Do OO prefer lighter loads due to wear and tear?

I always was amused drivers that sweat over loads weighing more than 30K. I dont give a #### if it is 45K or 47K. Load it up and truck it. The fuel mileage difference is negligible averaging out over time. Wear and tear is exactly the same light versus heavy. The only time heavy messes up equipment is when you're consistently overloading your equipment, now that will tear some #### up. But otherwise the truck was engineered to haul loads. Running light all the time makes your tires wear funky and not last as long but other than that what is the issue here? Maybe it's more to do with an underpowered, poorly maintained, or poorly spec'd truck that cant get out of it's own way with more than 30K lbs?

 

I know what you are say'in...but, would you rather push a wheelbarrow half full of cement blocks, or a full one..for the same $? I run 50% empty miles 50% loaded, my tires wear perfect. Loads average 40- 42,000 which puts me close to 80,000. We have oo here that will not do lumber loads cause of weight and hills. All this hardwood seems to grow in the hills.

 

The heavier you are the more energy it takes to start /stop moving. You use more fuel and wear components out faster: brakes, clutch/driveline, air springs, tires, bearings(drivers like jacking trailers to turn around ) trailer floors etc. Don’t forget to factor in toll weight classes either. The heavier you are, the higher your cost per mile is.

With that being said these trucks are designed to pull heavy weight. I understand where your dad is coming from but there’s no reason to turn down a GOOD paying 35,000 lb+ paying load. There’s just too many loads left on the table if you don’t even consider maybe 30% of the loads out there. My highest paying lane is 30,000-42,000 lb loads.

As far as pricing and weight I’m more willing to haul a light load for slightly cheaper. And I’d rather drive empty than haul a cheaper heavy load.

*** shipper paperwork usually doesn’t include weight of pallets or packaging. That can add 2,000-6,000lbs to what paperwork says

 

Its why I have my own authority versus being leased on to someone else. Hard to complain about crap loads you get when YOUR the one choosing them!

And, I wouldn't have it any other way!!!

 

You know sometimes just the product weighs 79k

 

Most of the coils I haul pay by the hundred weight, so a heavy coil pays more. But, there is a floor. I get paid for at least 40,000 lbs. So I would much rather haul a 24,000 lbs coil than a 39,000 lbs, but I'd rather a 47,000 lb than either of those.

 

Figuring out how many pounds one burns per mile and calculating how much fuel can be put on, and where, is completely out of the question nowadays I guess.

When the reefer load pays by weight, you can bet I always knew if I could put one more box of spuds in the trailer.

 

Following the light load logic, why buy a twin screw tractor? Single drive gets better mileage, weighs less and cost less, buy a 66,000 tag, it cost less , less tires to chain up.
Even better , get a single axle trailer and register for 53000 and then no hiway use tax
OR hire real truck drivers and get the job done. Remember the difference between a puppy and a truck driver, the puppy will grow up and quit whining.

 

Like a few other ppl have said it doesn't really matter. You bought the truck to work it not be a princess. The truck we got this summer has 1.2m on and came with a lift axle. Pulled heavy its whole life and was taken good care of. You wouldn't know its pulled heavy unless you knew the history. As long as you keep up on regular PM it doesn't matter

 

I'm not real sure why some have started on the whining and 'princess' BS. OP asked a question, OP got responses. These responses were people's thoughts and opinions on how to run their business.

H*ll, let's make it personal if you really want to. Do you prefer heavy women or light ones? The wear and tear on your body from those heavy ones can kill you. Argue that.