The last few years have taken truckers on a ride. The trucker boom flooded the market with hopeful carriers looking to make a load, but few have been able to stick it through the long haul.
In the aftermath of a volatile market, truckers are looking to stretch their dollars as far as possible to keep their tank full and wheels turning.
Of course, this natural selection of carriers has bred one benefit: The truckers that have made it this far know how to save. In a market that demands that every expense be trimmed to its leanest, a few hundred dollars can be the difference between success and survival.
From the carriers that have charted the rough waters of the current market, here are practices making all the difference in keeping costs low.
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Retreaded tires. Period.
To quote one industry expert, “If you’re not using retreads, you’re already at a tremendous disadvantage. Every major fleet in America is using retreads.”
When it comes to retreaded tires, the question should not be if, but when.
Retreads have been shown to reduce tire costs by 30%. That means upwards of $3500 in savings every time you change tires.
Not only that, retreads are proven to be just as, if not more, durable than standard tires.
Long story short: One of the fastest ways to instantly save your fleet on costs is retreaded tires. In fact, if you change your tires every 6 years as is advisable, you’ll save $48 a month with retreads alone.
For quality retreads, try checking out Oliver retreads here: https://bit.ly/46Sm1GP
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Slow down!
Did you know that if you slow down by 5 – 10 mph, you can improve fuel efficiency by 7 – 14%?
That means that if you drive 3000 miles a week and slow down to save even 5% mpg, you’ll save $107.10 a week, or $428.40 a month in fuel. All you need to do is take the lead off the pedal.
If you’re keeping a running tally so far, that’s $477.01 in monthly savings so far by equipping retreads and slowing down 5 – 10 mph. And we’re not done yet.
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Stay pumped.
Speaking of keeping your MPG low, underinflated tires are one of the biggest culprits for a high fuel bill.
When tires are underinflated, they increase rolling resistance—quite literally making it more difficult for your truck to move forward. Consequently, your rig will guzzle more fuel to compensate.
On the other hand, inflating your tires properly can save you up to 3% mpg. That translates to savings on fuel of $53.25 a week, or $213 a month!
So. Inflate your tires. Retreaded tires, preferably.
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Do. Not. Idle.
They say, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop”, but an idling rig is a whole new evil for your wallet.
If you allow your rig to idle overnight, you lose .8 gallons an hour. Do some quick math, and that equates to $224 a week or $896 a month.
You can be spending nearly a grand on just keeping your rig on overnight.
If you’re cold, invest in blankets. Heck, diamond-studded blankets if you want–that may be more affordable than idling.
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Retreads, Again. Seriously.
One more time. If you don’t have retreads yet, now is the time. Like, right now.
Here’s the link, again, for Oliver retreads: https://bit.ly/46Sm1GP
To recap your potential net savings per month if you follow these steps:
- $48/month saved in using retreads
- $428.40/month in fuel for slowing down
- $213/month for keeping your tires inflated
- $896/month if you stop a terrible habit of idling
Depending on whether you idle or not, you can save $689.40 – $1,585.40 per month by following these tips.
Carriers, we care about your success. Keep your bottom line trimmed. Keep trucking.
The England Carrier Services (ECS) division offers various services for carriers ranging from maintenance to support. As ECS members, carriers have access to nationwide discounts on fuel and tires from dedicated team members committed to finding the best price. ECS also provides factoring services with benefits such as same-day funding to a bank account or fuel card. These options allow carriers the freedom to focus on growing their business while saving time and money.