How much does it cost to fill a semi with gas?

CINCINNATI — Leaders of the trucking industry say store prices are expected to increase as the national average for diesel fuel hits $4.75.

Truck drivers filling up in Florence, Ky. on Tuesday spent nearly $1,000 on fuel. Ben Lee, who has been driving semis for 16 years, said it’s tough to keep rolling under these conditions.

“I mean, you can see right now, I’m getting 60 gallons for $300 dollars,” Lee said. “We’re just going to have to bite it for now and just eat the extra costs.”

Kevin Burch, the former chairman of the American Trucking Association, runs a fleet of 100 semis in the region through Martin Transportation Systems. He said independent drivers and trucking companies set their own fuel surcharge and add it on to the price companies pay them to ship products.

It’s a tool designed to compensate drivers for fluctuating diesel prices.

“It definitely is passed on to the consumer in higher freight rates,” Burch said.

Burch said he predicts customers will see the prices increase at the stores next.

“Could be a week, could be two weeks,” said Burch.

At the same time, drivers say the current fuel price hike came unexpectedly. They said their current surcharges did not account for that, so they will have to wait to recoup costs.

“It’s going to be tough for the small independent owner/operators out there who are trying to move America’s goods,” Burch said. “They just might say, you know what, I’m just going to park it for a few days, maybe a week, and see what happens rather than pay that big price.”

It comes at a time when the U.S. is already experiencing a driver shortage that can cause shipping delays. That coupled with inflation and the pandemic is taking a toll on drivers.

“Everybody is, like, emotionally fatigued, you know,” Lee said. “Everybody is trying to sort, trying to protect their mental health because it was rough. Then, you go right into this,” said Lee.

When creating your moving budget, it’s important to leave room for hidden costs. An often overlooked one is the cost of gas. Filling up the tank of a commercial truck isn’t the same as pumping a few gallons into your car. So to be prepared, use a gas calculator that factors amounts of gas for both vehicles plus the distance of your move.

Things to consider when estimating fuel cost

There are several factors you’ll want to think about when you’re estimating the fuel cost of your move:

  • Gas prices: Look up the latest averages for gas prices across the country. Typically, the 10-foot van and 16-foot truck use regular gas and the larger trucks, like the 24-footer, use diesel fuel.
  • Truck rental fuel efficiency: This can usually be found on your truck rental’s website. In general, smaller trucks (10 through 14 feet) usually average around 12 miles per gallon, medium trucks (15 through 19 feet) average about 10 miles per gallon, and larger trucks (over 20 feet) will get about 8 to 10 miles per gallon.
  • Towing: Adding a trailer or car to the back of you moving truck will decrease your fuel efficiency by about about 25%.
  • Distance: How many miles will you be going on your move? Remember, the number of stops and detours you make will all increase your mileage. It’s a good idea to add at least 50 miles to your estimate.

Trying to determine what size truck you’ll need? Figure it out with MYMOVE’s guide.

Estimating your moving truck’s gas costs

When you have all your numbers ready, divide the number of miles you’ll be going (leaving some extra room for detours) by the MPG for your size truck. Remember to decrease your fuel efficiency by about 25% if you’re towing a car. From there, multiply the number of gallons you need by the average gas price. Here are some real-world examples using a 10′ U-Haul truck, which gets an estimated 12 MPG:

RouteMilesGallons neededCost*Boston to Los Angeles3,033252.8$931.13Cleveland to Seattle2,456204.7$753.99Charlotte to Phoenix2,141178.4$657.29New York to Dallas1,597133.1$490.28Philadelphia to New Orleans1,272106.0$390.50Portland to San Francisco68557.1$210.30Chicago to Detroit33127.6$101.62Orlando to Tampa13411.2$41.14*National average of $3.684 (as of 09/22/22)

Remember: You’ll need to return that truck with a full tank. So how much will this cost you? Small to medium moving trucks have a 30 to 40-gallon tank, larger trucks have a tank that’s between 50 and 60 gallons. If you have a truck with a 50-gallon gas tank and gas is averaging $4 a gallon, it will cost you $200 to fill the tank before you turn in those keys.

What does it cost to fill up a big rig? At today's retail diesel prices, which are around $3.00 per gallon according to SONAR (DTS. USA), a truck with one 120-gallon tank would cost around $360 to fill up or $900 for the longer-haul trucks with two 150-gallon tanks.

How much does fuel cost for a semi truck?

For all of 2021, the average owner-operator spent 48 cents per mile on fuel. This number can vary depending on the type of freight and weight you are hauling. Dry van owner-operators spent 45 cents per mile on fuel, Reefer owner-operators spent 51 cents per mile on fuel and Flatbedders spent 52 cents per mile on fuel.

How much do 18 wheelers spend on gas?

The average trucker travels around 68,000 per year at 5.29 miles per gallon, meaning they spend about $37,400 per year to gas up their truck.

How far can a semi go on a full tank?

