set on 70.
I tried running 60 on a couple trips and only got 6.8 mpg.
It is when i get over 75 she eats the fuel.It drops to 5.8

Every truck is going to be different and i blame my poor mileage on all that pollution crap on these new trucks.Plus my heavy right foot....

 

2005 kenworth w900 with a twin turbo accert cat. so i had to be very careful with my driving habits or the mpg went south in a real hurry !! Im not driving that rig anymore, i took a new job hauling b train tankers in canada only, so loaded at 137000 pounds now. I am glad i got to try out different techniques in the w900 so i know what to try in the rig ive got now. To answer your question about logging legal at 55 you will only have to fudge your log if your trying to go more miles than you can at 55 in 11 hours. It would be no different for a guy running any speed but trying to go further than that speed would legally get him in 11 hours. I think the question you might be wanting to ask is " can an o/o who runs at 55 consisitently make a profit due to the lower miles he covers in a fiscal year?"

 

not an owner op here but my boss would fire me in an instant if i ran 55 on the big roads all the time theres a reason why the slowest truck in the fleet is governed at 78 he likes it when we run 70-75 with a 100k gross on as far as fuel milage goes 05 kenworth w900L 475 twin turbo cat 18 spd pulling over 100k gross average is 4.50 mpgs

 

I run 55, but it's easy for me because I am on the west coast. Using your numbers (kinda), if you get 7 mpg at 60 and 8 mpg at 55 (fuel at $4 gal) then driving slower nets you about 7 cpm.

I don't have a need to fudge my log book. I have a regular run that requires me to drive 550 miles in one day. I usually end up taking 10.5 drive hrs to do it in.

Go where your numbers take you.

 

He would save a truckload of money if he slowed you guys down, prolly enuff to buy another truck AND pay the driver.

 

One foot on the brake and one on the gas, hey!
Well, there's too much traffic, I can't pass, no!
So I tried my best illegal move
A big black and white come and crushed my groove again!
CHORUS:
Go on & write me up for 125
Post my face, wanted dead or alive
Take my license n' all that jive
I can't drive É 55! Oh No! Uh!
So I signed my name on number 24, hey!
Yeah the judge said, "Boy, just one more
I'm gonna throw your ### in the city joint"
Looked me in the eye, said, "You get my point?"
I said "Yeah!, Oh yea!"
CHORUS II:
Write me up for 125
Post my face, wanted dead or alive
Take my license, all that jive
I can't drive É 55!
Oh, yea!
I can't drive 55! (four times)
Uh! (Solo)
When I drive that slow, you know it's hard to steer.
And I can't get my car out of second gear.
What used to take two hours now takes all day.
Huh - It took me 16 hours to get to L.A.!
CHORUS:
Go on & write me up for 125
Post my face, wanted dead or alive
Take my license n' all that jive
I can't drive 55!
No, no, no, I can't drive...(I can't drive 55!)
I can't drive... (I can't drive 55!)
I can't drive 55!