Are You A Stump Grinder Dealing With High Gas Prices? Here Are Some Tips.

Everyone sees and feels the high fuel prices. The national average is about $5/gallon for diesel. Fuel cost per job may seem insignificant, but it does add up. Our company has found that fuel costs make up about 10% of our operating costs. So, what are some ways you can save on fuel? Here are some practices we've found to help save on fuel.

1. Keep teeth sharp. This is #1 because it's the most important. In terms of time, having sharp teeth can cut a larger job in half. Instead of using half a tank of fuel on a large stump, it takes a quarter of a tank. That would save me about $11. There are other good reasons to keep your teeth sharp: the entire machine doesn't have to work as long or as hard, you finish the job sooner, which means you can go home early, and it doesn't create as much dust.

2. Group jobs. Taking phone calls, giving estimates, and scheduling is a job in and of itself. Unfortunately, most stump grinding companies aren't at the point where they can hire a secretary, which means all the scheduling falls to you. As the jobs come in and everything else goes on, it's easy to schedule inefficiently, crisscrossing town, wasting precious time and expensive fuel. Try combining with at least one other job on that side of town. Or try scheduling the jobs, so your route forms a circle.

3. Use a cashback app. An app like Upside gives cashback on fuel purchases (as well as food and groceries). How does it work? It knows your location and gives the fuel price of nearby gas stations, with the adjusted savings. If you need fuel, check your route to the next job and see which gas station will give you the lowest price. All of the accumulated cashback can be redeemed at restaurants, home improvement centers or transferred to your bank account.

As you optimize your stump grinding company, remember this: it's possible to be penny wise and pound foolish. The savings found by following these practices would be completely undone with one large, extravagant purchase.