Sunco

This is just food for thought: my truck had a Cummins engine, and Howes Lubricants was the only diesel fuel treatment that showed an independent study of how the product preformed on the label. The study was done on a Cummins engine so I started using that product. Only it seemed expensive when compared to FPPF Fuel Power. Although FPPF did not show any study on its label I thought I'd give it a try because it cost less, plus it was a year around additive, which the Howes Meaner Power Cleaner is not.

I got the same result with both products. Meaning my fuel filter was not clogging (which was the reason I started using an additive in the first place) and my fuel mileage remained the same with both products. Before using either product my primary filter was clogging at between 5k/10k miles. I think this was because my tanks had water and was beginning to grow algae. I believe this was, at least in part, to the use of bio-diesel at most of the fuel stops today. I read that bio-diesel has a high water content, so using either product help clear up that issue.

As to pricing,I don't remember the Howes, but the FPPF, which I started ordering online by the case, cost me 0.023 cents per gallon. Two ounces treats 60 gallons of fuel. To me that was cheap insurance. Clean fuel equals a better performing engine. Why? Your fuel tanks stay clean, your injectors stay clean, and your internal engine parts will stay clean.

I sold my truck with 800k miles on the odometer.I was the only owner.I had the documentation to show I was averaging 6.99 miles a gallon and the oil samples were clean. Fuel mileage was so good partly because of driving between 60-62mph, air tabs (yes they work), and fuel additive.

Hope my experience is of help. Good luck gentlemen.

 

I'll give you a shout next time I see you LMB, I would have said hello just wasn't sure it was you with the Watkins symbol on the door.

 

I started running 60... That way the whole gang of them can pass me... 62-65 you get caught in between... 5.0 mpg to 6.0 mpg, 100,000 miles at $4 per gal in $10k a year!!! That's all I needed... I like the money clip! Lol

 

Sunco hardly ever pre plans you... Unless its over the weekend or they have a lot of loads where your heading... But I must say, they have another load for me within a half hour of being mty.

 

Well, I've been quiet on here for a couple days, time for an update. I finished my first round trip for Sunco on Thursday of this week, from Lakeland to Winchester, VA going up, and Roanoke with a two-stopper in Tampa and Plant City coming back. I like everything about Sunco so far - except the truck! In part because it's just too small for me - I've got too many things I need now to live comfortably in a Freightshaker Columbia - and partly because the fuel mileage was HORRIBLE both ways. Lots of knocking/pinging in the engine on even the most benign hills...forget about the mountains of VA!!!! Measured it as best I could at 4.8mpg going north with 43k lbs in the box, and about 5.1 coming back, with 18k. So I don't think I'll be long for this truck - but here's the good news, and why I like Sunco overall, in spite of this big challenge: There is an executive in particular there, whom I met in orientation, whom I sensed would truly listen and respond to my issues, and I was right - he's been great. I reported my issues first thing Monday morning after delivering in VA - and he told me it sounds like I got a lemon, and what could they do to make it right? Nice...

Since I wasn't happy about the Columbia overall anyway, I shared with him that I would probably like to change to a Volvo if it was all right with him. He said he wasn't sure if we had any at the moment available - but to hang on, because around the first of October Sunco will be signing a deal with not one, but TWO new leasing companies with whom to do business, via Sunco/Watkins. If I wanted to wait until then, I would have many more options of trucks to choose from. I told him that if they can fix the mileage issues on my truck, I'd be happy to drive it until then. If they can't, I'll just probably have to give it back to them until they start the new leasing programs. This gentleman was fine with that, and even offered me some other incentives, which I'll keep to myself for now. But he seems to like me, and I really appreciate his positive responses and offers to make it right. That's all I ever wanted in a trucking company. Only took me 13 years to find someone like that!

The shop foreman, another nice man, told me he is sending the truck out to get "overhauled" - and hopes to have it back this coming week sometime. He said that should improve the mileage factor. So I'm at home til then, working on my new Trucking Accounting program at Kevin Rutherford's website, mygauges.com. Excellent stuff - and I'm up and running there already. Incidentally, Sunco paid me yesterday for the trip I delivered just this Monday - so wow! One trip in the books already, another coming next week.

Last point, I received with my paycheck yesterday (the first 2-3 settlements are done by check, while they setup your direct deposit), they included a sheet on their brand-new, right out of the box, Mileage-Based pay program, wherein we now will have the choice of staying on the 70% program and still paying reefer fuel, or going to strict mileage pay, plus fsc, and NOT paying reefer any longer. Just based on the two trips I've run so far, I plugged into my settlement data the mileage program, to see what would come out better. Granted, it's a tiny sample, but it's all I have so far. It showed on both trips, I would've done slightly better with the mileage pay, once you factor in the reefer fuel factor. The new program also will pay .90/mile for all deadhead miles. At present the first 150 dh miles are paid by the O/O. I KNOW the new mileage program will make accounting practices much easier, not having to figure in reefer fuel anymore, but I'm going to wait awhile to see how other more experience people at Sunco are doing with it before changing. Once you do make the change, you cannot go back.

I've attached a copy of the program here for your viewing enjoyment. Ciao!

 

Garstein, how'd it go in orientation? You off and running?

 

Frank, Kevin Rutherford's profit gauges program is awesome... Been using it for over a year now... The Roanoke load (maple leaf) pays real good from what I remember... Hope they work everything out with the truck.

 

It seems great Delixe, I'm really enjoying using it so far...I signed up for the Startup kit, wherein they do the first month for you to get you going - I've already done it myself on there, but I'm sure I missed some things. So I'm looking forward to having the pros show me how it's done!

Yeah, Roanoke paid $1469 gross, plus the extra stop. Nice. But I got killed on the fuel on that trip back - took $900 to get the beast home, including reefer fuel. Ugh! $200 more than planned. Once the truck is fixed, it'll all be good!

 

Delixe, question: How are you putting your reefer fuel expenses into Profit Gauges? Since some is reimbursed, some not? Also, what do you think about the new Mileage-based plan? It will make all the reefer headaches go away, but not sure about the bottom line...