Transportation Policy: Senate Hearing Focuses on Fuel Conservation

The profit-loss math is pretty simple. When fuel was $1.20 per gallon where most fuel surcharge kicked in, the cost per mile was $0.20 at 6 miles per gallon. Today at about $4.20 as noted in the article, the cost is $0.70 per mile. The difference is $0.50 per mile. Add that to a $1.25 per mile base freight rate and we know why are products cost more. Show me a trucking company that had profit margin...

Slowing down the rigs to 62 or 65 mph like any vehicle conserves on fuel, the fuel consumption is less as it would be going 75 MPH. Thus saving money. Will this work? No I feel it would not work.  Will drivers and carriers go along with this. With the time restraint that is placed on them by the broker, Dispatch, shipper or receiver sometimes it’s hard to not go the posted speed limit of 75 MPH....

Slowing down the rigs to 62 or 65 mph like any vehicle conserves on fuel, the fuel consumption is less as it would be going 75 MPH. Thus saving money. Will this work? No I feel it would not work.  Will drivers and carriers go along with this. With the time restraint that is placed on them by the broker, Dispatch, shipper or receiver sometimes it’s hard to not go the posted speed limit of 75 MPH....

  Trucking leaders are mulling installing governors on trucks that would limit speeds to around 62 miles per hour. Already, one major trucking company (Con-way Inc.) has done exactly that in an attempt at fuel conservation.   Trucking will spend in excess of $130 billion on diesel fuel this year. Any attempt at conservation should help their bottom lines, but what will the impact be on time-sensitive...