Another question, unrelated to sleeping. Do you guys have fuel cards? If so, which one do you use? I actually have a EFS fuel card through TSD logistics for when we RV travel. It’s linked directly to my checking account and draws from it a couple days later. So far, I’ve gotten some real good discounts with TA and Loves.
In truck sleeping vs hotel
Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by AndrewW, Aug 14, 2020.
Page 2 of 4
-
Brettj3876, Lite bug and singlescrewshaker Thank this.
-
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
-
I may have posted this thing before. I think I'm going to order one & give it a shot. I normally do the same as you at dark. Pre cool the truck as cold as I can, then run a just a fan all night with the window up to try & keep the humidity out. Out west, no humidity vents open windows cracked.
Anyway, I think pre cooling with the truck AC, then run the zero breeze AC might be ok.? Then just recharge the units batteries during the day while driving..
I hate to idle, but I idled 17hours, from 4:30pm till 9:30am in south GA last night.!! Ugg..
When you do idle, do you turn on the cruise & bump it to at least 1100rpm or so.? Might help if you have to do it again..Lite bug and 24kHotshot Thank this. -
Yea on the odd occasion I have to idle for more than a half hour I bump up the rpms to 1100. The truck will regen automatically if I dont anyway. If I idle I'll have to start doing oil changes every 2 weeks/5k miles. Between the filters and oil I'll be spending double @ $500 a month + wear and tear and fuel. I'm terrified of the DEF system crapping out on me.singlescrewshaker and Lite bug Thank this. -
singlescrewshaker and Lite bug Thank this.
-
I do both.. I sleep in my truck some nights but also stay in hotels a lot. I don't want to idle my truck which is the biggest reason I stay in hotels because it's simply too hot in the summer to stay in the truck with no AC.
I don't have a truck payment so it works for me but if I was paying $1k/month for a truck payment, then trailer payment and crazy insurance it wouldn't work.. but I just went out for 6 days. CFL to Shreveport then to NC then back to FL. Made $3,5k on that run spent $680 on fuel slept in Hotels for 4 nights which cost me $348. (I stay at specific hotel chains but I shop around for a good rate usually around $70ish)
That run cost me roughly $1k to make $3,5k before monthly expenses and that's with a 2 car trailer which I only hauled 5 cars the entire trip. 2 cars to Shreveport, 2 cars to NC then 1 car down to Jax then home. I only hauled 1 car down to Jax because I ended my trip on Sat and didn't have a load prebooked so I took what I could pick up and drop that day as I drove home.
Even staying at hotels I still pulled roughly $2,5k after trip expenses so to me it's worth it.
To me considering my expenses I consider hotels worthwhile most of the time but once I get north a bit and it's cooler at night I'll usually stay in the truck, but being I tend to run regional runs like I just described I usually end up in hotels more than I'd prefer but it still works financially for me at least due to lower operating expenses than most.
For the record, I'm close to putting a different truck on the road (f550) which will let me run a bigger trailer and do a 3 or 4 car trailer so profit will be going up with not a lot of extra expense added to my runs.Last edited: Aug 16, 2020
autopaint, Lite bug and singlescrewshaker Thank this. -
singlescrewshaker Thanks this.
-
I’d just look at a 2-axle tractor with a sleeper IMO rather than an F-550. (They actually make an F-600 now too with the same super duty cab but a higher GVWR). It will do everything better especially with having air brakes.
singlescrewshaker, Lite bug and Brettj3876 Thank this. -
singlescrewshaker and Lite bug Thank this.
-
tommymonza Thanks this.
-
Oh, if you already have the truck that makes sense. Size and weight wise there is not much difference between a 550 with a long frame on it and a 2-axle class 8. Those new Fords and Rams are capable but I’d rather have a proper big truck with larger bore motor, 10 speed Fuller transmission, heavy duty driveline and rear end, air brakes and a sleeper already on it. Seems like the value there is hard to beat. Plus they are easier to see out of
singlescrewshaker and Lite bug Thank this.
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
Page 2 of 4