Do OO prefer lighter loads due to wear and tear?

I am ok with 45k on the flat land, but I dont take anything over 35k to Carolinas

 

Can’t agree more. I had a habit of running 30k or light loads as an owner op and my Cat had a leaking head gasket which I found out about maybe 6 months after the fact.... mainly due to the fact that my loads were so light that the engine never really suffered from the head gasket issue.

I ran heavy bs loads for a month or so and then ran 20k or lighter for a month...

In the end the heavier loads oft paid more but then I burned it all off on fuel. Where as lighter loads paid less but made up for it with not only fuel but far less wear and tear on my tires, engine, trans and diff not to mention brakes.

 

You make a good point about scales....but, unless you have a pre-pass, you're not by-passing...your just slowing down and being put in the left lane. The DOT is still "looking" at you, and not all scales have this feature.

But, I do get what your saying.

 

Light loads all day but you get in areas that have mostly heavier loads you gotta run . The mpg is what I'm mostly worried about .

 

I've never noticed a discernable difference on MPG, light versus heavy...trailers (or bobtsil) definitely make a difference. But, my truck is old.

 

Good reply, thanks for the info. It makes sense that the OO's are the picky ones...the other guys just doing what their told to do.

That's how Id run things too, mix of OO with company trucks, fill in for vacationing drivers.

Do you blame the OO for being picky? It is their neck on the line too. But, if you know what your doing and pay attention, there should never be an issue hauling full loads.

I dont go over 77-78klbs, gross in a van...spread axle flatbed, sure. But, in a van, it's very difficult to get 12klbs on front axle and still be legal on drives. So, 78k is a good cut off...maybe 78.5. Remember, fuel was 7 lbs a gallon. If you burn 200 gal, your 1,400 lbs lighter. BUT...make sure your tanks are full before loading or compensate for it taking less payload.

 

Cue the victim crowd who perpetually think the company's #1 goal is to rook them out of every possible penny by way of governing their truck at 65 mph, telling them which fuel stops are preferred, detention after 2 hours rather than as soon as you bump the dock...etc. The heavy truck can't climb the hill as fast as the lighter truck. Less miles per day. Less money.

These sallys should stay away from reefer......

 

I understand as an owner op who typically gives up at least 10% of their gross or more.. they have every right to be picky. Kind of like saying a customer is too picky at a burger place cuzz his meat wasnt cooked well or we didnt put any veggies on it as he liked.

Thats not being picky thats just wanting what you pay for.

 

Or what you're getting paid for.