O/O please tell me there is Money in hauling fuel !!!!

Yea brother, I hear you and share your goals, man. The guy I know fairly well, I also met on the rack when I began. He's semi-retired and has been driving for 43 years. He can run more but chooses not to. He's content rising early, getting to the rack long before the roosters crow and being home early afternoon which is why he runs easy and only a load or two per day. He has his own authority and says he wouldn't have it any other way. I talk to him about his gigs but he's very selective regarding the information he lets out. He's a crusty old seasoned driver with a mouth like a sailor but once you get to know him he's a straight shooter and has no problem telling it how it is in regard to the negatives in the industry. I'm learning a lot from him but have many more questions.

For example, I was told (by another driver, so take it for what it's worth) that some companies actually purchase the fuel and resell it to the customer, on paper anyway, which is all factored into what they charge. I know what I earn often factors to anywhere from .89 to $1 per mile, sometimes a bit less, sometimes much more (for local runs). Using this scale I can often figure out a ballpark on what the customer is paying and I had one customer who flat out volunteered what he paid for a tank load and when I did the math, realized there is serious cash to be made. The way I figure it, a driver interested in becoming an owner op hauling fuel can make serious bank if he has a small, dedicated fleet (even two or three trucks) and only needs one or two steady customers. I haven't even begun to look into the logistics regarding what one needs to haul fuel with your own authority but I'm betting it's a red tape nightmare once insurance and requirements are tossed into the mix.

 

The o/o's ive talked to have said that you have to have a truck that is paid for to make a living at it. a few years ago it was much better from what i am told.
i know that through the years some have gone never seen them again, and one who had five trucks and has down sized to one, but he told me it was because of his driver's cross droping costing him to much money.
but like 900,00 said they are all a little tight liped about it
glad you posted this i have had the same idea. getting paid more for what im already doing

 

i'm curious as to the truck to tall thing. i would think you'd need a little height. so that the tank slanted a little backwards in order to max gross weight.

i used to pull single bore tanks hauling bio fuel. 77.5 was max we could haul. drives would hit 34.4 while trailer was only 31.4. if we had higher 5th wheels. we could have leveled the weight balance more evenly.

 

hmmm I dunno Snowwy,definitely out of my expertise. But that's what I was told one time when I inquired. Guess ill just have to keep digging and see.. I'm sure a fuel hauler will come on here soon enough and share ... (Waiting...tick tock tick tock)

 

I wouldn't hold my breath for that much starting out. You are not going to be given the gravy loads over guys w/10+yrs any time soon unless they are behind. Where I work the big money makers are doing jet, RaceTrac for Energy Dispatch that they can't handle, Costco and a few others. QT cut their rates so they won't haul them. Do some Murphys but they are cut rate as well. Murphys sells up to 20% bio diesel so the 2nd stop to put more of that crap in pays $50 extra and makes it OK. Also hauling ethanol from say FT Worth to Tyler. Ethanol sucks but the more they require the more work for us hauling it. Then diesel from Tyler to Hillsboro {Frost}area and maybe catch a load back to DFW from there. I think they get 67% of gross + FSC. The top ones might gross $4k a week working 6 days. But again they are going to get the creme off the top and you are going to get the ducus for quite a while. Most have older trucks paid for. Like all OO the smart ones who work make good living and the lazy stupid ones starve. Hope that helps a little. Don't buy what you hear at racks. No different then the liars at truckstops. I may go that route after a couple yrs of company if I choose. So far the company gig has been good.

 

Ewww $4000.00 gross and only for "the chosen" will not end well for someone just coming on!

 

Tank has 3-5 compartments... So you can balance out your weight/products, etc. Truck I drive hauls 4200/1500/3000. Puts me right at 12k on the steers, just shy of 34k on drives, and just under 34k on trailer. Every truck/trailer is different though. We have 3 and 4 compartment trailers, and haul between 8350 and 8700 gallons depending on the truck/trailer configuration.

 

Rates on fuel are in the tank, like everything else. The majors are dumping their trucks and the local bulk haulers have driven the rates down trying to get the work. You won't make 5k a week as a new guy anywhere up my way..

And doing 5 loads of gas a day isn't the norm..... With traffic and lines at the racks etc.... 3-4 is more realistic .


ps the truck to tall is probably about the sleeper or stack height not the 5th wheel height .

 

I average 4-5 a day, some days 6. All depends on lines, what time the night guy got back, and most importantly... Dispatch. They can decide to keep me real close, or let me get out a bit.

 

no problem here. if you drove only 1000 miles and gross that much then your net would be decent amount of money.