A project involves transporting iron pipe to a jobsite that is 43 miles from the supplier. The pipe will be hauled in trucks that can carry 16 pipes per load. Each pipe is 20 ft in length. The average haul speed of a truck will be 50 mi./hr and return speed of 55 mi./hr. A loader at the supplier will load trucks at a rate of 5 min. per pipe and a crawler tractor with a side boom at the jobsite can unload the pipe at a rate of 8 min. per pipe.
The cost of the loader, with operator, at the supplier is $85.00/hr and the cost of the tractor, with operator, at the jobsite is $75.00/hr. The cost of a truck with driver is $55.00/hr. Determine the economical number of trucks and the direct cost per foot of pipe for transporting the pipe.