Fuel costs are one of the biggest wild cards in construction. For contractors of haul trucking in Dallas, the costs for moving materials and debris can burn through thousands of gallons a month. Even a small bump in price can hit your bottom line hard.
The good news? You can’t control the price at the pump, but you can control how much you burn.
Here are a few practical, proven ways to reduce fuel costs without sacrificing productivity.
Plan Smarter Routes and Schedules to Reduce Fuel Costs
One of the easiest ways to save fuel in haul trucking is simply to drive less. Or at least, improve your route planning to reduce mileage.
Poorly planned haul trucking in Dallas often means empty trucks running unnecessary miles or sitting in traffic. To help keep trucks moving productively instead of burning fuel for nothing, work with your carrier to
- consolidate loads,
- avoid peak traffic times, and
- map efficient routes.
And if your projects ever take you across state lines, keep in mind that fuel taxes vary by state. It makes sense, therefore, to include in your planning where you will fill up to lower fuel costs even more.
A transport management system (TMS) will include route optimization with real-time data to keep hauls tight and efficient. Coupled with effective communication, this should save you time and fuel costs.
Maintain Your Equipment to Cut Fuel Costs
Underinflated tires. Clogged filters. Worn-out engines. Small maintenance issues can quietly drag down fuel efficiency – sometimes by as much as 10–15%.
Savvy haul truckers in Dallas regularly maintain their trucks, loaders, and other heavy equipment to keep them running efficiently and cut down on wasted fuel.
If you’re partnering with trucking companies in Texas, make sure they have a rigorous maintenance program in place.
And bear in mind the possibility of using a power-only contract to eliminate maintenance costs for tractors. The right partner for haul trucking Dallas also makes a big difference to your fuel costs if they offer power-only services.
Watch Driving Habits: Poor Drivers Waste Fuel
How trucks are driven matters almost as much as what they’re hauling.
Idling for long periods, accelerating rapidly, and hard braking all burn fuel unnecessarily.
The US Department of Energy reports that heavy‑duty trucks typically burn about 0.8 gallons of diesel per hour when idling, resulting in roughly 1,500 gallons a year per truck. Imagine that annually!
So, encourage crews and drivers to adopt fuel-conscious habits.
Cowboy Trucking Monitors Fuel Costs
Fuel costs will always be one of the biggest line items on a construction project. But with a little planning and the right partners, it doesn’t have to eat into your profits.
At Cowboy Trucking – your go-to partner for haul trucking Dallas – we’re committed to helping Texas contractors keep costs under control while getting the job done.
Get in touch today to learn how we can help you save time, money, and fuel on your next job. Let’s talk!
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