Why don't trucks go 55 for fuel efficiency?

I’m just using your post as an example

I also agree running 80 all over town is a waste

But. I will bump up my speed if I know it will get me offloaded on Friday AM Vs waiting until Monday and if I burn an extra few grand a year on fuel I would most likely either made way more in added revenue or made it home a few days earlier

If I load on a Wednesday and know I won’t deliver until Monday then I just sit back and ride at a slower reasonable speed

 

My last trip, all miles, 4 loads, 5200 miles was 7.3.

 

And for our viewing audience, no they weren't all light.

 

I just geared my truck up with 3.08 and a 13 speed. I run in 12th gear loaded at 65.

Empty or super light I run in 13th at 70 or 75 (or legal speed limit)

I do 30% deadhead and at least %15 under 15k on the deck.

when I’m empty it’s usually across Kansas and I need to get 400 miles before the pickup place closes at 3 or 4 pm or, I got to wait till 8 or 9 am to load?

10 mph over 400 miles can make all the difference?

 

Sorry boss....no amen lol that's the drivers prerogative

 

Well... the point I was making is that if we were running the same speed, we would end up there at the same time, give or take a few minutes. It's more about efficiency....the speedometer don't tell the story, the number of stops do.

 

Ahhhh the "Hurry up and Wait" thinking....further beefs up one of my previous posts. 75 is hardly ever sustainable.

 

If you want to get technical about it, profit is a multi-variable, non-linear equation.

Speed goes down, revenue goes down. Speed goes down, variable costs go down, but... fixed costs do not. Insurance, registration, driver benefits, company overhead (bean counters, dispatchers, mechanics, sales people, office supplies, heat and air, etc. ). Some expenses like depreciation are somewhat fixed.

Speed goes down, some other variable costs, like driver pay, parking expenses and others go UP.

So unless someone has a crackerjack accounting system, no one REALLY knows what the profit maximizing speed is, so they just drive how they want.

 

Thank you for that. I believe I passed you today.