Accounting for Inter-Use of Vehicle  (#46, Winter 2002)

Where equipment is used for both the linehaul and local pickup and delivery activities, an allocation must be made to charge each activity with vehicle costs.  Carrier’s not making such an allocation in their own accounting systems may utilize TCG’s Inter-use of Vehicle Adjustment when processing their general ledger files.  

The general ledger processing routine makes the allocation by prorating all vehicle expenses based on linehaul vs. P&D miles.  However, optional fields to refine the allocation can be utilized as well:

Average Linehaul Miles per Gallon (MPG), and

Average P&D Miles per Gallon (MPG)

                         and/or

Average Linehaul Miles per Hour (MPH), and

Average P&D Miles per Hour (MPH)

These fields follow the fields for linehaul and P&D miles which appear on the general ledger processing settings screen, when the inter-use of vehicle adjustment is specified in the processing settings.

If miles per gallon averages are entered, the fuel component of vehicle costs will be allocated using fuel usage (Miles/MPG) rather than strictly on a mileage basis.  This generally allocates more fuel cost to pickup and delivery, recognizing the poorer fuel efficiency experienced in that activity.

Miles per hour, if entered for both activities, will be used to adjust vehicle depreciation partially on a driving time basis (Miles/MPH) rather than only on miles, reflecting the poorer speeds generally experienced in the P&D activity.  This applies 25% of depreciation based on time, the other 75% based on mileage, which is an industry standard for application of vehicle depreciation (the mix can be modified if desired - contact TCG).

Both sets of averages must be developed and provided from internal data and studies.  When entered, the averages are saved and used each time a general ledger is processed.

Other vehicle costs such as tires, supplies and maintenance will still be allocated to the two activities based on miles.

Updated February, 2005

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Phone: 800-328-9700
E-Mail: kmm@tcgcis.com
Address: 1355 Piccard Drive, Suite 310, Rockville, MD 20850
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