There is money to be made with 9+ mpg trucks

SWEET SPOT sweet spot on my truck is 72 mph 1475 rpm that is where I try to run on the flats or without strong headwinds, in the mountains or bucking big headwinds I run the same rpm in either 16 or 17th. Running 62 mph results in too much lugging either in strong headwinds or the hills. When I run in the mountains in BRITISH COLUMBIA where the speed limit is 90 KM I run in 16th most of the time and hardly ever have to downshift on the hills. 600 hp + rules. tom

 

I would still consider fuel mileage, regardless the rate. Just like taxes, with fuel and other costs, I don't like having to shell out any more than necessary. True, the added fuel cost by running faster would reduce tax liability, but it seems pointless to spend a dollar to get 20 cents of tax savings, unless it is for something I truly need. I guess in 30 years trucking, I just never felt the need to run with my hair on fire. Whether in someone else's truck or mine.

 

how many times will I have to do this math...

take it how you want.

If you are doing 62 mph, it's likely you are averaging 53-54 mph for planning purposes.

Driving 66, I am showing a monthly average speed of 58-59 MPH.

That is a 5 mph difference in our averages.

It also allows for construction zones, off-interstate driving and driving around the shipper and consignee lots.
My 58-59 mph average are coming from averaging me distances driving and driving times off my e-logs for the month of April 2012.

5 mph * 10 hours driving = 50 miles per day.
50 miles per day * 5 days per week = 250 miles per week
250 miles per week times 50 weeks per year = 12,500 miles.

If you are driving 54 mph average, it would take you

12,500 miles / 54 mph average = ~231 hours to make up that time.

~231 hours / 50 hours per week = ~4.6 weeks driving time.

So 1 MPH of speed difference even in average speeds is just under 1 week of productivity on a truck over a years time.


The biggest thing that gets my average driving speed up is keeping my left door closed. NOT because I am driving 70 mph.

I also manage my time so that I have as much of my time available for me on line 3 instead of line 4. AND my company allows that for us. We sit on a dock on line 1 or line 2. I have about 8-19 minutes for unload time because that is all the time it takes to get my bills signed and backed into the dock.

I don't stop with 45-75 minutes on the On-duty driving time clock. I push it right out to 15 minutes or less left on the clock.

I use the http://mobile.truckstopsandservices.com/ website for finding my fuel/rest/sleep stops for me and Google navigator for getting me the travel times to get there. I can estimate within about 5 minutes my arrival times to when I will get somewhere. Even at the start of my day or the end of yesterday.

 

I don't see a $1000 PER week savings in fuel driving 58.

Show me.

claiming it is one thing. showing it is another. Because I don't see it.

At best, I see things as a wash.

at 2500 miles per week and 4.259 / gallon fuel cost...

For 6 MPG your fuel cost is $1795

at 7.5, your fuel cost is $1441. Difference of ~$360

At 8 mpg, your fuel cost is $1353. Difference of ~$550.

How are you getting $1000 per week savings?


I have never disputed the fact you WILL save money running at a lower speed. Because you will.

But you loose productivity at a rate that washes out at worst any savings you might earn.

 

The only way you gain productivity by going faster, in general, is on coast to coast runs and line haul applications where you can maximize your hours. If you're wasting hour upon hour waiting on appointments at warehouses, you gain nothing by going faster. The smart o/o continuously evaluates the loads received for the best strategy at cost savings. When you have two days to go 900 miles, going slow can be wise. When you have FCFS on a 650 mile run and get to your next load faster, it pays to do the speed limit. Learn to analyze. I laugh when I hear "productivity" because so many factors in this industry greatly limit it.

 

I played the time game this morning on the dock delivering and a 8/2 split last night.

Played out exactly liked I figured. Took my 8 hours last night and the time "wasted" on the dock was my other two hours. No lost time on my 14 hour clock if I had waited for my entire 10 hour stop last night.

Yesterday took a 2 hour split while loading and that gave me the time this morning to get to my consignee on time.

Other drivers were LATE because the took 10's.

Couldn't have done it driving 58, but 66 it was possible.

I'd say that's being productive.

 

I'm governed to 63, 60 on cruise. I never get any loads where id be late. If i know ill be late i call dispatch well ahead of time and they reschedule.

Ethan

 

I see driving as a chess game.

Anticipate what the players are going to do and plan for it.

Play 2-3 moves ahead if you can and always have 2-3 different options.