Fueling strategies to lower fuel costs

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by cpieren, Jan 3, 2014.

  1. TheLittleGuy

    TheLittleGuy Medium Load Member

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    Oh yeah, my APU saves me 1 mpg, on average. And I love my webasto too.
     
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  3. ‘Olhand

    ‘Olhand Cantankerous Crusty

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    Just wanna throw this out here--since a couple of newer drivers asked--I keep hearing about an xtra trip--or xtra miles--IF you are really planning to become an O/O-even if leased to someone--and by that I mean YOUR equipment--their authority--you need to get the miles per week etc--OUT OF YOUR HEAD--it is about REVENUE--not miles--your goal needs to be: Run the least amount of miles at the HIGHEST revenue---too many newer folks to this industry have been and are bein indoctrinated by the all mighty mile---4000miles a week at $1 a mile jus means you'll go broke a little quicker
    and w/out goin to deep in this--there are MANY ways this can be accomplished and you can be successfull---and even as MCUH as I am AGAINST it--there are some LP guys on this board doin jus that--pick and choose your LOADS very carefully--stop looking for the LONGEST miles--and start looking much more at the time involved--and where it lands you--for starters--
    As for fuel--I think the OP already knows the answer--you can PLAY all the games you want--BUT--the ONLY real fuel savings--IS and always will be YOUR RIGHT FOOT...
    Good Luck
     
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  4. Higb

    Higb Light Load Member

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    In my world I wake at the Receiver, spend 1-5 hours unloading or waiting, 1-2 going to get my next load, 1-3 hours more loading, now I have only had food that is in my truck (and yes I have a microwave and a Kureg Coffee Maker) now I'm rolling I need fuel, I wave the shower b/c I'm already behind and have no time, grab some to go food, and drive my ### off to catch up. That's MY world. Driving 68-72 I'm working 17-18 hour just to get 450-600 miles and if I ran slow I would get more behind. That's how you loose a load. I'm just getting by by the skin of my teeth and my cost is $325 per day before pay to me and fuel to my truck, so a lost day on the road cost me $325 plus $150-$200 pay to me..
    I've ran slow to check the difference and I barely get close to 1mpg more and I have a 2014 KW T680
     
  5. Cetane+

    Cetane+ Road Train Member

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    Albany, NY
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    cpieren Thanks this.
  6. 6 Speed

    6 Speed Heavy Load Member

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    Slow trucking is for rookies and cut throats with time on their hands.
    It is very frustrating and taxing on the body and mind and at the end of the day,"slow trucker" will be 150 miles behind.
    I drive slow from time to time just because,and I barely see any difference.
     
  7. ipogsd

    ipogsd Heavy Load Member

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    I was under the impression that it's a best practice to buy cheapest fueal after tax is deducted.
     
    cpieren Thanks this.
  8. Trafficcontrolxl

    Trafficcontrolxl Medium Load Member

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    If a guy runs legal or even semi legal, he really can't expect to drive mor than 65 hours a week. So don't look just at the long run potential. Focus on practical expectations. I seldom drive all out, instead I drive in the ballpark of 62-65, so I end up averaging a daily speed of 59-60 mph unless schedule dictates I run harder. At 59 mph average times 60 hours I'm driving a week I can sit comfortably in the mid 3k miles per week. Without running my truck into the ground and maintaining a decent fuel cost. It's a marathon, not a sprint to the success finish line.
     
  9. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    Copied in Hell
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    Thread jack Question:

    Is that a Coronado or a Classic? Looks like a post apocalyptic Werner truck. Got any bigger pics? Cool rig.
     
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  10. Dinomite

    Dinomite Road Train Member

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    Looking 4 Rocks
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    So whipping in and out of traffic between trucks and 4 wheelers every 3 minutes isn't frustrating and taxing. Waiting on hole to open up to get from behind the slow truck you ran up on. Getting passed on the right by sooped up civic's when there's only a few feet between you, him, and the trailer or 4 wheeler you are about to pass. Then you do all that and you go into the scale house and everybody you passed have pre pass and now you have to do it all over again. OPEC likes your kind. I'll set my cruise on 62 in a heart beat so I don't have to get in these super trucker's and speedy gonzales 4 wheelers way. In 15 years I have never had a shipper or receiver skip lunch or break to unload me or load me up quick. They take their time. I'm going to take my time and enjoy the ride. That running hard, whiping in and out of traffic is for the young guns, whose eyes sight ain't as bad as this old timer approaching 40. It's nap time. We got the night shift. We beakkkkk quiet.
     
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  11. cpieren

    cpieren Bobtail Member

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    Jan 3, 2014
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    Thank you all so much for the tons of useful information! So to me it seems (but I am by no means a professional driver) you would get better gas mileage if you weren't running on full fuel tanks all the time because of the lesser weight. Would you say this is an accurate statement or is my thinking flawed?
     
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