A ‘To Do’ List is a Must in a Tough Economy

Business is business and all businesses run on the same principle; gross revenue comes in; you deduct all the related expenses and what is left is either profit or it’s a problem you need to tackle ASAP. As I am sure you know, there are plenty of desperate people right now in this industry. These are uncertain times. So, if you’re an Owner Operator and it is time for you to get tough, here is what I suggest you do and do fast.

Start by making a list of every business expense you have, and I mean everything related to the operation of the truck you are operating. Everything! This is where the person who has been keeping good records has a huge advantage over the driver who does their filing in a Walmart bag. Now that you have everything listed, organize the list with your most significant expense at the top of the page to your smallest cost at the bottom of the page. Have a pad of paper handy that you can make a list of things to do and investigate as you dissect each expense item.

So now its reality time. Take a hard look at each item on your list starting at the top of the page. I am going to guess that fuel and wages are going to be number one and two. Fuel is a variable cost because the more you drive, the more you spend on this one and it has two or three controllable components assuming your engine and running gear are set up correctly. What speed are you running the truck at? I know, we are all sick of this subject, but every mile over 60 miles an hour is 1/10th of a gallon in fuel economy gone out the stack and this is crunch time remember. Is your idle time cut back to a minimum? I know it is tough at this time of year, but you need to look at every possible area of savings potential. Have you measured the ROI (Return on Investment) on an APU (Auxiliary Power Unit)? If not, put this item on your things-to-do list. After you have rationalized these two areas, ask yourself this question. If you are buying your fuel from your carrier, do you get a reasonable discount off the pump price on the road or in the yard? Some of the fuel optimization apps that are available for a cheap subscription cost might be helpful and maybe you should do some research here. So put this on your “Things to Do” list.

Your truck payment is a fixed cost because it does not change no matter how many miles you drive in a month; think of a fixed cost as something that is usually paid on a calendar basis. Not too much you can do here but you should be aware of what your finance cost is over the life of the payment schedule. Separate the principle from the interest. Once you do this you can see how important it is to shop for your finance contract the same way you do a truck; every percentage point of interest over a 3-5-year contract means thousands of dollars.

Your maintenance costs are variable and regardless of your experience in this industry or as an Owner Operator, there are benchmarks to go by that are usually reasonably accurate. For a new truck, put 2 cents per mile in an escrow account because you will spend it eventually on maintenance. One-year-old 3 cents; two-year-old 4 cents; three-year-old 5 cents, four-year-old 7 cents and five-year-old 10 cents per mile. If you are spending more than this now, figure out why and how to bring it back in line ASAP. If you’re off here, make a note to take your favorite mechanic out to lunch and discuss the numbers with them. Don’t let this slide!

Driver wage! Here’s a toughie; what kind of money are you drawing out of the business to satisfy your lifestyle? To do this one right, you need another piece of paper and you need to do the same thing that you just did for the truck expenses – highest to lowest expenses and scrutinize each one of them to ensure they’re necessary and legitimate. You must know that your truck will only make so much money no matter how lean and smart you are as an operator and living beyond your means personally is a slow death filled with stress. Who needs it?

You get the idea of what I am saying here. Do this for every expense you have and then get to work on your things-to-do list as this is a key component of how a business operates. Another thing I do is read – and not novels or comic books, I read self-help books. I read business books. I read titles and subjects that I think will help me run my business better. I have stayed away from recommending titles, but I can’t help it this time. I strongly recommend anything written by Larry Winget. How can I not like a guy who has written books titled: “Shut Up, Stop Whining and Get a Life?” or “People are Idiots and I Can Prove It”. How about “It’s Called Work for a Reason”. The one I recommend for Drivers and Owner Operators who have trouble watching the nickels and dimes is: “Your Broke Because You Want to Be”. You can also visit www.larrywinget.com for some other nuggets of wisdom.

The last word is about the dreaded tax man. Yes, it is coming to that time of the year again so get it done right and by a firm that knows this industry. Check out Robert Scheper of Making your Miles Count who is found elsewhere in this magazine. Working with a good business advisor and tax specialist can be the single most significant ROI you will ever get in the business.

All the best for 2020 and,
Safe Trucking

Ray J. Haight
Co-founder
tcaingauge.com