WHY SPEED

[nick2008]

Ok I see the forums dried up a bit so lets try this one

What benifits do you get from speeding ?
If you cut your speed How much fuel are you gonna save
and how much outta pocket or in pocket are you at the end of it ??

It would be nice if you could log the dif on how you drive now and say in a few days time if you slow down just a touch say 5mph.
how much longer does the job take ?? I bet it only takes 10min more on a 3hr journey try it and see and let us know what you did might help others see how to save costs

NICK 2008

[19speedracer]

Why Speed ? Why Not ? LOL !!! Both of my trucks will fly !! LOL !!!

[Bullwinkle]

Back when fuel wasn't real expensive (almost 15 years ago), I was running coast to coast (literally), taking ice cream of one kind from the east coast to the west coast, and taking another kind form the west coast to the east coast.

The difference for me between running 75 (as much as possilbe), and running 65, was about 1 mile per gallon. Basically about 80 less gallons of fuel difference.

Going at a modest diesel price today of $4.50, that is $360 in savings.

And contrary to what some will say, it doesn't take that much longer to get to your destination when you run slower like this. Besides, driving fast and getting there quicker just means you spend more hours at a truck stop or on the side of the street waiting to deliver

Now, if you want to factor in the fuel surcharge (assuming you are getting it), this multiplies a little more because the surcharge is based on 6mpg. If you can conserve fuel to the point you are getting over 6mpg, you actually begin making an increased profit off of the surcharge.

[nick2008]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19speedracer Why Speed ? Why Not ? LOL !!! Both of my trucks will fly !! LOL !!!

How DUMB
YES DUMB

Lower speed higher profit
Less downtime, less stress, that means less chance of an accident which could reduce ur insurance.
You must have money to burn.

[19speedracer]

Nope, No money to burn. Sometimes I have found that depending what you are hauling, The faster you get there, the better.

[rebel]

[quote=19speedracer;18035]Nope, No money to burn. Sometimes I have found that depending what you are hauling, The faster you get there, the better.[/quote
Maybe he drives an EMS vehicle

[lunachic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19speedracer Nope, No money to burn. Sometimes I have found that depending what you are hauling, The faster you get there, the better.

Yea, I understand, the faster u get if off, the faster u reload.
we just went through the truck,lol had to. He sets the speed controll and rides.loaded late yesterday due to del. friday, but needs it off today or very early tomorrow morn, or we are screwed for a load friday.outta their............
and then he will be sitting all week-end, and that cost, not to mention the one thing we did'nt have time to do was the air.And he's heading for Texas..................

[gearjammer]

it depends on the facts, whether you save or not, it depends on where you are headed too, the day of the week, what states you go thru,what you are hauling, headwinds/tailwinds, when it has to be there, don't forget the time taken up on your logs.

I lose about a half a gallon per mile so in 600 miles and I will base it on the national adverage of 6 mpg,a truck would use about 10% more and based on $4.50 a gallon that would add up to $27 bucks.

now you would loose around 1.75 hours in time and/or around 85 miles per day, if you use $2 bucks a mile to the truck you would end up loosing around $170 bucks,gross per day, say for the sake of argument that 50% of that is expenses, then you lose around $85 bucks net per day minus the 27 you save in fuel you end up loosing around $58 bucks per day or in a 5 day week that is maximized you lose $290 bucks and 8.75 hours of drive time.

so you tell me where do you save??

[Bullwinkle]

I don't think driving faster helps you get something unloaded quicker in regards to 99.9% of the loads. Keeping the drivers door closed is what gets that done if you are not delivering by an appointment.

[lunachic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bullwinkle I don't think driving faster helps you get something unloaded quicker in regards to 99.9% of the loads. Keeping the drivers door closed is what gets that done if you are not delivering by an appointment.

yea, but with flats most of the time when he gets there they take it. and he set's the cruise, so it's steady, and I'm not saying 90mph, so far the truck is doing pretty good now on fuel, when he gets back we are running the rack so that will help more. had a slow start this week with the truck down 4day's, need to turn some mile's befor tuesday or we are screwed for pay.

