Becoming a Successful Owner/Operator: Understanding and controlling costs

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TORONTO, Ont. — A smooth-driving, feather-footed owner/operator can conceivably make a carrier’s fuel surcharge a profitable proposition, Ray Haight, CEO of ATBS Canada reveals in Part 4 of Becoming a Successful Owner/Operator: Understanding and controlling costs.

Part 4 of the series, sponsored by Michelin, is available now free-of-charge on Trucknews.com.

In this edition, Haight explains the difference between fixed and variable costs and provides tips on how to reduce fuel consumption and drive out costs.

He also indicates that fuel-efficient drivers can often profit from a fleet’s fuel surcharge.

“A lot of carriers pay a fuel surcharge to owner/operators based on a fixed mpg formula, and some of those are 6, 6.5 mpg,” he explains. “If you can get your truck as an owner/operator to get 7 or 7.5 mpg, and in the summertime up to 8, depending on your load configuration and where you’re running to, then you’re hoping for higher priced fuel because you’re going to make a few bucks off the fuel surcharge.”

Haight also emphasizes the benefits of slowing down, noting an owner/operator is likely to get a full one mile per gallon better fuel economy at 55 mph than at 65 mph.

You can watch Part 4 at www.trucknews.com/videos/play/?plid=1000456492. (Copy and paste the link into your browser or you can also find it on the Trucknews.com home page or in the Video section of Trucknews.com).

The first three editions can be found in the Videos section of Trucknews.com.

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Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry.


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