Fuel Report Spreadsheet

[mugwomp]

I have seen several posts here as of late concerning fuel cost, mpg & cpm. I have a spreadsheet I built that calculates 14 outputs from three inputs.

The three pieces of data that are required for the calculations are as follows.
Cost per gallon, number of gallons, and Odometer reading.

The data created from this input data is as follows.
Per fill up: Cost of fuel, Miles traveled, MPG, & CPM
Per Month: Total Gallons, Total Cost, Total Miles, Average MPG, & Average CPM
Year to Date: Total Gallons, Total Cost, Total Miles, Average MPG, & Average CPM

It also has cells for non calculated data for comparison. They are Date, State, & Brand. This allows one to compare CPM or MPG by brand of fuel, geographical locations, & yearly seasons.

This spreadsheet was created in Sun Microsystems, Open Office Calc. This is a full fledged spreadsheet program and is available for FREE down load at www: OpenOffice.org - The Free and Open Productivity Suite ,it can read and write Exell files. I have not tested it in Exell as lightning took my desk top computer out and I don’t have Exell on my laptop. This spreadsheet WILL NOT work in Microsoft Works Spreadsheet or other low end spreadsheets. They do not have the attributes to handle it.

If anyone is interested they can send me an e-mail at the following address [email protected] Please put Fuel Report in the subject line. Also include file format, your screen name, number of trucks, city & state, class of truck (ie: B, D, ER, etc), your carrier (ie: FedEx C. C., FedEx Ground etc.), and your name.

Pleas be aware that the data out of a spreadsheet such as this is no more accurate than the data entered.

 

[jaminjim]

That's very thoughtful of you, but why do you want all of that info?

 

[nightcreacher]

A spread sheet for fuel mileage,why?your making things more difficult than they are.Truck driving isn't rocket science.For spread sheet,you only need a coumn for fixed expense,column for variables,and your income.Bottom line,this will tell you if your making money or not,and if not ,where to fix the problem.usually less dead head,will solve everything.

 

[greg334]

I just took the OOIDA spreadsheet and modified that for my own use (it does not look pretty). Because I am not a Web Guru or MS Excel expert, didn't want to do this from scratch so modifying it was the best solutions.

I simply linked the cost per mile file to two other spreadsheets, one for my settlements and the other for my expenses. I also took the 100,000 mile thing out and use actual miles from the fuel receipts that are in the expense spreadsheet to give me a running total. And if I ever finish it, I can do projections for ROI based on actual figures. It sounds complicated but really isn't when you think about it, only some make it seem that way. Thank you OOIDA.

Isn't technology great?

I can email my logs, I can email my inspection/maintainance reports, I am working on a way to get my settlement info off of the website and into a spreadsheet so not to make mistakes, which I do a lot of lately.

I think the effort is good but you know you can simply post the file here and let others download it instead of asking for all that info and expecting emails, unless you are collecting emails?

Oh and if some need it in Excel format, I can most likely convert that and post it here.

 

[juliewray60]

I have seen several posts here as of late concerning fuel cost, mpg & cpm. I have a spreadsheet I built that calculates 14 outputs from three inputs.

Very interested in seeing and working
with the spreadsheet youve developed.

As was mentioned below I'm confused
as to why you require personal data.

Open office is backwards compatible
with excel therefore we'd have no issues
entering column-row data.

Very nice of you to offer this to us
drivers. Sounds alot more professional
than some patched amature reworked
ooida version.

 

[greg334]

Julie,
I am not hijacking the thread here, just to warn you.

Like reinventing the wheel, it seems to be more of a bother to download a complete package than to use what may already be on the computer as part of a purchase someone has made.

I do praise Mugwomp for the help he (she) has offered, it is what the site is all about, helping people (HINT). I stand by my offer if Mugwomp wants that in Excel file format; I think I can convert it without a problem.

But seeing you took a stab at me and I am not in the mood for ignorant comments, here is some things I would like to point out.

First and foremost - Free does not mean easier or better. In some cases it means more of a pain in the a**. Calc is a good program but I am like others who like charts and complex formulas which seem not to hold up well in Calc.

Second is there is no such thing as backwards compatible between competing products, MS office and Open Office are competition product, are they not? If there is any thing about backwards capabilities, it is within the product versions themselves, like Open Office 2.4.1 opening up a file that was created with Open Office 2.0.2. The word compatibility is the correct word to a point but in the case of Excel and Calc, there are functions that don’t sit well with either when opening the other’s file, like complex functions and pivot charts.