[user11108]

I hear what the pro's and con's are here about speed and no speed. my input is
I've driven slow trucks and fast trucks and worked on both. acording to the computer
Readout there is'nt any differance on MPH. now this dose depend on the driver too. when i took these readings this was about 8 years ago.

[2xR]

If I average 55 mph throughout a 10 hour daily drive and get paid 40 cents per mile that equals $ 220 pay for the day's work. Not bad.

If I average 65 mph during the 10 hour drive, at the same rate of pay, that day's wages will be $ 260 for the same amount of work. That's better.

Granted, this equation is in it's simplest form with all of the variables omitted, but, it ain't hard to see the incentive to let her roll.

I'm on salary. The quicker I get done with the trip, the quicker I can get back to life's pleasures. Now, get your poky ass out of the center lane, I gotta' go.

2xR, not paying for the fuel...

[Bullwinkle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by two-timer (2xR) 2xR, not paying for the fuel...

Neither were those Jevic drivers, and other company drivers in the past year who have found themselves looking for work because their company went under.

Not picking on you personally, but it is something to think about. Companies go out of business everyday, especially trucking companies, because their drivers don't have the companies interests at heart.

I think every company driver should treat a truck as if it was their own.

[Bullwinkle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunachic yea, but with flats most of the time when he gets there they take it. and he set's the cruise, so it's steady, and I'm not saying 90mph, so far the truck is doing pretty good now on fuel, when he gets back we are running the rack so that will help more. had a slow start this week with the truck down 4day's, need to turn some mile's befor tuesday or we are screwed for pay.

I would take a look on what "pretty good on fuel" is. At $5 per gallon, every tenth counts during the course of a 2500-3000 mile week.

If getting their earlier means you get unloaded quicker can be beneficial, just so long as it truly means that getting their ealier will effect you getting that other load loaded or not.

If you can get their an hour or two later and still get that next load, then you didn't gain anything. The only time I can see this factoring in is if you can hurry to unload a load that day, and get reloaded that same day ( an otherwise, you would have lost this load), and in addition, you can deliver this new load as soon as you get there. Otherwise, if you ended up having to wait, then you didn't gain anythying.

And, you really need to factor in your average profit involved with running hard as opposed to slowiing down and missing a load once a while. In most situations, I have a strong feeling that better time management would get you there in time to accomplish getting that next load, unless you are loadining and unloading in the same day.

[Bullwinkle]

Time management is much more important than how fast your truck can go.

[nick2008]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bullwinkle I would take a look on what "pretty good on fuel" is. At $5 per gallon, every tenth counts during the course of a 2500-3000 mile week. If getting their earlier means you get unloaded quicker can be beneficial, just so long as it truly means that getting their ealier will effect you getting that other load loaded or not. If you can get their an hour or two later and still get that next load, then you didn't gain anything. The only time I can see this factoring in is if you can hurry to unload a load that day, and get reloaded that same day ( an otherwise, you would have lost this load), and in addition, you can deliver this new load as soon as you get there. Otherwise, if you ended up having to wait, then you didn't gain anythying. And, you really need to factor in your average profit involved with running hard as opposed to slowiing down and missing a load once a while. In most situations, I have a strong feeling that better time management would get you there in time to accomplish getting that next load, unless you are loadining and unloading in the same day.

Thats what i'm trying to get ppl to understand here Bull.
Like u say managment arnt taking time factors into account it's all rush rush rush.
Also if your not rushing and more relaxed then your a safer driver.
If they guy behind you wants to rip past at 90 let him go but when his / her rig is parked up with a blown head or ripped tread from the wheels or even worse parked on its side with a load shed over the devide just smile and wave knowing whose the better driver. load delivered in one piece.
bye yall for now keep it safe

[Bullwinkle]

Other than one ill advised stint as a lease operator in 2002, I haven't owned a truck since 1995. I have driven trucks since then, but it has been as a company driver.

