Make More Money in RV Transport - 5 MORE Things to Know

When looking at what it takes to make more money in the business of transporting RV's, it would be great if there was one fail-safe, fool-proof fact that would be like a switch between making a killing and slowly putting yourself out of business.  Unfortunately (and like so many other things in life) the answer is more complicated, with more nuances and comes down to experience and discipline.

This article follows in the series on how to Make More Money in RV Transport, and expands on the previous "5 Things to Know" article.

These are good beginner articles to give a prospective driver an idea for what to keep an eye on, as well as a good refresher for the long-time trucker that just needs a quick reminder.

Two words to describe this list might include "planning" and "frugal".  Most of the time when people think of self employed they think of sunny and sandy vacations while other people do the work.  Have you ever heard about the cheap-skate though?  You know, the one that has so much money but won't spend it?  Some people are critical of that approach while other say that habit is the reason they have money to begin with and they spend their money where it is most effective instead of just throwing it around.

I tend to agree that it is a habit that perpetuates itself.  When you work in a service industry measured in time, and where time is money, frugal habits are what make the difference.

5 MORE Things to Know

1. Planning:  Dealers / Customers
• Make sure to call ahead for:
• delivery hours - sometimes different that office hours
• wash policy - some will ask for the cash even after you washed them
• directions - even if you've been there before you can ask if there are any detours or other issues that may be temporary and throw a wrench in your schedule
• Life is so much easier when there are no surprises.  Planning ahead and knowing the expectations of your dealers / customers is critical to staying efficient and making the most of your time and energy.
2. Going to Canada:
• When Canadian miles are minimum
• If you don't need to fuel or eat in Canada, the only difference is the border crossing.  If there is an increase in pay per mile just for being delivering in Canada, these are the cream of the crop loads.
• Do the math - if you have a BC load crossing at Blaine and going just across the border then you just got paid a huge hourly rate for a couple of border waits
• Track your time - also consider the shorter Ontario loads in between premium trips, maybe just before you need to reset your clock or to finish out a week.  You can get it Thursday, deliver Friday and still get your weekend off while scoring points with the company and not having to fuel or eat in Canada
• When the exchange rate / fuel prices are favorable
• Other than the border crossing, the cost of being in Canada is an issue.  If you travel to Canada as a practice (to take advantage of the premium rate or to take in the beautiful landscapes) make sure you are aware of the exchange rate and the fuel costs.
• 3.785 Litres to a Gallon
• $1 per litre = $3.785 per gallon
• Calculate the fuel difference and the premium pay difference
• $3.55 per gallon US and $3.82 US ($1.01 per litre)
• $3.82 - $3.55 = $0.27 difference
• $0.27 difference divided by 14 mpg (avg) = $0.02 / mile
• This means that you need a premium pay of at least $0.02 / mile to cover any fuel purchased in Canada versus fuel in the US (most companies pay at least twice this amount)
• When border crossings are known
• Although it is strange, it seems like each driver can have different "luck" at different crossings.  If Sarnia is a consistent hassle and Portal seems to be a breeze (of visa versa) then plan your trips accordingly
3. Where and How to Eat
• We previously mentioned two words - planning and frugal - this is an area that can make a huge difference
• I know of more than one driver that put themselves out of business by declaring that they deserved the right to a steak meal each night.
• Hitting a Walmart / grocery store and rotating food through a cooler is very effective and in most cases more healthy.  It is also easier to eat snacks (fruit) a couple of times through the day to keep the energy level up when you have a cooler.
• Take advantage of the buffet breakfast - this seems obvious, but many times is overlooked.
4. Fuel Stops: Do the Math on Time and Money
• Knowing the least expensive fuel is a money saver - traveling too many out-of-route miles to get there is a killer.
• Drive 50 miles out of route to save $0.10 / gallon
• Fuel Savings - 100 Gallons = $10 per fill up
• Fuel Costs - 50 miles divided by 14 mpg x $3.50 / gallon fuel = $12.50
• This indicates that I burned $12.50 in fuel to get to where I can save $10 to fill up
• You can also calculate the time factor along with it to find out what you lost in earnings by taking out of route miles.
• Drive 50 miles out of route to save $0.10 / gallon
• Fuel Savings - 100 Gallons = $10 per fill up
• Time Cost - Drive 50 miles out of route instead of earn $0.25 / mile margin by staying on route.  50 miles lost X $0.25 / mile margin = $12.50
• This indicates that you not only burned $12.50 in fuel getting there, but that you also lost $12.50 by running out of route when you could have been earning on those miles.  You really spent $25 to save $10.
• Knowing these two factors can help you determine your true savings when faced with the situation.
• If 50 miles out of route costs $25 in time and money, then 20 miles out of route would be $10 - a wash
• So - given that, know that at $3.50 per gallon, you must travel less than 20 out of route miles to benefit when looking at saving $0.10 per gallon on fuel
5. FILL IN THE BLANK - Reader Tips / Tricks
• We'd like to hear what tips and tricks you have.  We'll take the best one (or maybe add another 5 things to look at) and add it back here.
• Add to the comments or visit the Contact Us page to offer up your suggestions.
• We just might find that your suggestions bump our out! (or maybe we can refine ours)

When your job is measured in cents and miles it's important to look at even the smallest amounts - this is a requirement for those who make money in RV transportation.  So, keep your calculator handy, keep rolling and if you only remember two words from this article make sure they are "planning" and "frugal".