Why do most owner operators fail?

I see the " you gotta drive slow to get good fuel mileage" crowd has showed up....

 

overrunning the place

 

Going well. We can now focus on all the things that have been on the back burner. Boy, what a process. Still don't have the office completely set-up but what are you going to do. Push off accounting or new hires because you need to build desks or get the TVs mounted on the wall.

And what would a good fuel mileage debate be without the "my truck defies physics" crowd.

 

Running faster gives you more miles, I don't really buy that.

Running at 65mph vs 72mph, I see it happen all the time, where a guy passes me going 7mph faster, then 100 miles down the road, there he is at the truck stop waiting for someone to move out of the fuel aisle so he can get out, and then bam, I'm already gone.

Or, there is a traffic jam, and that equalizes everything out as well.

Or you take the exit and have to go a couple of miles through red lights etc. and before you know it, the guy you passed an hour ago is only 5 mins behind you, and who knows how long the shipper will take to get you loaded.

You can go faster, but you can't control what's in front of you, and normally that equalizes things out a bit.

Going faster doesn't necessarily mean you'll get there quicker, and that is one reason why I always go exactly the speed limit, whether it's 55, 60 ,65, and my truck is governed at 65 anyways, I don't need to go any faster than that. But yes I slow down in construction zones even when there is no construction going on at the time. If there is a black and white sign with a speed limit number on it, or an orange and black sign, that is what I will go. If it's yellow and black, I use my discretion.

I go 55mph through Effingham and Mt. Vernon where all that construction is going on, and trucks are still passing me at 60+ even at night. I find that ridiculous. No reason to disrespect a town when they have road issues going on.

End of rant.

 

racing from point a to appt b is useless

dropping a load off early to get another load is ideal

doing an overnighter and being ready early the next morning (well rested) is also advantageous

maximizing all of your 168hrs per week is why we are all here

driving 52mph to save fuel and impeding travel may be some idea of fun for you guys, i would rather watch paint dry (or nascar)

 

i average close to 4000 miles per week. usually around 3800. i unload in the morning, basically, and relooad in the afternoon. 5 days a week. that's 5 loads.

i've got the only truck with WOT.

the rest of the fleet. is governed at 65. they average close to 3000 miles or less. 3 or 4 loads if they are lucky. per week.

there's a big difference to how they drive and i drive. a lot of times they don't get there in time to get unloaded or reloaded.

keep in mind. that we are flats. means bankers hours for our loads. if you don't get there before close. your spending the night.

as for bills comments about ttrucks defying phisics. my w9 gets the same mileage and it don't matter how heavy or fast. you all can call BS all you want. but i drive the truck and the calculator does not lie.

now i've seen trucks that get 7 plus and physics do hold. but every truck i've driven in the 5 range didn't seem to make a bit of difference.

right now i'm driving a 09 pete with a 07 isx. 2007 is the worst mileage in the history of semi's. and this pete only gets 4.3. from what i've seen on the empty side of things. it only gets 4.5. so it has a slight change.

my w9 did nothing unless it was bobtail. 5.7 was what it got. 5.8 was it's best and it only got that when empty or in cali.

 

In Cali, that would seem to tell me something. Like it gets better mileage in Cali, which is a slower speed.

 

Autocar plz stop with all the facts

 

Sorry, bad habit! LOL

 

Well lets stay on the subject but a different path, what has anyone done to get better mpg other then driving slower, or save money in a different way, One of the studies that my son and I have looked into is a double oil by pass filter set a little low to catch a little cool air to help keep the engine oil cooler and changing the oil less , there is a forum called the million mile club that talks a lot about this, there is even a double fuel filter that keeps every thing super clean and this causes less maintenance . Do u run more air in your tire then marked to save a little and get abetter ride . ......................................................................................................................................................