Trucking Articles

For many new drivers looking into a career in the trucking industry, it is difficult to know the difference between trucking companies.  Choosing the right company for you will make your job as enjoyable as possible.

The trucking industry has remained rather dormant over recent years in terms of tractor and trailer design. Trucking companies are constantly seeking to improve capacity and reduce fuel consumption.  The Atropos, Vayro and HST are three new concepts that may just change what we see at the truck stops in the not so distant future.

The Atropos

Fuel efficiency in trucks is a pretty hot topic these days, and for good reason. Aside from the obvious financial concerns revolving around this issue, there are many other reasons to take the research being done on this very seriously. This article will discuss some of these reasons.

Out of any vehicle on the interstate today, few could be more aerodynamically challenged than the common semi-trailer truck, the most common vehicle in the commercial trucking industry.

With a boxy shape, massive proportions, and plenty of room for airflow beneath the trailer, a big rig creates heavy air resistance that flows around and under the truck, generating drag on the back end of the vehicle. The extra work through which this puts the truck's machinery reduces its fuel economy, adding a hefty chunk to what's already a costly bill for a year's fuel.

There are many components that make up the price per gallon of gas we pay.  Mainly, this includes cost per barrel, refining, taxes, and distribution.

However, the price per gallon of gas does not always directly correlate with the price per barrel for crude oil.  In 2008, the price per gallon of gas did not spike as high as it should have based on the price of crude oil.  Much of this discrepancy is from government efforts to keep the cost at a more affordable level.

Most business are concerned about the recent rise in the price of gas, even beyond trucking companies.  When we purchase a gallon of gas, where does that cost go?

The cost of a gallon of diesel fuel is determined by several factors. Several entities get a piece of the pie, not just the oil companies. Crude oil has to be refined, distributed and marketed and also is taxed by states and the federal government. All of these factors contribute to the final cost at the pump.

Gas prices have risen sharply in recent months and in response, trucking companies are revisiting fuel savings practices and trying new ones. Here are some tactics trucking companies and owner operators should consider to keep ahead of the problem and help curb the costs of rising fuel prices.

1. Add a fuel surcharge.

If you currently run (or are interested in running) reefer trailers, you undoubtedly have more challenges that dry van drivers.  Here are some of the basics of operating and maintaining reefer trailers that apply to both owner operators and trucking companies.

 Load Selection

As an owner operator, company truck driver, or owner of one of the nation’s many trucking companies, paying the correct amount of taxes is essential.   Every driver or owner has a specific set of deductions they can claim which range from meals to truck expenses.