Double Yellow's Company Driver to Independent Thread

The guy just prior talking about how to save fuel by driving differently. Csmith random numbers.

 

Yes!!!

@csmith1281 it wasn't until I started pulling loads on a percentage I really recognized the wisdom in this post. When I teamed with my brother and he was getting $1.30 a mile with no fuel surcharge, fuel economy was necessary. He could barely rub two nickels together.

When you are running on percentage or under your own authority AND getting north of $2/mile for all miles, then fuel is a much smaller fraction of total revenue. Then the focus is on maximizing revenue per day or week. Running 60 mph and sipping fuel on the hills ends up losing revenue if you missed an opportunity to get another high paying load or are late on a hot load.

An example is the last 30 hours for me. I ran 70-75 mph last night, fuel be ######. That set me up to get a tank washed this morning without having to start my clock, then drove hammer down to a location to fill the tank with a different product. I will barely have enough hours to complete the delivery (drop the full tanker) and bobtail home IF I hammer down. I will average about 5 mpg on this circuit, but earn about $3 a mile.

 

If you're one that doesn't have loads lined up one after another. By all means. Save your revenue.

Sure, you all don't like to put wear and tear on the truck. But if revenue is all that's on your mind. And the loads are stacking up. You ain't got time for slow. Revenue gained will far exceed the little extra spent in fuel from going faster.

I'd like to see a comparison of loads hauled and revenue made and net income between the 60 mph truck and the 75 mph truck. At the end of the year. The 60 truck might have a little savings over the 75 but the fuel bill will also be lower. And revenue and income will be considerably less.

 

There's quaity of life issues involved, too. I told a driver the only thing I didn't want to know was how fast the truck could go on a tight load from Pocatello to Canon City, CO last week. Was able to make up nearly 2 hrs on the run, and he rolled back into town 7 minutes over his 70. Fuel economy wasn't too great... !!!

Aside from the obvious life balance issue, what's the cost of sitting in a truck for a 34, in fuel, wear and tear, food, drink, recreation, etc?

 

@double yellow set himself up in a good business model. He has other "non-trucking" interests like family and rental properties that kept pulling him away from the truck. He was basically running part time. He made the business decision that he can generate more revenue and wealth by growing his real estate business. Sounds like the trucking business was getting in the way of his personal success.

Rental and real estate is still going strong in Cali. I don't see that changing any time soon.

 

If I'm going to take a load that sets me up so that I will need a 34 then the load (or combination of loads) needs to have that extra days worth of revenue on it.

I figure on paying myself and paying the truck (and trailer) for any day that I'm not sitting on the sofa at home. The equipment needs to get paid for it's fixed costs like all the insurances, tags, permits, and finance/payment. And I'm a butt head about getting paid if I'm not at home on the sofa.

That is a challenge with a mileage based contract, unless you have generous "layover" and other accessory pay.

 

Or increase revenue... which, granted, can only be done over the course of a couple months or a year by managing my hours right. But at least I'm not here squealing like a stuck pig complaining I have no options.

@spyder7723 those "random numbers" are my birthday, which is today by the way. LOL!

 

Well, happy birthday!

 

What would be the -$EV of that wager?

 

I LOVE the E Myth!