Three, you obviously never heard of Spell Check? I know you meant Amateur so it is not spelled Amature – here is the definition for you; the meaning is either to mean somebody who does something for pleasure rather than payment or somebody with limited skill in, or knowledge of, an activity, in the case of my work it is the first one. BUT when people use the word Amature, it is used in the web world as one of them misspelled words used in search engines to attract people to porn sites, which thank God is not me. Oh if you meant Armature, I don’t think that fits into the subject at all.

Four Open Office 2.4.1 is a good product, but even with the Open Office XML plugins, there are some things that will not port from MS office products to Open Office. One selling point that I find intriguing is the ability for Open Office products to export to a PDF format. Well hell Julie, I been doing that with stored procedures for a long time on SQL servers, and I know MS has an issue with PDF exports so that feature may be here soon. Should I go into detail on any of that for you?

Five I use MS products, I get both Sun products and MS products for FREE or little cost (Map point and server products I have to buy, Solaris I also get for free). The reason I like MS products is because of consistency of the products themselves, not because they are FREE. Since their milestones are every few years, they are leading on a lot of functions in comparison to other products, but Open Office had it’s milestone in 2005 and has only come up to version 2.4.1 with the intent to ‘take’ a percentage of MS market share and it has to a point. I am also not one of these ‘I think the world of Microsoft’ people. I feel that they have been lax in a lot of areas but when it comes to development and usability, they have been far ahead of a lot of others. Even with Apple going to Intel hardware with a Linux Core, there is still a lot of things that would be great if Apple followed MS’s lead in the development area. Maybe we will see MS Windows powered by Linux, it would be great.


Six, a lot of people are not computer wizards, which means that they will most likely use the things they got on their computer instead of sitting for four hours trying to download a office suite of trying to find documentation to do a simple function or procedure. AND the issue for me is that I had to support people who didn’t know how to shut down their computer so I hold others in disdain when there is an assumption that everyone is the same, the same goes for people who build a few websites and pass themselves off as Web Gurus.

FYI I used the OOIDA spreadsheet (this link opens to the page go to the bottom and download one of the last two files listed) because it was a great start, not because I didn’t know what I was doing but because I didn’t want to take the time to categorize everything when it was right there in front of me. If you want to reinvent the wheel, go for it but the time was better spent on trying to get the charts with all those pretty colors looking good to show my ROI to others who say there is no such thing as ROI or Luck.

Oh seeing I am on a roll here, one thing that some seem to forget is we are going electronic all the time in this business. I email my logs to the company, I email my inspection/maintenance reports and I have a lot of other things I am doing – all easy to do if one wants to take the time to set it up. The one thing that I have found out is that a few companies, who are building these electronic logging systems, are actually using WINDOWS for ease of development. One such unit I will be testing soon has Bluetooth built into it so you can take your ECM info, QC info (and run info that comes over the QC) that brings all that to your laptop (or computer) to do all the calculations and printouts. It uses MS development products that will not work with anything but MS products.

 

[mugwomp]

Sorry I have caused so much confusion. Definitely not my intention. I am not asking for information for any purpose except to do some demographics for my self. I certainly didn’t want any thing that is to personal.

Before I go any farther let me introduce my self. First I am a he not a she. Second I am not a computer guru I am a driver for FedEx C.C. I built this spreadsheet for my on use and after seeing several threads on the subject of fuel and cost per mile etc. I thought it might be of some use to those who are not familiar with the building of a spreadsheet. I spent several hours thinking about, building and rebuilding it to meet my needs. I am sure it will not meet every ones needs or approval, but I built it for my on use and I am offering it at no charge to those that have a need for it. I have no financial goals with this. I am a newcomer to posting on this forum but not a newcomer to this sight. I have been sandbagging on here for over three years. I have drove trucks off and on for 44 years (more off). When I decided to go back to driving over three years ago I decided on expedite and that was when I found this site. Oh by the way, I started with Conway Now.

I only signed up on this site so I could make this one post. I rarely use forums except to read them. I use my computer as a tool more than for entertainment. I’m to old, I fall asleep doing this, ha/ha.

Greg I can write the file out as an Exell file. I just can’t test it as I said earlier lightning fried my desk top computer and that is where my copy of Exell is located. I only have Open Office on my laptop. Forgive me for not knowing how to post a file on here. This was posted within 15 min. after signing up. I only wanted the information so I could see if it was worth my time to offer other files down the road as they may become available. The time investment in trying to make something understandable by someone other than ones self can sometimes be quite heavy. I am definitely not collecting e-mail addresses. Matter of fact I was a little concerned about posting mine.

 

[greg334]

Well no confusion, the email thing is just standard that I say to anyone asking for info. Don't be concern, you're fine.

