Help Needed with College Case Study

LOL I always wounder how that was a better trade off.. use more fuel to make cleaner emissions.. I am positive if you compared the emissions to what it takes to have it pumped, transported,refined, transported to the fuel pump it actually is worse then just running without and letting them get better fuel millage.. The only people to gain probably is the oil companies and giving people a false impression they are getting cleaner air because of the new emission laws..

 

1. It hasn't affected the way I CHOOSE to drive. I've always used progressive shifting here and had excellent fuel mileage. However, they still turned the truck's speed down to 63MPH on the pedal, 61MPH on the cruise, which means my right foot is real tired at the end of the day.
2. As often as I look at them. I usually read the fuel stops and if I don't already know the location, I'll look it up on a map. My new DSR said he expects me to follow the routing. As far as I know, I am, seeing as I choose the route I find most practical. In fact, I'll sometimes be 100+ miles down the road before I even receive my fuel routing.
3. I know of them, I don't know any personally.
4. Something like 1/3 of ours are. Usually the students fresh out of orientation and the trainers.
5. I put in whatever's in the fuel lane I pull up in. It's either #2 diesel or the 5% biodiesel.
6. 63 on the pedal, 61 on the cruise.
7. Perhaps not putting people with oil investments in power and pulling out of these wars would help.
8. Fuel's back down, my speed's not back up.

 

Just a little more on the routing . The routing I have seen just factors the shortest distance . It can't calculate how much fuel is used and how much extra wear is put on the truck going through traffic on secondary roads . Besides redlights hazmat drivers always have to stop at railroad crossings . If a trip takes 8 hours to go 400 miles on secondary roads and using mostly interstate will also take 8 hours but be 450 miles , which route do you think will use less fuel ? That's the case with a run we have from KY to Chicago . Most drivers run I-64 to I-65 avoiding traffic and construction on US 41 .
We also have drivers that claim it takes less fuel when going from KY to Northwestern S.C. to go to Atlanta then I-85 North rather than take I-40 through the gorge . I don't agree with that one unless you ran Atlanta in the middle of the night or there was likely to be snow or ice through the gorge .

 

1. How has the increase in the price of fuel affected the way you drive?
- Have you slowed down to conserve fuel? Nope

2. How often do you follow the routes/directions the company provides when you are dispatched? 99% of the time

3. Do you know of many owner/operators who have stopped driving because of the fuel prices? no

4. Are your tractors equipped with auxillary power units? no

5. Are you or your company looking into using alternative fuels, such as biodiesel or biogas, in your tractors? I have been. Can't say for the company

6. Does your company restrict the speed of your tractors? If so, to what speed? 6-mph

7. Do you feel the government (local, state, or federal) should be doing something about the high fuel prices? Gods no. They should butt-out of the whole thing entirely

8. Any other comments/suggestions you would like to share

 

#1 Yes I have slowed down a bit,
#2 As for company routing it is not a hard and fast rule. I have gone out of route to save fuel, IE. a route that has fewer hills and less traffic if it will work.
#3 Yes.
#4 some of our trucks have APU's on them but not all. mine does and I am mostly Happy with it.
#5 Not that I am aware of.
#6 We are governed to 65 mph before the first of the year we were governed at 68mph
#7 Do not want government involved, why so they could control more of my life. They already say when and how much I can make. I am a company driver.
#8 Good luck and hope this helps.

 

The system says my message is too short cause' I just copied and pasted it on here and answered the questions directly after they are asked. Hence the useless, added verbage here.

 

Ha! we know you just like to hear yourself talk!