Making Large Truck Operations as Frugal as Possible

Whether you drive one truck or manage a fleet, you know truck operations can be expensive.

We read in the November 2009 edition of "The Rolling Review" newsletter published by Mike's former trucking company that the EPA had mandated changes to each new tractor totaling some $20,000.

New engines would cost $15,000 more each on top of the cost of the tractor. Ouch!

It has never been more important for truck drivers to save money while operating their commercial motor vehicles.

Owner operators may be especially concerned about saving money on the operation of their trucks.

Over time, we plan to address different aspects of operating a large truck -- both driving and non-driving aspects -- in order to help you save as much money as possible.

Truck Operations Topic List

Our topic list is sure to grow, but for now it includes:

• not abandoning a truck;
• auxiliary power units (or APUs);
• avoiding a deer collision or other animal collisions;
• avoiding overweight fines;
• avoiding items thrown from overpasses;
• how to back up safely and not park too far back;
• break downs;
• commercial truck leasing;
• diesel fuel prices;
• driver comfort;
• the dangers of eating while driving;
• driving in wind;
• reason why not to engage in eating while driving;
• falsifying a log book entry;
• a financial penalty assessed against truckers arriving late;
• fuel economy comparison;
• preventing fuel theft;
• get out and look when backing your truck;
• questions we asked about GPS for truckers;
• hot brakes and other brake problems;
• improving truck fuel economy by using wheel covers and reducing air resistance;
• keeping your dash free of trash build-up;
• maintaining a safe following distance;
• avoiding low clearance bridges and overpasses;
• pallet wrap failure;
• being taxed on a pay per mile basis;
• pre-planned loads;
• preventing a railroad crossing accident;
• retread tires;
• right turn accident avoidance;
• toll roads, PrePass, E-ZPass and other turnpike passes;
• safe driving tips;
• saving fuel;
• scale tickets;
• seasonal driving;
• selling your truck;
• semi truck repair;
• snow removal such as with the Big Rig Rake;
• tips on how not to have a stolen truck;
• trailer side skirts;
• truck accidents and crashes;
• truck cam, smart cam or dash cam;
• truck cruise control;
• truck inspections;
• truck speed;
• truck wash and DIY truck washing;
• visibility and blind spots;
• weigh stations; and
• whistle blowing truckers.

Idling as it Impacts Truck Operations

We did an entire 9-page section about idling as a part of truck operations:

• Truck Idling: An Overview of the Need, Problems, Cost and Alternatives
• A Hot Truck: On Summer Heat, Truck Heat and Bake Oven Conditions
• Home Sweet Home: Addressing Idling and Creature Comforts for Pro Drivers
• Air Quality and Idling: Driver Comfort Bumps Up Against Environmental Concerns
• Idling Costs: How to Calculate the Need for Idling Alternatives
• Addressing Anti Idling Sentiment and No Idling Laws
• Idling Alternatives for Climate Control and Electrification in Trucks
• A Little Empowerment for Drivers Without Idling Alternatives
• A Proposition Between Drivers and Trucking Companies Regarding APUs

Miscellaneous Impacts on Truck Operations

Will driverless trucks have any impact on truck operations per se?

If you're planning to drive during holidays, you may wish to read some tips about surviving New Year's Eve, especially as it concerns signs of drunk driving.

We also address unique challenges of driving on or around Memorial Day.

We seek professional drivers' help in listing free truck parking at shippers' and receivers' locations.

We address the aspect of drivers who try to pin fault on others for their own actions.

You may also wish to view annually updated operational costs of trucking reports from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI).

Additional Resources Regarding Truck Operations

Some of these resources have been provided by others.

• ATRI Study on Driver Detention (2019)
• ATRI says FMCSA's HOS Field Study Report is flawed
• Autonomous Trucks Doublespeak; Legal Implications and Financial Repercussions
• Backing up during training
• BigRigTravels
• CMV GPS Low Clearance Report Form; Low Clearance Awareness Day
• CVSA Roadcheck Can Be Expensive for Truckers
• DEF fuel tank
• Detention Policies Need to Change in 2018
• Distracted by a bee in your truck?
• Don't Repeat Your Mistakes
• Double-check your Memorial Day delivery appointment
• Education for ALL drivers on the road!
• ELDs Add to Pressure on Driver Pay and Truckload Costs
• free labor?
• Go See What You Can Scrounge Up
• How Tax Reform Affects Owner-Operators
• In what other industry besides trucking has the government ever mandated the purchase of a 'self-certification' product?
• On Jasons Law: An Alternative View to Truck Parking (Jason's Law)
• Knowing When to Pull It Over and Just Stop Driving in Winter!
• Lack of freight
• Leaning Freight
• Learn How to Save Thousands on Diesel Fuel!
• A Load Board Overcomes the 'No Freight' Layover Problem
• load equality not equal
• Losing income over required repairs
• Maximum speed
• My supervisors accused me of not doing pretrip inspections because they don't show up on my e-logs
• No Snow Roof - A Solution for Eliminating Snow and Ice on Trailer Roofs
• On getting endorsements
• Punished for a hard brake?
• Refuse to Drive a Truck When These Situations Happen
• Roof Rake
• Rubbernecker Accident
• Should I fight ticket for failure to remove snow/ice from my trailer?
• Things only humans can do
• Ticket for passing in left lane too slowly
• Trailer skirts, why not seeing more of them
• Truckers Wages and the U.S. Senate
• Truck Fuel Efficiency Guide
• What Does it Cost to Run Your Trucking Company?
• What's the answer to this seemingly impossible winter trucking problem?

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Money saving tip: Whenever the cost of trucking goes up, the cost is passed along to the customer and eventually the consumer.

Truck drivers are also consumers, and we want to keep costs low and profits reasonable.

To accomplish this, we can employ various techniques to make truck operations frugal.

For example, take the awareness of fresh and stale red and green traffic lights that help drivers save fuel.

If a driver sees that a traffic light has been red for some time (a "stale red"), then he or she can back off on the fuel to give the light time to change to green without having to bring the truck to a complete stop before proceeding.

You may know of other tips, which we ask you to share through the form below.

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Return from Making Large Truck Operations as Frugal as Possible to our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.

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Resources

For over 40 years the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has been fighting for the rights of all professional truckers.

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Recommended Trucker Accessories

• Portable Toilet
  
  
• Cold Food Storage Device
  
  
• Appliances to Cook in Your Truck
  
  
• Powering Your Appliances
  
  
• Navigation Tools
  
  
• Communication Tools

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