I know you are trying to help others (which is a good thing) so I can recommend that if you want to see what it looks like in Excel, you can download an excel viewer. You can't save the work but it gives you a chance to see it and maybe set it up for Excel. I know this is not what you are looking for, but it does help a bit to know it exists.

Also I think that Julie has it in for me, like thib and others, but so what... she has the right to be a little obtuse.... and... well never mind...

The guru thing was not pointed at you at all, sorry about that. It gets tiring after years of working with these products and knowing what I want to accomplish to hear something like what she said, so don't worry, welcome to our EO family.

And I think..... if you look below the text box When you write a post, pass the first "submit reply" and "Preview Post" buttons you will see a place to attach a file, but the unfortunate thing is you can't attach a .xls file, maybe a text delimited file will work. BUT you can post a zip file.

 

[juliewray60]

mugwomp

I like working with spreadsheets.
The number of options you listed
sound very interesting and i'd like
very much to see how youve compiled
the various formulas.

Im currently involved in writing and
a contributor in an ongoing spreadsheet
SDK project. OpenXLS uses embeded java
functionality and is extremly user
friendly. The application comes complete
with charts and images and contains all
the features of excel.

One of the projects im currently involved
in parallels quite closly with the paremters
of your fuel data creation.

Our intent is to distribute the finished
product as a value added transportation
suite which includes alot of tools we
drivers could use daily.

The beauty of openxls is that its
totally free. As is open office.

If youd like simply .rar the file
and attach it to a post. We can integrate
your work into our project. You can
discuss and activly be involved in the
project by joing us here.
Java Excel :: Java Spreadsheets :: EAI :: SOA :: Open Source ::

Once completed we will openly distribute the
package free of charge here at EO.

 

[greg334]

Wow Julie, you wrote something useful for once.

Even though it looks like you are reinventing the wheel, was it that hard to come up with this in the first place?

I find open source products mean a lot for those who can use them but means nothing to the guy/gal who can't get it to work right on their computer. Much of the development of open source products and the programs based on things like your base product lack real documentation, like help files that explain functions on a lower level than the developer can think.

I find people use that word free too much, and as I said before, free does not mean easy or simple or that it works at all or in other words a pain in the a**. Remember open source means many hands but one product.

Oh and for the record, I am a big support of open source products - believe it or not.

Good luck....

 

[juliewray60]

I wrote somthing useful for once ?
Thats quite the blurb coming from
an individual who leads the pack in
converting useless dribble into never
ending text lectures.

The point youve obviously missed
is that we write our apps in java.
Our releases are under the GPL licence
which aligns our work used in many
mission critical applications.

To intergrate spreadsheets into a
standalone java program insures
ease of use even for the entry level
novice. Truly a GUI that anyone can
use and outputs data equaling any
commercial excel based app.

The learning curve for most of our
products is but a fraction found in
most other spreadsheet apps. Free as
in freedom from spending hours upon
hours trying to learn the app. Free
as freedom from extensive instructions
and frustrations most find when working
with accounting based spreadsheets.

Contrary to you suggesting were
reinventing the wheel only implies
your total lack of knowledge at the
level in which openxls products are
implemented. You can dazzle some people
with your extensive long winded
dissertations. This is one area of
expertise im quite knowledgeable in
and its obviously not one of your
stronger suits. My SCJP & SCBCD
are both framed.


Should you desire to actually
familiarize yourself with the
OpenXLS SDK project ? Then id
assume you already know we hang
our hats at sourceforge. But of
course you already knew that

 

[greg334]

Julie, I didn't miss any points, you did. I wasn't trashing your attempt at providing a solution but rather trying to point out that in this great big world of computers and software hacks, the end user is forgotten and there is a rarity among many of us dribbling fools to see well authored but concise instructions and help files bundled with any product not for general consumption (like trucking software). Many more of us see serious problems with a lack of any documentation of any sort from Open Source products, apps and dev tools. Look for yourself, the product your promoting, the open source version has zero docs on source forge, why?

You however, reinventing the wheel, which as I meant to say you took it upon yourself to assume that I was a hack who barely cobbled together some copy of an existing spreadsheet. In fact, this is one serious problem I have seen with a lot of developers, they don't seek out ideas and don't open their mouths to ask what exactly was done or why it was done. Maybe you are too good for that, well that's too bad because what I did was based on the ideas I got from others and from the two companies I worked for in the last few years.

I understand what you are saying about the Java SDK, I already looked it so no need to reiterate any news about it. I even went so far as to talked to one of the people who use it and they told me some things that you CAN'T do with it, so for my purpose it is excel and only excel.

