FUEL DISCOUNT/REWARD PROGRAMS

Wish you could save more money on your fuel costs?  Check out what some companies are doing to help you out.

FUEL CREDIT CARDS

Truckers Advantage www.truckersadvantage.com

This is a fuel credit card that is honored at Fleet One fueling sites nationwide and at over 1,300 rebate and $0 transaction fee locations.  Something to consider is the transaction fee per location.  It doesn’t say that ALL locations are transaction fee free, so you may want to check first.

Momentum Fuel Card offers fleet cards offer up to 20 cents off per gallon on your fuel purchases.  If you are a fleet owner, this might be worth looking into.  www.momentumfuelcard.com

If you choose a fuel credit card, look at the fine print.  Some give you a very low introductory APR rate and then jack the APR to 11+% after the introductory period ends.  Be aware of what this card could potentially cost you in the long run.  Also look at annual fees, if there are any.

Fleet Cards USA offers a fuel savings calculator and assists in finding the right credit card for you.  Fleetcardsusa.com

You pick the area of the country, your vehicle type (18 wheeler) and number of trucks you have.  Two is the least number of vehicles this site will calculate for but if you are a single owner-operator, just divide the Average Savings in half.  Pretty simple.  Something to also consider.

LOYALTY PROGRAMS

Petro Truck Stops

Petro Truck Stops www. Petrotruckstops.com are nationwide and have a rewards program called Petro Passport Driver Rewards.  Here’s a link to get you there.  http://www.petrotruckstops.com/driver_rewards.sstg

You earn 1 point for each gallon of diesel fuel purchased and 1 point for each dollar spent on Petro:Lube services (some exclusions apply).

Redeem points at any of their locations, looking for the Passport kiosk to print out Award Certificates.  Award certificates may be redeemed at the Travel Store, the Iron Skillet Restaurant, the Fuel Island, and at Petro:Lube for all products and services excluding fuel, tobacco, and lottery tickets.  Membership looks to be free as I didn’t find anything indicating otherwise.

Travel Centers of America

Truck Stops of America is another large chain across the country  www.tatravelcenters.com is partnered with Petro Truck Stops to provide Loyalty Program options to drivers.  Earn points to use in their restaurants, shops, and stores.  Plus they have an on-line catalog for easy shopping as well.  Check their website if interested.  Membership is free.

And, while you are on the internet checking everyone else out, check out Easy Trucking Software.  www.easytruckingsoftware.com It is a great software program designed by a trucker for truckers at a reasonable cost and no additional fees of any kind.  Get a FREE Trial Download by going to www.easytruckingsoftware.com and click on Download.  Follow the directions and install it on your computer.  Very easy to use and the download can be turned into either the Owner Operator version or Fleet version with a password.  Information entered into the program is saved, no need to re-enter anything.  Try it before you buy it!  The only thing you spend is your time.

The bottom line is shop around!

Check with your financial institution for a line of credit on your Debit card for business.  See what they can recommend to you.

Like I said before, be aware of all the fine print, such as % rate or APR cost (annual percentage rate), and annual fees if you are looking for a fuel credit card.  If you are faithful on paying the balance off on a credit card each and every month, then the interest rate is not as important to you as to those who may carry a balance month to month.  You may be more interested in the rewards the card may offer than the costs, since you won’t be accruing any.

Let me know if there is a topic/subject you would like to see in my blog and let me know how I’m doing.

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

It is getting pretty bad out there when I read on one of my RSS feeds that the fuel thieves are getting bolder and bolder with where and how they are syphoning fuel.

One trucking company around the Green Bay, WI area said a pick-up truck with a fuel tank in back pulled up to a semi that was in the shop for repairs and dropped a syphon hose into the fuel tank and syphoned out the fuel.  This was all done while the shop was busy and people around.  Now that is what I call ballsy!

Another rancher out West had a large reserve fuel tank in a field for fueling equipment on his land and had been robbed.  Even after installing a fence and tire spikes the thieves still found a way around to get at the fuel tank.   Persistent little buggers.

Thieves are likely selling the stolen fuel at a discount to truckers, farmers or even to their neighbors.   A year ago fuel was $2.70 a gallon and now the cost is anywhere from $4.50 and up.  Times are getting desperate.

The likely time for thieves to hit is in the dead of night when you sleep.  Some thieves have even been so bold as to pull in with a van over the top of a ground tank and through a hole cut in the floor of the van, opened the ground tank, dropped in a hose and using a pumping device, loaded up stored tanks inside the van.  A  very elaborate system and the thieves were also caught this time.

It is hard enough out there to make a living without having to also watch over your shoulder for another trucker to rip you off.  Be cautious and do what you can to safeguard your fuel tanks.