In 1995, I was running a reefer unit. I ran for 6 months, basically to the date. I ran until the end of June. This was the only year where I kept an extensive record of expenses, miles per week, basically everything that could be recorded, I recorded an analyzed.

In that 6 months, I profited over $46,000.00

This was after all fixed costs for the truck, an after all money was put into accounts to cover potential repairs. It was after every expense that could be imagined, including health insurance premiums that I was paying for my family.

I had noticed a change in this business back in 1994, and had profited over 100K per year up until that year. I heavily analyzed my business in 1995 because I seen a trend I didn't like. Conserving fuel as mentioned above made me much more profit, but even with that, the downturn I seen in profit compared to previous years was enough to make me sell the truck and get out of the business as an owner operator. 90K per year wasn't enough to keep me out on the road away from my family. I was much happier to take less money and go into a different industry, being home every evening, and every weekend.

For those that remain out there though, conserving fuel is a key aspect to a profitable business. Every owner operator out there can do this and bring more money home, if they just take the time to make it happen.

[19speedracer]

Hauling logs, you better let it roll going and coming if you expect to pay the fuel bill this week !!!

[Blakowt13]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bullwinkle Neither were those Jevic drivers, and other company drivers in the past year who have found themselves looking for work because their company went under. Not picking on you personally, but it is something to think about. Companies go out of business everyday, especially trucking companies, because their drivers don't have the companies interests at heart. I think every company driver should treat a truck as if it was their own.

That is THE PHILOSOPHY I have engendered since beginning my Driving "career".
EVERY Truck with the exception of slip-seating has been MY TRUCK because when I'm OTR I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR IT!!
It IS my Home and I don't let anyone trash my Physical Address, so why would I allow myself or anyone to trash my OTR Home??

I do not pay for Fuel however I am just as appalled as ANY O/O when Fueling!! I do not pay for anything related to Truck repairs except when authorized by the Owners and then through whatever method is approved or arranged.
---
With all the negatives and laws (Idling, Parking, etc.) against Trucking as a whole, I really don't understand the inefficiency of the remaining Owner Operators in getting organized to then have a voice WITHOUT the help of the seemingly useless OOIDA and ATA.
This Industry IS DOOMED and WILL FALTER sooner than later without substantial backing and support that is desperately needed for continued survival.
--This is off topic yet I felt it was/is needed--

I bid you G' Day Mate!!

[Blakowt13]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick2008 Okay I see the forums dried up a bit so lets try this one: What benefits do you get from speeding ? If you cut your speed, how much fuel are you gonna save and how much out of pocket or in pocket do you have at the end of the run/tour?? It would be nice if you could log the difference on how you drive now and if you slow down just a touch of say 5mph. How much longer does the job take ?? I bet it only takes 10min more on a 3hr journey. Try it and see and let us know what you did as it might help others to see how to save costs!! NICK 2008

It has been proven over and over that slowing down a bit WILL save some Fuel, yet slowing down to say less than 65 mph does MORE HARM than good.
These Engines were designed to run efficiently at certain RPMs and when not allowed to access these RPMs, Fuel mileage falters as well as of course Power and Torque.
How much Fuel is saved when operating a 63 mph Truck pulling a 53' Air Ride Dry Van hauling 40.5K over Terrain as found in VA., WV., TN., PA., and other States with good ascents and descents like AZ. and NM.??

I've driven a 2001 Freightliner Century Class with a N-14 Cummins and a ten Speed "auto-shift" into 3.36 or 3.56 Gears for over 2 years.
This truck will run with a top speed of over 85 mph and gets the best Fuel mileage between 65-75 mph regardless of Terrain and Load, of course the flatter the Terrain the better.

Slower speeds may appear to help yet in end of run/tour figuring/computations, there are noticeable differences.
How much one Idles along with how much Dead Head is incurred affects overall performance equations and these cannot be discounted.


I have nothing further for now to add, so I'll simply bid you G' Day Mate!!
**I am not Australian, I jest like their Ainglish**