How Drivers Can Make a Difference When Fuel Prices Rise
Diesel prices can change quickly, and for a trucking company running hundreds of trucks, even a small increase at the pump can have a major impact. But while drivers cannot control the price of diesel, they can control how efficiently they use it.
In Episode 40 of the Cypress Truck Lines Podcast, Cypress President Thad Penland joins Marcus to talk about rising diesel costs, fuel efficiency, idle time, fuel stop compliance, and a new tool designed to give drivers a clearer look at their own performance and bonus opportunities.
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Fighting High Diesel Costs One Truck at a Time
Fuel is one of the largest expenses in trucking, and when diesel prices climb, the impact adds up quickly across an entire fleet. Thad explains that Cypress has seen weekly fuel costs increase dramatically, making efficiency more important than ever.
The good news is that drivers have more influence over fuel costs than they might think. MPG, idle time, where a driver fuels, and following recommended fuel stops can all make a measurable difference.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
- Why rising diesel prices have become such a major operating expense for Cypress
- How MPG differences between trucks can add up to thousands of dollars each year
- Why reducing unnecessary idle time can make a significant difference
- How Cypress selects recommended fuel stops to take advantage of contracted pricing
- Why fuel stop compliance matters across a fleet using hundreds of thousands of gallons each month
- How driver feedback helps Cypress improve fuel stop recommendations
- What the new Fleet Ops driver app will allow drivers to see
- How drivers will be able to track metrics such as MPG, idle time, miles, revenue, and fuel compliance
- Why Cypress is moving toward a monthly fuel bonus structure tied to driver performance
- What is happening nationally and globally that is contributing to higher diesel prices
The numbers can become significant very quickly. Thad explains that the difference between a truck averaging roughly 6.5 MPG and one averaging 8.5 MPG can amount to tens of thousands of dollars in annual fuel costs.
For an individual driver, improving those numbers can also mean an opportunity to put more money in their own pocket.
Putting Fuel Data in the Driver's Hands
One of the biggest announcements in Episode 40 is a new driver-facing app from Fleet Ops.
Instead of drivers hearing about fuel performance after the fact, the goal is to give them direct access to their own numbers. Drivers will be able to see information such as MPG, idle percentage, miles, revenue, and fuel stop compliance and understand how their decisions affect their performance.
That visibility is especially important as Cypress transitions its fuel bonus from a quarterly structure to a monthly program tied more directly to those metrics.
The idea is simple: drivers should not have to guess where they stand.
If MPG is slipping, idle time is high, or fuel stop compliance needs improvement, drivers can see it and make adjustments. And when those numbers improve, they can see the results there too.
Small Changes Add Up Across the Fleet
Fuel efficiency is not about one dramatic change. It comes from hundreds of smaller decisions made every day.
Using the APU instead of unnecessarily idling the truck, maintaining a steady driving style, paying attention to MPG, and using the recommended fuel network may not seem significant on a single trip. Across hundreds of trucks and hundreds of thousands of gallons of diesel, those decisions can add up to substantial savings.
Episode 40 is ultimately about giving drivers more information and more control over the areas they can influence, even when the price posted on the fuel sign is completely outside their control.
More Stories From Cypress Truck Lines
The Cypress Truck Lines Podcast brings together professional drivers, company leaders, safety teams, trainers, recruiters, and operations staff to talk about the issues affecting trucking today.
Listen to more Cypress Truck Lines Podcast episodes for conversations about flatbed trucking, driver pay, fuel efficiency, safety, CDL careers, training, and life on the road.
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