[quote="rank"]
Quote:
Fuel: $.60/mile (some guys get $.40/mile driving their own truck...but I think that's optimistic for a driver driven truck)
Nite Train, rank is bringing up one of your biggest variable expenses that will be very difficult for you to control from your day job.
There are two reasons trucking companies govern their trucks, and one is for safety, as in, speed kills, and the other is to control fuel costs. It is true an ungoverned truck can actually get better fuel mileage with careful driving (using speed and momentum to advantage on hills), but most drivers (who are not paying the fuel bill), will drive faster than 65mph, and there is a considerable difference in fuel usage between 65-70, even with proper gearing, due to increased drag.
There is potentially a great difference in the fuel usage of two different drivers as well......
I drive my truck like I've got an egg under my foot, and I refuse to let people behind me, rush me, when I'm heavily loaded. I can consistantly get 6+, even with some hills, and upward 7's, on lighter loads. The next guy might get 5.5 on the same load. I've gotten 6.5 with 44000#, but I was being real careful and minimizing starts and stops.
This also goes back to my previous rants about lease companies paying loaded HHG miles. Not only are you driving more miles than being paid, but you are still paying the fuel on those extra miles. If you lease, get on a percentage or at least practical miles.
Also, I would never put a truck on the road without a GPS in it, because there is a great deal of fuel waste because of bad directions and searching for drops at night. Remember fuel waste is your enemy.
I used to get a kick out of Schneider every time I saw the sign that asked us to save a gallon a day, and I thought, I could save ten gallons on some days if they just put a GPS in the truck. It would pay for itself in no time, not to mention the fact, that a lot of accidents occur when drivers get lost and start making mistakes.
Bottom line is, carefully do the math on any lease and if you want to get a good driver, rig out the truck and treat him right, pay him right.
These would be minimums:
Frig
GPS
Satelite Radio
Idleaire (its cheaper than idling)
jonboy