As for an endless amount of dribble that you say is to impress people , well look who's talking? Half your post is out of some sales pitch.... mission critical, yawn.... our learning curve... yawn some more.....I feel I am in a meeting with HP or Sun throwing trinkets at me (hey look..... that's a neat pen) and trying to sell my client some more hardware they don't need.... but I don't know.... it all reads like a report I would get from the development team or something I would read in sales lit.

Is that all you got, two certs?

My God, you didn't get your SCEA yet?

I don't have mine in frames anymore, used the frames to hold pictures of more useful things.

 

[juliewray60]

As for an endless amount of dribble
I don't have mine in frames anymore

Yes, totally off-topic misdirected dribble.
Example of classic threadcr*p ? See post number #6

Certs don't come framed.
flew right past ya

 

[greg334]

Certs don't come framed.
flew right past ya

Well Duh! I didn't say they came in frames, I said I used the frames for something else.

I notice you didn't answer the question. Interesting.....

Sitting for a Java examine can't be all that hard, can it be two'er?


If you said you had a cert in something along the lines of a CCIE, or a CISSP or a CISA, I would think that you equal to or even better than I am, but it was great to learn you are a two'er and a Java one at that....

By the way you know what those are?


Well enough with the tripe and cr*p, thanks for keeping my mind off the problem I have at home with my wife's van, so down to serious stuff…


To help others out which is the purpose of the site, I am wondering have you thought of a small Java app or something like that which will help pull out info from the ECM through a CAN adapter?

Maybe pull some of the info into a spreadsheet like the one you are working on?

I feel it would be a help to others to see actual MPG and stats from their engine and be able to record little things about the engine. Even see error codes and clear them. The formulas are easy and so is the communications to and from the ECM. Nothing difficult at all, there are even simulators out there in the open source world that you can use to simulate different engines.

AND I didn't mention this before but have you ever thought of a good logging program that does not use txt files but rather some sort of db? I think if you can come up with a stable product that will put everything in a form that can be used to extract information across apps, then you have something - or is this where you are going with your product?

 

[Dispatched]

To intergrate spreadsheets into a
standalone java program insures
ease of use even for the entry level
novice. Truly a GUI that anyone can
use and outputs data equaling any
commercial excel based app.

Hello Julie,

Would it be possible to forward to me the address to the thread which contains the source
code for the fuel Java Applet at sourceforge?. I found your published compiler but that's more directed towards mileage estimates and not inclusive of the fuel module. I see that
Sheetster also has your template but it's also missing components. I've left you a PM at Sheetster with my contact information.

Please don't allow this greg character to get under your skin. He does like to talk "game" with his desperate attempt to sound credible. Obviously spends allot of idle time chronically
living out his fantasy world.

Looking forward to sharing a few ideas with you, and more than willing to invest some time with a fuel cost/expense applet.

Thanks

 

[Dispatched]

Julie,

Let me be the first to congratulate you. I've had the chance to spend some quality
time with the Java spreadsheet SDK and other than some aggrevating bugs, i'm liking
it. I deffinatly don't possess your development skills but I can at my end, pass on
the results i'm experiencing with the alpha/beta release. The original poster [mugwomp]
will indeed appreciate the ease of use of the applet versus dealing with Open/Excel.

Anyhow, once fully completed I sure hope you'll release this to the good folks here
at EO. Unlike the company drivers who could give a cr@p about day to day expenses, having a real time expense calc would be priceless.

And I have to end this by commenting on the certification controversy. Software developerst ypically test out or focus on one area of interest. Typically,SCEA CISSP CISA A+ ANSI/ISO/IEC and 100's of other certs are only obtained by those needing it for the position one might hold in various occupations. Net Security Certs are miles away from programming in the java language. I've never heard a programmer or developer use words like two'er. That word is just not used.


Regards,

Full-Time Driver
Part-Time Programmer

 

[Dispatched]

Julie,

Let me be the first to congratulate you. I've had the chance to spend some quality
time with the Java spreadsheet SDK and other than some aggrevating bugs, i'm liking
it. I deffinatly don't possess your development skills but I can at my end, pass on
the results i'm experiencing with the alpha/beta release. The original poster [mugwomp]
will indeed appreciate the ease of use of the applet versus dealing with Open/Excel.

Anyhow, once fully completed I sure hope you'll release this to the good folks here
at EO. Unlike the company drivers who could give a cr@p about day to day expenses, having a real time expense calc would be priceless.

And I have to end this by commenting on the certification controversy. Software developers typically test out or focus on one area of interest. Typically,SCEA CISSP CISA A+ ANSI/ISO/IEC and 100's of other certs are only obtained by those needing it for the position one might hold in various occupations. Net Security Certs are miles away from programming in the java language. I've never heard a programmer or developer use words like two'er. That word is just not used.


Regards,

Full-Time Driver
Part-Time Programmer