When it's $1.48/mile versus .48/mile why not aspire to be an o/o?

With a CAT and a 379 or W9 his mpg would seem about right but in that Volvo he should be doing much better. What do you recommend for a fuel program? NASTC?

 

You do better than that on fuel prices. Pay cash or debit at Coalinga Valero. The Mobil in Halsey, OR is usually a few cents cheaper than 7 feathers. Not to mention they hand you $80 in cash once you reach 1,000 gallons.

 

Even a cat in a long hood should do better. I used to get 6.5 out of a mechanical cat. The newer electronic cat engines should do better. Granted it wasn't running Washington and Oregon, but eastern ky wv and pa aren't exactly flat.

For fuel discount nastc is pretty good for a one truck owner. Tho to be honest i haven't looked for better and no longer use nastc since inactiving my authority and leasing to my current carrier.

 

Current Coalinga Valero diesel cash price is 3.65/gal.

 

The only way I get 6 is if I deadhead one way on a roundtrip. Otherwise, running the hills I average 5.5 at gross doing the speed limit in a 750 3406e powered w9. Maybe if I didn't idle overnight I could get that a little higher too.

I looked into the NASTC a while back. It seemed the general consensus was that it wasn't so great on the West coast. I'm seriously considering looking into it. It's hard to beat 2.73 cash price at Royal Farms in Baltimore though.

 

That's insane, for reference my actual fuel cost debited from my efs card Wednesday morning after filling up in wildwood Florida was 2.634 per gallon.

Between the low freight rates, the higher fuel costs, and carb, i don't understand why guys out on the west coast don't relocate. Unless you are living on a ranch that's been in your family for 5 generations what is really tying a person to a specific region?

 

I agree. If more people took a stand they would be forced to re-evaluate their procedures. Apparently this is beginning happen. Lots of people are fleeing for greener pastures.

Mercer gets you guys a good deal on that diesel.

 

I own a beautiful custom craftsman home on 2 acres in the Umpqua Valley of southern Oregon. All of my children and grandchildren live here as well. No way in heck would I relocate to anywhere else in this country for $2.78 a gallon or $4.00 a mile notwithstanding.

There's some things in my life that are non-negotiable, others mileage may vary

 

Not to mention, I ran my "cheap dry van" freight last year on the west coast and did just fine. So much so that I'm currently at 3 weeks off at home and could take another 3 mos off if I wanted. My phone is starting to ring a bit now and the rates on my lane seem to be creeping to what they were a couple of months ago. However, I must admit, it's hard getting motivated

 

At your point in life i can get that. But if you had started in the industry 20 years sooner when your kids still lived in your home and grand children was nothing but a "one day" idea.. packing up the household and building a new home in a better freight area wouldn't involve leaving you're family behind.