The cost of fuel is often one of the biggest expenses trucking companies and owner operators incur. And with the cost of fuel steadily rising, truckers across the country are looking for ways to save more and use less. Whether you’re a OTR driver or short-haul trucker, here’s how you can increase your fuel efficiency and save more money.
Keep Up Regular Maintenance – Constantly fine-tuning your rig and keeping up on routine maintenance can ensure your engine is working properly and actually using less fuel.
Don’t Idle – Not only is it against the law in many places, idling wastes tons of gas while you get zero miles to the gallon.When truck driving jobs require drivers to stay overnight in sleeper cabs, millions of gallons of fuel are wasted each year by idling in order to heat or cool the cab.Instead, find alternative ways to maintain temperature settings and provide electricity in the cab (think auxiliary power units or stopping at electrified truck stops).
Stick to the Speed Limit – Driving faster than 65 mph will cause your fuel efficiency to decrease.Stick to that speed (or lower) and avoid making sudden starts and stops.
Keep Tires Properly Inflated – Tires that are not properly inflated can drag and significantly reduce fuel efficiency as well.Keep tires properly inflated according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and check them each day before you begin your run.
Use Engine Additives – There are a number of semi-synthetic lubricants that flow more easily than mineral blends resulting in increased fuel efficiency.
The use of on-board computers in commercial trucks has become a hot debate as safety advocates push legislation that would essentially outlaw them. However, many in the trucking industry claim the devices can be used safely and pose much less of a risk as cell phones and other similar gadgets.
Truck driving jobs require such technology in order for truckers to stay in communication with dispatchers, update employers, and get driving directions. What do you think?
On Tuesday (8/26), a truck crashed into a McDonalds just off of I-20. Two employees were injured, though not critically. The truck driver wasn’t inside the truck at the time of the accident. He was actually filling up when it happened. Police suspect that he either didn’t set the brakes or they failed.
I bet we can assume that there will be some open spots in the trucking jobs category. Let’s just hope the brakes failed and he really did remember to set them.
Many truck drivers don’t have the right etiquette for filling up–especially local truck driving jobs. I came across this page that details some of the expected and respectful rules when filling up.
The trucking industry can be pretty competitive. Companies are constantly going head to head to sign on the best, qualified drivers. What that means for us truckers is that because the competition is so vigorous, it is our advantage. Companies will pay more than normal because they are in desperate need. But you still have to be careful not to sign onto a company that is going to treat you horribly. One of the best of the trucking biz is Swift. Swift jobs usually offer the best benefits and compensation. They even offer bonuses on top of the normal compensation. Check it out!
The trucking industry just keeps getting bigger and bigger. The entire nation is dependent on us truckers because the majority of things they buy in the stores comes from us. The trucking industry is going so well, actually, that many companies are adding additional services specific to their local areas (Utah storage, and things like that).
But I’ve recently found some great resources about trucking. It is actually an online trucking magazine. It has newsworthy stories and other things–all pertaining to our job. Take a look!
If you’re currently in the market for a new cdl driver job, you’re in luck. Right now, there is a shortage of qualified truckers, and trucking agencies are increasing their wages to recruit top drivers. Despite the economy that seems to be up and down, there has never been a better time to find a truck driving job. According to a USA Today article, rail hauling is limited due to space constraints, and air freight is expensive, so more and more companies are looking to have good shipped via trucking methods. This is resulting in shipments waiting at freight centers because there aren’t enough drivers to haul the loads.
This is really good news for truckers. We can pick and choose the jobs we want, and the routes we want, because trucking companies are desperate for drivers. If you don’t have your current cdl, or your looking to switch careers, trucking is the way to go. Find a good trucking school, get your cdl (or update it), and you’ll be guaranteed good pay and a decent route. If you’re already up to date with your license, and driving for a company, shop around. Pay is increasing, and you’ll probably be able to negotiate a better wage. The time is perfect to find the right trucking job for you.
It’s amazing how in-demand truck drivers are these days. Usually there are shortages for employment options like this. From an economic standpoint, the demand is so high, and the supply is so low, that trucking companies are going to have to budge soon. That means they’ll have to pay better, improve benefits or wear potential truckers down with relentless recruiting. I’m interested to see where the market goes.
Even if other people don’t do it, it is courteous to get on your line and wait for him to move to his line when passing another driver. This stops some of the turbulence of passing. Many trucks have been sucked together if they don’t do this, even causing truck driver deaths. Be sure to do this to protect yourself.
Many drivers flash another driver after he or she passes. Some drivers use their brights to flash instead of turning off their lights. Don’t flash at all. If a driver is blinded and gets in an accident because your brights, you are at fault.
