Diesel Prices Putting Fleet Operators in Chokehold
Came across an article in the Milford Daily News today about rising diesel prices and I thought this particular owner-operator's situation really exemplified the recent struggles of both owner-operators and large fleets:
"James Luke gets four miles to the gallon when his truck is fully loaded, and with prices of diesel fuel pumped up to $4.15 a gallon, he said he's ready to pack it in.
'I can't make any money,' the owner-operator truck driver said yesterday at the Massachusetts Turnpike Service Station at Rte. 128 in Weston. 'I won't tell you no lie. I left Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday night and stopped for gas in Indiana, Ohio and New Jersey, and paid a total of $1,600.' "
For the full article, click here.With diesel prices reaching an unprecedented U.S. national average of over $4 per gallon, owner-operators are being forced to work for little to no financial gain, while companies with large fleets are seeing profits plummet as diesel prices continue to skyrocket.
With no clear end to the diesel price hikes in sight, fleet managers are looking for solutions of any kind- even resorting to pursuing some gimmicky products that previously did not warrant their attention. There is a clear danger to being too open-minded to the fuel efficiency products offered in today's market. Everything from fuel tank "pills" to magnets that "optimally align fuel molecules for maximum combustion" to additives containing metals have hit the market and are being offered by companies with little credibility. But, desperate times call for desperate measures, so fleet managers are being duped over and over again.
Where is there an efficiency product with market credibility, proven effectiveness in real-world application, many current high-volume users (with data to back up the product's claims), and nearly $10 million worth of certified lab testing?
International Fuel Technology and its DiesoLIFT line of surfactant based additives have made a significant impact for many large fleets. Even before the recent rise in diesel prices to over $4 per gallon, DiesoLIFT was being used at Schnucks Markets (a fleet of 100+ trucks) and delivering 4-6% fuel economy improvements, significantly reducing the company's annual fuel expenses. The recent rise in diesel prices only make DiesoLIFT more valuable to users today, while the unit price of the product remains constant.
To learn more about DiesoLIFT products and IFT's "Zero-Risk Evaluation Period" for large end users, please contact Paul Lee at plee@internationalfuel.com
Find out why large fleets are continually turning to IFT for the best fuel efficiency solutions on today's market. Find out how to burn less and save more as a result.
Seems like a much easier approach to lower fuel costs and quite a bit easier to implement across a fleet with the use of speed limiting governors.
Just my $.02. (Comment this)
Here is an article that concurs with your opinion: http://www.kgw.com/business/stories/kgw_032408_news_truckers_economy.2062d1eb.html
There are many drivers currently sticking to the speed limit (or under) in order to save fuel.
IFT products have been proven to add ADDITIONAL benefit for companies who have already employed the use of fuel management sytems, stricter control over driver habits (including speed limitations), and newer technology.
For example, some IFT client fleets began use of fuel management technologies in 2005 that increased their fleet fuel efficiency by upwards of 15-20%. IFT was able to add an additional 4-6% of fuel efficiency after introducing their products to these fleets.
In a world of increasing fuel prices, every cent counts, and IFT products- whether they are used in fleets driving 65MPH or 55MPH- have proven to provide immense value.
Diesel costs have nearly quadrupled in the past decade (400%+ increase). Driving slower may help to counteract this spike in prices by 20%, but there's no pain in using IFT products to get an additional 4-6% of your fuel expense back in your pocket.
(Comment this)