the tortoise and the hare

[LDB]

There's been quite a bit of talk lately about fuel prices and speed. Many on here run the limit, whatever that may be. The argument is they are getting to POD sooner than those of us running slower so they're getting the next job sooner. I'm sure once in a while that happens and often it makes no difference. For an "average" operator running solo doing 100k miles a year a 1mpg increase in mpg puts about an extra $600 a month in your pocket in fuel costs alone. Factor in the added war and other costs and it's probably at least $650.

It's easy, and certain, to figure on money in your pocket. It's difficult and uncertain to figure on loads. Did you really get that last load because you hauled you know what or did you get it because it would have been yours anyway? Let's say you did get it for being speed racer and you wouldn't have gotten it had you been joe average. How much did you make on it? Not how much did it pay the truck, how much did you make? If you made $300 from the job you recovered almost half of your speed money. Maybe it was a really good run and you made $650 on the job. Now you just ran the entire job for no money at all.

You may get a few more jobs per year by running fast. You probably don't get enough per year to do any more than at best recover the $7500 more you spend in fuel. What's certain is the money in your pocket each time you fuel that hasn't been burned for speed.

 

[Moot]

I run a cargo van and conditions permitting I set the cruise for 67m.p.h. on interstate highway regardless if the speed limit is 65 or 75 m.p.h. I learned many years ago from a wise old trucker named Rex Campbell that the best way to increase m.p.g.'s was to keep the driver's side door closed. I try to combine as many necessities as possible into one stop.

To paraphrase Turtle: "Constant and steady win the race." Or something like that. How many times have you been passed by the same truck in a 300 mile stretch of interstate?

Old people help me out here; lyrics from a song: "I am constant as the morning star...." Song title, band, any help?

 

[MCBuggyCo]

I Am Constant

by the Climax Blues Band


climax blues band - i am constant lyrics lyrics @ TabCrawler.Com

 

[Turtle]

That would be the Climax Blue Band, "I Am Constant".

I'm more like the Midnight Star, myself. I'm always there, but I only shine at night.

 

[Moot]

Thanks guys! Its all coming back to me like SHOPPING BAG PEOPLE.

 

[LDB]

I run a cargo van and conditions permitting I set the cruise for 67m.p.h. on interstate highway regardless

It would be interesting to know what the avg is at 67 and what it would be over a similar month but run at 62. It probably doesn't make as big a difference as in a truck but I'm sure would be some.

 

[greg334]

Leo,
I know about the wind issue with trucks but I am wondering about the gearing and the transmission combo.

If I remember right, you mention that you had your setup to be in one gear for below 60 and one for above or something like that. Is that close?

 

[CharlesD]

I have a Sprinter and I have noticed that I get pretty good mileage if I keep it under 70 mph. I usually keep it around 67 as well, regardless of the speed limit. I just finished a run from Minneapolis to Cincinnati and there was a stretch going through Wisconsin where I'm pretty sure the same van passed me 2 or 3 times. I was just going along with my cruise on and this van would blow by me. Then about 100 miles later the same guy passed me again, then again about 100 miles after that. What I try to do is just keep my stops to a minimum. Over about a 300 mile stretch of road I was driving slower than that other van but covering as much ground in the same period of time and most likely burning less fuel. I just don't think it's worth burning the extra fuel for the promise of a potential load that might or might not be there.

 

[randb]

The quote is "I am as constant as the Northern Star, of whose true-fixed and resting quality there is no fellow in the firmament". From the Shakespeare play Julius Caesar.
R and B

 

[Moot]

I am sure if I dropped to 62 m.p.h. my fuel mileage would improve. I have a ScanGauge and it is interesting to see how long it takes to get back up to the 16 m.p.g. after stopping. Especially with a heavy load.

2005 m.p.g. 16.5
2006 m.p.g. 16.4
2007 m.p.g. 16.3

Total m.p.g. for my old van was 16.01

 

[LDB]

While I'm making my way along on cruise at 62 I'm often passed by the same vehicles multiple times. My hero was the tortoise so I just think about that each time they pass me.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Some of us accept all-nighters. I run fast because any time I gain goes towards taking a nap or my 10. Worth $600/year? It is to me. I gain maybe 1 mpg by slowing down 5-10 mph. Not enough to make me slow down, because I count on being loaded after my break.

