Nobody ever said that driving a truck was cheap but that does not mean that there is not any number of ways to save some hard earned cash. Remember that from the outset the gross amount of money the truck driver makes is reduced by their expenses and the more of these expenses they save the more money is in the pot to take home at the end of the week.

By far the most expensive item of investment that any truck driver will ever have to make is of course the rig and any self respecting trucker will want to purchase the best equipment that can be bought. I these recessional times there are always many used trucks in excellent condition at a reasonable price. It must however be remembered that it will not come with the fully warranty available to the purchaser of a brand new truck.

It stands to reason that it is essential to shop around for the best interest rate to ensure that your monthly payments are kept as low as possible and if you can manage to pay of extra on the principle of the loan it will reduce the amount of interest you pay over the term of the loan.

To neglect routine maintenance and servicing of your truck is a force economy and money spent on such things as hoses and oil changes at regular intervals will keep your rig in peak condition and will stand you in good stead in the long run. Oh and don’t forget to keep the correct air pressure in your tires to aid on saving on fuel economy.

Whilst on the subject of fuel, keep a close eye on fuel prices when you are driving along – it is often possible to save quite a few cents per gallon by choosing another and cheaper truck stop. Remember some of the truck chains have card facilities that again save you several cents on the gallon. They also often have a points system where you can amass points towards money of the cost of a meal.

Washing facilities for truck drivers now also come at a premium now days and is not unheard of for some of the truck stops to charge up to $8.00 for a shower. One way to avoid this is only to go to those stops that throw in the shower for free if you buy so many gallons of fuel from them. Change your fuelling routine to take advantage of these stops.

It stands to reason that truckers have to eat but the cost of food at truck stops can be quite high so why not invest in a small refrigerator in the cab of your rig? There are many inexpensive models available. Just pack your lunch, meat drinks and snacks in it to keep fresh. It is also another way to eat more healthily and to avoid the fast food which is the normal fare of truck stops. Why not go the whole hog and buy a small butane stove which you can buy especially for your truck to cook at hot meal.

There are numerous things a truck drivers needs for their personal comfort such as toothpaste, soap, deodorant, mouthwash and razors. These items are costly to purchase from the truck stop and you should always ensure you take a ready supply with you in a small overnight bag. It would also be a good idea to pack several changes of clothes and towels depending how long you are on road for as laundry costs at truck stops can soon mount up.

These are just a few of the ways to ensure that your hard earned money stays in your wallet.

Happy Trucking!

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