Questions on new truck design...

Curious Design · #1 (**permalink**) 06-30-2008, 12:41 PM

Where else to better get an idea of what truckers want than on a trucker forum?

I am not selling anything, and these are honest curiousity questions.

First post here. I don't drive a truck - I design transport systems. I'll go into more detail on that if you wish.

Can you please help a complete novice in this field?

1. What is your average Miles Per Gallon?
2. Are fuel costs one of your top three concerns?
3. If a new model truck came to market that was completely different in design, and all other aspects being equal, at what MPG (a number please) would you seriously consider replacing your current ride? (Note, obviously everyone wants 100MPG. What is the LOWEST number, off the top of your head, where you would say "I simply MUST look into this"?)

4. Cab/view height - Please pick one - a. Must be as high as my current ride, b. I would like it to be at passenger car height, c. It doesn't matter, or d. Other - explain

I really appreciate your input.

Comftblynumb · #2 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 06:38 PM

The second question being answered first, is MPG in the top three concerns?? It is currently number one by a long shot with companies and owner operators alike. Just to give you an idea, here are some rough figures on what we all face. (numbers here are fictitous and we know many do alot better. just an example)

Say I make $1.25 per mile. On a 500 mile trip, I make $625. My truck gets 6.5 MPG so to drive 500 miles I use about 77 gallons. With fuel at just under $5 per gallon, that means I spend $385 to make $625 for a profit of $240. Having run 3000 miles per week, $1440 sounds like a good weeks pay until you subtract truck payment, insurance, tolls and a whole host of expenses. Fuel accounts for well over half the owner operators expense even with fuel surcharges. It only come out of the drivers take home pay when the price of fuel goes up

I am a company driver so my numbers are suspect, only from what I hear from other drivers and mechanics at my company. I know that target mileage is different for different regions of the country. (mountain vs. plains vs. metro basically) The goal seems to be around 7 MPG as a minimum. Any truck that would get mileage in the low teens with 80K payload in any area, city traffic, mountains etc. would be looked at but probably not a "must have". Any truck that could get high teens, low 20's or so would certainly cause a mad dash for your product.

As far as the height, alot of that is dependant on 2 things. One, drivers love the move to the "condo" sleeper that allows you to stand up in the sleeper. Even 10-15 years ago alot of sleepers were the "coffin" style where you had to crawl around and was just a bed in a box essentially. Certainly just a convience, but for most drivers, creature comforts are important.

Another reason for cab height is areo-dynamics. Our trailers are just flat walls of tin. Even trucks that have a height differance of 2' notice a big loss in performance having the top of the trailer sticking out. Most trucks pulling box trailers that are not 13' 6" high have farings on the top and sometimes the sides to move the air over and around the trailer better. Most companies feel that climbing into a truck cab 4' off the ground is a safety concern though. They stress 3 point contacts getting in and out and so forth. They would probably not mind lower cabs at all, yet higher cabs would just make them stress current safety messages a bit more.

Hope that is of some help to you. Good luck building a better mouse trap.

Curious Design · #3 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 06:58 PM

Fantastic - exactly the type of input I was looking for - thank you for taking the time to do so.

Anyone Else?

TrailerTruckin · #4 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 01:55 AM

If your running for $1.25 these days, WHY? Anyone running for less than $2.25 right now is crazy, no load goes on my truck for less than $2.25. PERIOD

crash935 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-04-2008, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrailerTruckin

If your running for $1.25 these days, WHY? Anyone running for less than $2.25 right now is crazy, no load goes on my truck for less than $2.25. PERIOD

Go back and read the post again, he said he was a company driver so his numbers were suspect.

Cerberus_Kelpie · #6 (**permalink**) 07-04-2008, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrailerTruckin

If your running for $1.25 these days, WHY? Anyone running for less than $2.25 right now is crazy, no load goes on my truck for less than $2.25. PERIOD

Thank You crash395 and in addition to your post:

Just to give you an idea, here are some rough figures on what we all face. (numbers here are fictitous and we know many do alot better. just an example)

WE are trying to just point out the two aspects of the post to which you, TrailerTruckin seem to have missed.

There ARE drivers that will pull for $1.25 p. m. especially out of Florida if they can even get a load paying that high.
WELCOME TO TRUCKINGBOARDS to ALL here!!

Thank You for Your Time!!