I also find out what time other trucks drop in the area, and try to beat them. In my case, business deems I run fast. The faster I run, the more business I deem.

 

[LDB]

Read it again, that's $600 a month not a year.

 

[pjjjjj]

Read it again, that's $600 a month not a year.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for finding ways to lessen one's expenses.. just wondering about your calculations though.. so you keep your speed up and get to your stop early or first, and you therefore get another load before someone else.. that was one day.. but how many *extra* loads can you pick up in a month becuz you drove that bit faster? Only one? How much faster would a person get to their destination by driving only 1km faster? And in reality, how much of a difference would that make to getting a load out first once you arrive? Are things really that competitive out there??

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Pjjjj...some people seem to think so......some don't give a rats butt except for what appears to be the bottomline...it's a ME, ME attitude...it's all about me.
On the other hand....A solo driver is so out of whack because of the HOS just MAYBE it's what they have to do to put food on the table....

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Pjjjj...some people seem to think so......some don't give a rats butt except for what appears to be the bottomline...it's a ME, ME attitude...it's all about me.
On the other hand....A solo driver is so out of whack because of the HOS just MAYBE it's what they have to do to put food on the table....

What does ME ME have to do with it? They put up a speed limit, and I drive it (or a little faster). The difference between a 68 mph avg and a 63 mph avg is a 750 mile run straight thru. Some companies don't limit their solos to 500 milers. Some companies actually TRUST their drivers to do their jobs.

Regardless of my reasoning, that's what I do. I'm going to check Leo's numbers later to see if that's close to what I'm actually losing, or if those numbers are inflated to incite shock and awe. And yes... it is THAT competitive out there... or can be.

 

[pjjjjj]

What does ME ME have to do with it? They put up a speed limit, and I drive it (or a little faster). The difference between a 68 mph avg and a 63 mph avg is a 750 mile run straight thru. Some companies don't limit their solos to 500 milers. Some companies actually TRUST their drivers to do their jobs.

I see what you're saying.
What kind of truck do you drive TH?
Not that I would know, but I don't know that you could call it 'trust'.. I would think some companies may prefer to make some allowance for obstacles that may arise along the way, which would prevent the 750miles within the 11hour time limit, especially if crossing border is involved.
I had always been under the impression that Americans thought 'we' drive like maniacs on our highways.. somehow I thought your speed limits were lower than ours.. but from what I'm hearing, they can go up to... 75mph?
The numbers.. I don't know how that's being calculated.. this is what I get..
100,000mi/yr x 50cpm fuel = $50000/yr fuelcost or $4167/mo
100,000mi/yr x 49cpm fuel = $49000/yr fuelcost or $4183/mo OOPS $4083
diff = $84/month savings
What am I doing wrong?

 

[jaminjim]

What is wrong? 49000/12= 40833.33.

But what leo is saying is ONE MILE PER GALLON, not one cent.

 

[LDB]

My numbers are at 8mpg and 9mpg.

 

[pjjjjj]

What is wrong? 49000/12= 40833.33.

Duly fixed..

But what leo is saying is ONE MILE PER GALLON, not one cent.

yes, sorry
if fuel is 4/gallon and cpm is .50, that means 8 mpg
if can increase to 9mpg for the same 4/gallon
cpm is .444
.50-.444=5.5cpm savings
5.5cpmx100000driven = 5500yr saved
5500/12mos=458.33/month saved

if driving at 68mph x 100,000mi/yr = 1470.59 hours driving
if driving at 63mph x 100,000mi/yr = 1587.3 hrs driving
116.7 hours more per year
9.73 hrs per month more driving time
$458.33/month saved divided by the 9.73 extra hours it took to save it, = $47.10/hr saved in your pocket

Going by all the waiting that seems to be going on in between loads for most people.. for zero dollars..

I guess the question is.. how do you know how much slower you have to drive to bring your mpg up that one extra cent from 8mpg up to 9mpg?