Semi trucks can go about 2,100 miles on a tank of diesel fuel (not usually gasoline), assuming tanks totaling 300 gallons and an average fuel efficiency of 7 miles per gallon. Of course, each driver needs to know the fuel tank size and fuel efficiency in his or her truck.

How much oil does it take to fill up a 18 wheeler?

The engines inside semi trucks can hold about 15+ gallons of oil compared to the 4 to 6 quarts held by passenger car engines. How many gallons of gas does a semi hold? The range is between 125 and 300 gallons of fuel.

It Costs ?HOW MUCH? To Fill Up A Semi Truck?!?!

What mpg does a semi get?

On average, semi-trucks get only 6.5 miles per gallon. Their efficiency ranges wildly between 3 mpg going up hills to more than 23 mpg going downhill. But even if it were possible to plan entire routes with only downhill roads, that's not the most efficient method of improving fuel efficiency.

How often do you change oil in a semi truck?

Generally, an oil change for a semi truck is recommended after about 25,000 miles. With recent developments in engine efficiency and oil itself, the distance interval between oil changes has increased significantly, allowing drivers to go further between service visits.

How fast can a semi truck go without trailer?

Ranging from a speed limit of 55 miles per hour (mph) to 85 mph, the maximum speed limit for trucks varies from state-to-state. Currently, California has the most conservative maximum speed limit for trucks–55 mph.

How often do semi-trucks break down?

It has been reported that semi-trucks break down on average every 10,000 miles at the roadside and the most common issues have been to do with cooling, wheels, braking systems, and tires.

How long does a semi engine last?

Bigger engines and technology make semi-truck engines last on average 720,000 miles, with many lasting well over a million miles. Just like with any vehicle, how you drive it and how well you maintain it will be a good indicator of how long it will last you.

Do truckers pay their own gas?

Owner-operators: An owner-operator, who is usually an independent contractor, traditionally pays for fuel out of his or her own wallet, making saving money at the diesel pump very important. For many owner-operators, fuel expenses become part of their daily overhead.

Why do semi trucks cost so much?

The need to carry freight has remained strong, and trucking companies with staffed drivers on the road can start charging higher fees. Those extra funds could, in turn, be used to purchase more expensive vehicles if and when they become available.

How much does it cost to run a tractor trailer per mile?

The latest data from the National Private Truck Council (NPTC) says the average trucking cost per mile in the U.S. for private fleets is $2.90.

How much do truckers make per mile?

Average truck driver pay per mile is between 28 and 40 cents per mile. Most drivers complete between 2,000 and 3,000 miles per week. That translates into average weekly pay ranging from $560 to $1,200. If you drove all 52 weeks in a year at those rates, you would earn between $29,120 and $62,400.

How much diesel does a semi-truck use?

Idling a heavy-duty truck consumes about 0.8 gallon of fuel per hour. Even when diesel costs as little as $2.50 a gallon, fuel for one 10-hour rest period will cost $20. Typically, a long-haul truck idles about 1,800 hours per year, using about 1,500 gallons of diesel.

How big is the gas tank on an 18 wheeler?

Semi-truck fuel tanks do come in varying sizes, but they hold an average of 125 to 300 gallons of fuel. A fuel tank sits on each side of the tractor and fuel is distributed between the two tanks to balance the truck's total weight.

How many miles does an 18 wheeler last?

Average Lifespan of Semi Trucks

A typical semi truck can last up to around 750,000 miles or more. There have even been trucks to hit the one million mile mark! On average, a semi truck drives about 45,000 miles per year. This means that you can probably expect to get about 15 years of use out of your truck.

What is the safest semi truck?

As one of the safest semi-truck brands, Freightliner takes this into consideration when building their trucks. Several features of the Cascadia and Cascadia Evolution are offered with driver comfort in mind.

How long does a Peterbilt last?

A truck can last 15 million miles with proper maintenance.

How long does it take a semi truck to go 0 to 60?

We know that the Semi will be quick, with 0 to 60 mph in a claimed five seconds (20 seconds with cargo), but it's almost unbelievable to see how swiftly it moves on public roads.

Can a Semi go 100 mph?

We've seen some crazy displays of speed and horsepower from just about every vehicle under the sun, but it's hard to not be blown by a Peterbilt 379 dump truck going well over 100 MPH on the highway.

How often do semi trucks change tires?

Semi-Truck Tire Repair & Replacement Guidelines

Most experts agree that semi-truck tire replacement should occur every three to six years. If your tires were purchased more than six years ago, it's probably a good idea to start looking at replacement tires for your fleet.

How many gallons of gas fill a semi truck?

Semi-truck fuel tanks do come in varying sizes, but they hold an average of 125 to 300 gallons of fuel. A fuel tank sits on each side of the tractor and fuel is distributed between the two tanks to balance the truck's total weight.

How many gallons of gas are in a 18 wheeler?

Semi-trucks have one to two fuel tanks that hold about 120 to 160 gallons each. If a truck has one tank on each side, it could hold up to 300 gallons of gas. Drivers need to have large amounts of fuel because the average miles per gallon (mpg) for semi-trucks is only 5.6 mpg.