Looks like you are having a hard time with your truck. Did you try to request to change it?
Spoke To A Recruiter
Discussion in 'Prime' started by Emolson, Aug 14, 2012.
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On the lease side, its all about cost containment, and the deal is the fuel bill. Driving any faster than you need in order to make your appointments is just jacking up the fuel bill. Do I hit 65 at times? You betcha! But only when the schedule dictates it. The rest of the time its as slow as I need to get to that next appointment on time, and safely.
Dead-heading is a great time for any of you to get some fuel economy back. Zepplin's trainer charges around at 65 with an empty trailer. Yeah, you can do that - but your fuel mileage is going to be tons better if you're driving at 55. Pulling a new trailer at just under 80,000 lbs I can easily get 8.5 mpg running at 50. Pulling a 2xxxx trailer at just under 80,000 lbs and 65 mph we're talking just above 6 mpg.
Now this is a lousy comparison, but so you understand the kind of money we're talking about over the course of ONE year - say 130,000 miles at $4 per gallon. It's 6372 gallons less fuel burned, and $25,490 more in your pocket. All by constraining your right foot. -
I understand IP. Youre after something different than I am. Saving fuel goes directly to your pocket, not so for me. That little bit of a fuel bonus isnt worth me going 45mph. Im trying to just get there... I only go 62 when required to make appointments, loaded or not. My FM said my driving is fine, mirrors someone whos been getting over 8 average. My truck wont do it. I honestly dont care. Long as he doesnt say anything, Im not. I get my miles, thats all I want.
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It's not so much your truck as it is the lousy aerodynamics you get with open deck loads. It is what it is. Reefer guys have an opportunity to excel here.
Those numbers also show you why the company is so hot about fuel economy... call it 3500 reefer trucks times a conservative $10,000 in savings per truck over what we used to do (average 5.5 mpg fleet-wide before the fuel program)... that's not chump change. There were THOUSANDS of trucking businesses that went out of business when the fuel spike hit $4.85 per gallon in 2008, including some big ones. We're not that far off of that price now. Some of the recent failed carriers should be familiar... Atkinson Freight Lines out of Bensalem, the outfit that used to run the yard in Chicopee MA where we got our washouts - are recent victims of the ol' right foot.Last edited: Sep 3, 2012
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I'm going company in 2 weeks at least for my first year. And I will admit, 55 is tiring. 6100 miles this week since we have till 16:00 Wednesday this week
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IP is right. It sucks but going slower will save you money. When you have your own truck its not always how much you make but how much you save. Knowing how to use that right foot is the name of the game.
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I understand what ironpony is saying its all true and its a good advice to follow if you a L/O. I just think theres a way lease operator should work. You should work a little harder than a company driver but not a lot more because sometimes there are bad weeks where a company driver may make more than you in a week. I think instead of driving 50-55 I almost dont see the difference when you can drive 58-60. Your still saving gas but now the difference is your running a little more miles. It all add up at the end. 50-55 but higher mpg (less expenses on gas) and a little less miles. 58-60 less mpg but still good and also more miles (more miles just means more money). Im not saying to run at a more speed and to try and get more miles, but should try to keep it balence in between. Through city highways I run at 50mph, and on interstate highways 65-70. But I wouldent recommend to run like that if you are a lease operator.
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When you are paid a percentage of line haul and fuel surcharge... miles mean nothing but higher costs - and that is your enemy. Miles mean a higher fuel bill, and at over $4 a gallon, nothing is more important. That's the bottom line.
DrtyDiesel Thanks this.
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