Fuel is the most volatile line item on a carrier's profit and loss statement, and it's also the one most owner-operators plan the least. A route built without fuel stops in mind can quietly erase a good rate.
We plan fuel stops along the route based on real-time pricing, not habit. A five-cent difference per gallon adds up fast across a 500-mile run.
Fuel cards and loyalty programs matter, but so does timely filling up before crossing into a higher-tax state, for example, is a small decision with a real dollar impact.
The goal isn't to obsess over every stop. It's to build fuel planning into your route the same way you plan hours of service as a fixed part of the trip, not an afterthought.
Written by Harry Watson
Compliance Director at JarveX Solutions
