What's Real, What's Fiction, and What's In It for You.

What I'm about to describe is my point of view. Some will agree others won't.

There are basically 3 different strategies when it comes to fueling.

1. Company Driver Mindset: This one I'd fairly easy to understand. When the little reef needle hits a certain point (1/4, 1/8, light comes on) buy fuel, regardless of where you're at or how much it costs. Guaranteed formula for failure.

The next 2 methods involve finding the cheapest fuel along your route.

2. Buy Fuel According To Trip: Just as it says. You buy enough fuel to complete that trip. Example...You are 200 miles from delivery but you need fuel cuz you're not gonna make it. Driver only buys enough fuel to do that last 200 miles (25-40 gallons).

Many drivers use this method, but I personally don't. I CANNOT advocate this method in any way. The logic drivers use for using this method is nothing more than shortsightedness of their business profits. Drivers want to spend as little as they can on that trip to bring home more money for that trip. This is basically throwing profits out the window. Let's say a drive does this and now they're on their way to the next load, but fuel is 20¢ a gallon more. Now you just bought higher priced fuel and cut your profit for that next load.

3. Buy As Much Cheap Fuel As You Can, Whether You Need It Or Not: This is what I do. FACT: You're going to burn diesel fuel no matter what you do (drive, idle, back into a door, run APU). The goal is to burn the CHEAPEST fuel possible. If I have 50 miles to go and a 1/2 tank of fuel left and it's the cheapest fuel around, I'm topping off.

"But Steel, wait. That might cause you to lose money on that trip." I don't care. I've bought the cheapest fuel I could. Depending on the length of the next trip, I may may not even need to fuel again (unless I come across more cheap fuel). What I've done is increase my fuel cost per mile on the 1st trip, but it's actually less per mile over several trips.

I don't ever worry about how much or how little I make each week. I look at a month and more. If I save just 5¢ per gallon average over the course of a year and assuming that I run 120,000 miles at 7 MPG, that's a savings of over $850.

Hope that helps.

 

I seem to have a mix of 2 and 3 which works for me like I said we all have our ways

 

Absolutely. I try to maximize every penny I can. When you get paid by the mile, the fuel to keep as much of that as possible.

 

That does help. Can you share your sources for fuel prices? JCT pays for fuel tax so I suppose you don't worry about IFTA tax? I've seen some drivers focus on the after-IFTA price of fuel, IIRC. I aapreciate anyone's insight on this.

 

I use the circled apps

 

I appreciate your info. I'm just not decided on which direction to go.

 

Make your plans. If you have anymore questions ask away we are always willing to help.

 

Ding, ding, ding ... folks we have a winner, winner, chicken dinner.

The only thing I would add is how to measure your savings. I focus on a goal of $.20 below the national average. The FSC is based on the EIA average.

 

One other tips. If you're loading where you know you're going to be heavy, make sure your tanks are full.

The last thing you want to do is pull into Americold in Ontario, OR on 3/8 of tank. They'll scale and max you out. Then you'll find yourself fueling every 200 miles or so on your way to PA.

 

I make it a point to never show up to any shipper with less than half a tank of fuel.