Fuel and Tires, Tires and Fuel

Fuel and Tires, Tires and Fuel

Knowing the base cost of fuel can save you money.  Want to know how?  Keep reading.

With the cost of fuel what it is, being a successful trucking is getting harder.  That is why you absolutely have to know how to calculate your next fuel purchase.

As you know, the cost of fuel is comprised of the actual fuel cost plus the state and federal taxes collected on each gallon.

It is essential that you know the base cost of the fuel so you can make wise buying decisions.  For example, if you are in one state that has fuel of $2.99 a gallon and has a $0.35 per gallon tax, that would give you a base cost of $2.64 per gallon ($2.99 – $0.35 = $2.64).

The state right next to it is selling fuel for $2.79 a gallon. That looks like a very attractive price, however, their tax rate is only $0.09 per gallon.

This then brings the base cost of the fuel to $2.70 a gallon which is considerably higher than the previous state.  ($2.79 – $0.09 = $2.70)

Finding the tax rates in the Easy Trucking Software program is very simple.

Just go to the tax table page in Fuel Manager and click on the fuel tax rates on the internet button.  That will open your web browser to www.ifta.org which lists the tax rates for each quarter.

By subtracting the tax rate from the gallon of fuel you will know the base cost of fuel and be able to make wise buying decisions.

Let Easy Trucking Software help you run your business successfully.

Get a FREE Trial Download of the Easy Trucking Software software by visiting the website www.easytruckingsoftware.com and click on Download

Tires…….are they really all equal???

According to one of our customer’s by name of Wildbill this is what he has been doing to help improve his MPG.

Wildbill tells me he got another 1.5 mpg out of his old 95 volvo with 2,398,523 miles on it and 3.91 rears with 18sp.  “Unless you drive in mud or off road like flat bedders, change your drivers out for all position steers.  I am using Bridgstone r280 getting almost 200,000 miles on them with rotation of course.  But fact is they are extremely fuel efficient and according to Bridgstone the tire has about 5 % less rolling resistance than a normal drive tire.  And when you do that times 8 tires thats 40% difference on the roll.”

“I get great traction in rain, snow, and ice using the same driving practices.”

Thank you Wildbill for sharing your experiences with us.

Tell me how your tires measure up and what are you doing different to help with more getting MPG.

If you have a topic you would like to see an article on, let me know.  I am always interested in hearing from the audience of what you think and what you want to hear more about.

Easy Truckin is brought to you by Easy Trucking Software. We hope you enjoy it.