Locking fuel caps can be a pain.  However, when you look at the cost of that tank of fuel and weigh that against the cost of the locking fuel cap or even your time to unlock the tank to refuel, it seems like a pretty small price to pay.

Be aware of your surroundings when you park your truck.  Park at reputable lots that may even have surveillance  cameras and are well lit to help deter thieves.  Any measures you can take to keep your fuel tank safe is time well spent.

And if you see a thief, turn them in to local authorities.  If it’s a trucker out there stealing from another trucker, it gives you a bad name as well.  I know you are honest and are trying to make a living.  But keeping your mouth shut and looking the other way does not stop the thief.  Some people are more desperate than others and the thief may have a gun, so don’t be a hero.   Use your cell phone and call in the crime and let the professionals take care of the thief.  That is what law enforcement is being paid to do. 

Watch out for each other.  

Eliminate the feeling of being robbed at year end by by taking every legitimate deduction you can.  If you don’t track it, those details on deductions seems to fade with time and by year end forgotten.  Easy Trucking Software is a great trucking program designed just for you.  Check it out at www.easytruckingsoftware.com and get your FREE trial download.  Try it before you buy it!

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

 Sound familiar?  

You are driving down the road and can’t remember when you last ate and have run out of food in the truck to eat.  Your stomach is growling and loudly telling you it’s time to get fed.  It’s like your stomach is telling you your throat has been cut.

Hey, up ahead is an All You Can Eat Buffet sign.  You probably see these signs on a pretty regular basis and may even frequent a few.  This one is different.  It looks like all the others, but it is different.  This is going to be a night you’ll never forget in more than one way.

This too sounds familiar doesn’t it.

Not all buffets are a stomach hazard, it just depends.  It depends on how clean everything looks when you first walk into the restaurant.  Take a good look around!  Does it look dirty?  Are the employees that are replenishing the buffet wearing gloves and hairnets?  

The hot food should be hot and the cold food should be cold.  Period!

The buffet should also have a hood over the top of the food.  This makes filling your plate a little more difficult but helps cut down on germs from coughing and sneezing over the food.  

The problematic foods to watch for could include, eggs, cheeses, sushi, shrimp and dressings that are mayonnaise-based or dairy-based.  Be very aware of your food choices.  Room temperature food is NOT an option.

Check over the salad bar to make sure everything looks freshly washed.  When in doubt, take a pass.  There are lots of other selections to choose from.

Always go for the well cooked meats.  And if you get a container of food to go, don’t let it sit around your cab at room temperature for more than two hours.  

Worse case is you get a the “gut rot”.  Not a pleasant thing to experience but we’ve all been there.  Some experiences are worse than others.

Some common symptoms includes:

• Abdominal cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea and eventually dehydration

Since most cases of gastroenteritis (gut rot) are viral, they will eventually run their course without antibiotics.  Vomiting and diarrhea are your bodies way of getting rid of the virus, so try to ride it out.  Taking an anti-diarrheal medication will slow things down but can also prolong that “sick” feeling. 

Be sure to stay hydrated.  Increase your fluid intake to two or three quarts a day avoiding caffeine and diet soda.  If vomiting is a problem, don’t eat solid food until you are feeling better, sip clear liquids / broth instead.

You should be seeking medical help if you have:

• Severe abdominal pain
• A temperature of 102 or higher
• Bloody stools
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid heart rate
• Persistent dizziness or
• Vomiting and / or diarrhea for more than three days

Keep some antibacterial hand wash in the truck to help keep your hands clean.  Wash your hands after using the bathroom and before eating.  

Pack a few things in your truck for the “just in case”.  Brand names are not necessary, it’s the active ingredients that really count.

Pepto Bismol (active ingredient: bismuth) – good for heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, nausea and mild diarrhea.  No refrigeration necessary.

Imodium (active ingredient: loperamide) – This is the “big gun” for serious diarrhea.  Be aware that it slows down the intestinal contractions and can cause constipation.

Milk of Magnesia – This is for when Imodium does its job too well.  This comes in tablets too.

Maalox and / or Mylanta – Great for instantly soothing heartburn.  No refrigeration necessary and come in liquid and tablets.

Zantac (active ingredient: ranitidine) or Pepcid (active ingredient: famotidine) – Both reduce the amount of acid that is being produced by your stomach.  If you love spicy food but your stomach doesn’t, take one before you eat.  This is also good for after a round of “gut rot” to help sooth the stomach.

Gas-X (active ingredient: simethicone) – Helps relieve bloat, gas buildup and gas related cramps.

Preparation H Cooling Gel or Vaseline –   This will help sooth rectal burn from having diarrhea.  Also helps for a more comfortable ride rolling down the road.

And like a food buffet, there is a buffet of trucking software to choose from too.  If you haven’t already tries Easy Trucking Software, we invite you to give us a try.  We promise  no viruses or “gut rot”.

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