How Much Fuel do you use?

Ron Musgraves

Exterior Restoration Specialist
Staff member
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I didn't post this to brag or boast, its funny how changes reduced our fuel bill.

The highest recorded month was nearly 30,000 bucks Its was diesel went to over 5.00 a gallon. Plus we where running one ton flatbeds mixture of gas & Diesel. 7.3 litter & 400 fords.

Those 400 fords you could watch the gauge lower as you stepped on the gas.

Plus now we don't deal with receipts of any kind. ( PERIOD) none...

Saves time an labor. Plus not as much employee theft...

Tell us about your experience , I'll share some more of mine.
 
Ron, are your guys using regular credit cards or fuel cards?

I am guessing your cards give out detailed statements or are converted over to spreadsheet format to be imported into spreadsheets?
 
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I didn't post this to brag or boast, its funny how changes reduced our fuel bill.

The highest recorded month was nearly 30,000 bucks Its was diesel went to over 5.00 a gallon. Plus we where running one ton flatbeds mixture of gas & Diesel. 7.3 litter & 400 fords.

Those 400 fords you could watch the gauge lower as you stepped on the gas.

Plus now we don't deal with receipts of any kind. ( PERIOD) none...

Saves time an labor. Plus not as much employee theft...

Tell us about your experience , I'll share some more of mine.

Our bills are nothing like yours - but I recently started using AMEX business cards. I can have up to 99 cards for one annual fee and set limits for employees and monitor use and set up alerts online. Takes away the piles of receipts and I get points to use in the future - double on fuel and triple on flights.

Seems to be working well so far.
 
Without looking we average between 1 and 2 thousand per month. I don't have employees using a card so I just use my debit card for everything. I can now import all transactions to qb which is awesome.

I haven't let go of my stack of receipts yet. I still match each one up on Friday.

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The bill that was paid yesterday was for $11,789, for the last two weeks of February. That is down from the first couple of weeks. I did some realignments of routes, and told my guys that if the work was good, (AND WE CHECK!!!) then they can come in when they are done, instead of waiting for the full 8 to happen. Just that cut the fuel by about $$2000 a month. It is amazing how much little things add up.
 
We arrange our routes to reduce the fuel costs as well. Once I discovered they were leaving the truck idle sometimes at jobs I found some savings there as well.
 
Our bills are nothing like yours - but I recently started using AMEX business cards. I can have up to 99 cards for one annual fee and set limits for employees and monitor use and set up alerts online. Takes away the piles of receipts and I get points to use in the future - double on fuel and triple on flights.

Seems to be working well so far.

I love the alerts now too, you can pre authorize some banks along with turning cards off an on during time periods.

Just a heads up , employee could buy a tv with card. Very difficult to prosecute. Make sure you daily balance is low. FYI

Amex was what I used first. I did like it, the problem was other issues about there customer service. I switched, but they are good. They have gotten better, they hound me for the business back.


Ron Musgraves text me for
questions 480-522-5227 Pressure Washing Institute.com
 
Ron, are your guys using regular credit cards or fuel cards?

I am guessing your cards give out detailed statements or are converted over to spreadsheet format to be imported into spreadsheets?

What Steven is using is a great card, Amex itemized each transaction by category. They are likely better than the bank I use. I switched because Amex didn't have the alerts four years ago or the app. I used them for about 6 years. No fuel card. My guys are all independent an order all there own stuff right to there own door. Right down to orings.


Ron Musgraves text me for
questions 480-522-5227 Pressure Washing Institute.com
 
The bill that was paid yesterday was for $11,789, for the last two weeks of February. That is down from the first couple of weeks. I did some realignments of routes, and told my guys that if the work was good, (AND WE CHECK!!!) then they can come in when they are done, instead of waiting for the full 8 to happen. Just that cut the fuel by about $$2000 a month. It is amazing how much little things add up.

You inspired me to use smaller trucks. Now your stuck with those gas guzzlers. I feel your pain no longer.

Change a 5 dollar air filter. It can save you are you ready for this? We tested this an it's was a fact. We even dos it three times swapping machines just incase one machine was running leaner. We changed the air filter every 15 days which cost 30 bucks. The saving on the equipment was 385.00 at a rate average at the time of the test when fuel was 261.00

Over 13 units per shift, savings was 1000's annually


Ron Musgraves text me for
questions 480-522-5227 Pressure Washing Institute.com
 
We arrange our routes to reduce the fuel costs as well. Once I discovered they were leaving the truck idle sometimes at jobs I found some savings there as well.

If I'm working in a lane closure of any type I always leave my truck idle. Back in my guardrail days we shut a truck off and couldn't get it restarted in time before we were suppose to have the lane closure picked up in a major interchange here (5/10/101 interchange) in Los Angeles. We were 5 minutes late picking up the lane closure. No worries though, my company was only getting back charged $7,000 per minute for not having the interchange open in time. A costly $35,000 mistake.
 
I always shoot for an average percentage of revenue. We are close enough that I am happy.
 
We only use about 1/4 the fuel for cleaning you concrete guys use. O like to call Ron and brag about our miserly usage.

We have very structured routes and many days take care of 2-3 five square mile areas and only spend $35-40 per truck for the whole day.

Chris, on the other hand uses about $90 per day if I remember right.

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Scott I've been seeing your trucks everywhere! You must be spending lots of money! Ron's got more receipts then Bashas that's why I switched to fuel cards...

We stay right around 6K a month on fuel...

Old photo Ty , no fuel cards debit. I refuse to operate on it ever. 20 years ago the bank owned me. Now I'm debt free an have a little retirement stashed away.

Debt will get you in poor economic times. Your lucky to be starting in a down time With capital. However beware of the future an debt accumulation.


Ron Musgraves text me for
questions 480-522-5227 Pressure Washing Institute.com
 
Old photo Ty , no fuel cards debit. I refuse to operate on it ever. 20 years ago the bank owned me. Now I'm debt free an have a little retirement stashed away.

Debt will get you in poor economic times. Your lucky to be starting in a down time With capital. However beware of the future an debt accumulation.


Ron Musgraves text me for
questions 480-522-5227 Pressure Washing Institute.com

I understand exactly what you mean. I appreciate the words of advice. I am a big fan of Dave Ramsey. We are essentially a debt free company. All our equipment is owned and trucks, no leases or mortgages. We only switched to fuel cards to keep better track of the fuel for tax purposes. We used debit cards last year. I just pay off our total in full when the bill comes in. It is essentially the same since there is no interest on the cards just a small monthly fee.
 
You inspired me to use smaller trucks. Now your stuck with those gas guzzlers. I feel your pain no longer.

Change a 5 dollar air filter. It can save you are you ready for this? We tested this an it's was a fact. We even dos it three times swapping machines just incase one machine was running leaner. We changed the air filter every 15 days which cost 30 bucks. The saving on the equipment was 385.00 at a rate average at the time of the test when fuel was 261.00

Over 13 units per shift, savings was 1000's annually


Ron Musgraves text me for
questions 480-522-5227 Pressure Washing Institute.com


Ron, are you talking air filters for the truck or for the pressure washer engine?

Thanks.
 
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