Archive for May, 2009
When it comes to driving a truck, there are plenty of expenses that come with the territory. The bottom line for a truck driver is the gross amount of money he or she makes less their expenses. Cutting down on various expenses can really help to increase the amount of revenue they are able to keep for themselves.
The most expensive investment for a truck driver is the truck so getting a good deal on a quality piece of equipment is important. The industry tends to have an abundance of used trucks on lots and you can get one that is in good condition for a reasonable price. New trucks are more expensive but they come with a better warranty and you have the peace of mind that it hasn’t been through too much wear and tear.
Getting a good interest rate on your truck is going to lower the cost of your overall payments. It is a good idea to pay extra on your truck towards the principal when you can. This will help you to pay it offer sooner and it will reduce the amount of interest you pay over the life of the loan.
Investing both time and money in routine maintenance is a good way to save money. Your truck will run better with regular oil changes and taking the time to check over all your hoses and lines will prevent you from having to buy expense parts on the road. Having the right amount of air in the tires will also save you on fuel expenses.
Pay close attention to the cost of fuel when you are driving over the road. You may be able to save several cents per gallon by going to another truck stop. Many of the chain truck stops offer fuel cards that will also save you money. Each time you use your card you can save a few cents per gallon. They can also offer a points system where you can buy meals or other items from inside.
Can you imagine being happy with getting six to eight miles per gallon in your vehicle? Most of us would not be impressed at all, especially considering the cost of fuel these days. Yet for professional semi truck drivers, striving for increased fuel mileage is very important. Getting six to eight miles per gallon means the semi truck is operating very efficiently. Some of them only get four miles per gallon, and that needs to be changed because the drivers are simply throwing money away.
Those who drive for a company don’t worry too much about the cost of the fuel or how many gallons they get per mile because they get paid based on the number of miles they drive. Owner operators pay very close attention to these figures because they have to cover all the costs of their own fuel. In many cases this cost can be as much as 40% of the gross earnings per month.
There are some factors that will affect your fuel mileage in a semi truck that you really can’t control. They include the wind and the weight of the load you are hauling. The cost of fuel per gallon is also something that you won’t be able to do much about. There are some ways you can increase your fuel mileage though that aren’t going to cost you very much to implement.
Many semi trucks offer a heavy drag in order to pull a standard size trailer. These can be modified to still offer enough power but without the weight. Many owner operators like to add chrome and nice accessories to their semi truck. Try to avoid too much of it, especially those pieces that are quite heavy as they will add weight and increase the amount of fuel your truck consumes.
We have all heard the commercials on TV for lawyers who claim they can get you thousands of dollars if you are involved in an accident with a semi truck. There are also plenty of news stories in the media highlighting crashes involving these large pieces of equipment. Yet statistics show the majority of accidents that involve a big truck are due to the negligence of other drivers, not those who are responsible for keeping eighteen wheels on the road.
The sheer size of a semi truck often means that any accident it is involved in with other vehicles is going to be more severe than when two or more regular sized vehicles have a similar accident. Even as low speeds and accident involving a semi truck can be very serious. To help reduce the risks of semi trucks being involved in accidents, employers are working hard to offer effective training programs for their employees.
Many employers who have a fleet of trucks mandate each employee attends a safety meeting on a regular basis. This may be monthly, quarterly, or twice a year. During these meetings all of the safety violations that have taken place in that period of time should be reviewed and evaluated. This way others can learn from mistakes that have already been made and prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future.
The cost of insurance for semi trucks is very high, and companies as well as owner operators do all they can to reduce it. Having a clean driving record is important for this to happen. Many trucking companies refuse to hire individuals with a history of accidents or speeding tickets. They are considered a high risk because the potential is there that they will be involved in an accident.