Prepare Yourself For It. July Is The Time.

[18wheeldumptrucker]

The only thing that's keeping the bucket rolling is some big road projects up here. I know, you think I'm lying. You can only say to yourself, "he lives in Ohio, they don't fix roads up there!!??" but, oddly enough, ODOT keeps on doing SOMETHING!!????

[Hilltop]

I saw on the news..If fuel stayed on course with the rate of infaltion it would only be $1.86 a gallon on avarage....

Something is just not right...

[Hammer166]

Everyone keeps screaming 'obscene profits', ExxonMobil has about a 9% profit margin. I realize this is a hard concept, but when you're a huge corporation, 9% comes out to a huge number. There's plenty of companies that turn a higher percentage profit, but most of them are no where near as large as Exxon. I turn more than 10% profit, you coming after my money, too?

The longer the focus stays on 'big oil', the better the politicians like it! It allows them to be unaccountable for the mess they've gotten us into. As far back as the early '90s, most E&P (exploration and production) money has been spent overseas. Phillips petroleum flat out said in an annual report "the current environmental regulations push exploration costs too high too justify spending any E&P money in the US."

The environmentalists keep insisting that drilling is not the answer, some form of alternative energy is the way to go. Eventually, yes. But government can not mandate technological advancements, they only happen when it makes economic sense. Don't you think if there was an easy solution the energy companies would be all over it? Biofuels aren't the answer, 100% of our corn crop to ethanol production would make up less than half our current petroleum use. There's another thread here somewhere about a car that runs on compressed air. No pollution! HA! That electricity to compress that has to come from somewhere, and every new power plant of any type is fought tooth and nail. They're claiming $3 dollar fill ups. # 4700 psi? They have no clue what it takes to generate that kind of pressure with any decent amount of volume.

So what's the answer? No one knows, yet. You find the replacement for the internal combustion engine, you let me know. And don't tell me hybrid, they are awesome for urban use, but on the highway the are no more efficient than an equivalently sized normal vehicle. The next step will be as vast as that from steam to diesel on the railroads, a technology wholly unrelated to Internal combustion, not the current tweaks being trotted around these days.

[freightmaster]

The time has come for you to do your own homework! Either get with the program or be on your own!

[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.

[Hilltop]

INTERESTING THOUGH FOR THE DAY... JUST GOT THIS FROM A FRIEND..

OPEC sells oil for $128.00 a barrel.

OPEC nations buy U.S. Grain at $7.00 a bushel.

Solution: Sell grain for $128.00 a bushel.

Can't buy it? Tough! Eat your oil!

Then, oil will come down.

[Hammer166]

I realized I didn't tie that last post to the thread very well...

So what do we strike for? To get rid of the politicians? Only getting off your brain and voting will do that. And then only if you THINK. Policy is currently driven by what people feel. And feelings are more easily influenced than thought, and if you think the policy strategists don't know that I've a nice bridge to show ya.

How bout Big Oil? As mentioned, their margin is quite reasonable, percentage wise. The environmentalists are probably the most accurate target on fuel issues, but they have the non-thinking class sold on their world view.

No, ladies and gentlemen, the real issue to dealt with surrounds you every night in the truck stops. There are too many truckers hauling freight at a loss. Only in trucking is there a downward pressure on rates no matter what volume is like. So as painful as the next couple of quarters may be, they may be the best long term solution. Will it be easy to see? No, I've got friends who are fine people but horrible businessmen. They need to fail, and if they don't learn from their mistakes, fail again. If they won't learn and come back better and stronger, they should be employees, not owners. Go grab a history book, most really successful people have failed at least once. And learned from it. And I'm not saying 'don't help em, ' I'm saying don't enable them. A man stuck in a well needs help out of the well, not a better shovel to dig deeper.

So look in that mirror. The rainy day hath come. Were you ready? And think on this: how do you strike against yourself? For surely many of those striking will be ones at the root of the problem.

Three thoughts to close:

1. Run smarter, not harder.

2. Shiny is nice, but it don't pay the bills.

(and, for the BBRs)

3. THERE AIN'T NO STINKIN BACKHAULS!!!

[Hilltop]

Well with the rate of inflation we should only be paying around the ballpark of $1.89 per gallon..

Freight at a loss. Mmmmmmm! Let's look at that one for a moment..Economy is bad now and to give in and get more for frieght is all well in Good but nobody is buying products like last year at this time...Make me believe that the economy is bad right now..And if the price of goods keep going up..Goods might end up sitting in ware houses then and nobody makes anything

[AfterShock]

Originally Posted by freightmaster

The time has come for you to do your own homework! Either get with the program or be on your own!

Now, I'm gonna admit right off, that I haven't made the trip to the site you've suggested, ...... yet, FreightMaster, and I might be goin' out on a limb here,.............. but,

I think the O/O's, I/C's, and Leased Big truck truck drivers HAVE been "with the program" -- in an attempt to be "on their own", for quite awhile now.

And it seems the more "on their own", they're told they ARE, -- by those who implement the "program(s), -- what the truckers actually own "on their own" is rapidly decreasing.

Have y'all noticed red ink is sellin' more at the Office Supply Stores
these daze?

Those who find themselves struggling financially ARE doin' their homework.
Or they SHOULD be. And SHOULD have been ALL along the watch tower.
Big truck truckin' is what it is, and it IS a business.
And SHOULD be run as such.

Ahhhhh,
the rewards of bein' "on their own".
And that's just the tip of the ice cube.

"Homework" SHOULD be a never-ending assignment.
But it's useless, these daze, to get too far ahead on their "homework" --- because the answers can change before the assignment is do to be turned in for credit, --- or debit, (all depends), and they have to recalculate everything all over ....... again -- in triplicate sometimes -- and maybe even retro-active.
All that can get a tad confusin' though.

But, .........................................

All that can be learned, in time, by research and constant learnin' and re-learnin' --- in the trucker's spare time while they're out there Big truck truckin' from sea to shining sea and all across the fruited plain.
How hard can that be?

However, if they're blessed, they'll have an equally yolked mate or significant other at the home-20 who keeps the home fires burnin' and the books up to date.

I've also heard those folks bein' called 'Angels' --
and keepers for sure.
Personalized book-keepin' by someone with y'all's BEST interest in mind who can and does keep up with the "program", while the Big truck trucker gits 'er done, ---- as they've always tried to do, -- all too often in SPITE of the "program'.

SOMEtimes, those who help themSELVES
get the help they REALLY need.

Desk drivers usually don't have their rear-view mirrors adjusted properly. Not that they'd gaze into them anyway.
They're too obsessed with maintaining the image that they're earning their pay-checks, and have their eyes wide shut as they plan their job security and healthy retirement pensions.
Ain't got time to look back
and see the carnage their help has and is creating.
Besides ---- seein' that wouldn't make them FEEL good.
Knowing they HAVE made a difference, is the only difference that separates them from a feeling of failure.
Never mind that the difference is a failure.
It's the THOUGHT that counts,........ right?

Or maybe both poppa & momma are both on the Big truck that's on the road --- just to make (their?) ends meet --- in the end.
Just tryin' to stay ahead of the end, before it all ends --- as they try to avoid the roadblocks that get thrown in their way along the way, usually after makin' a detailed trip-plan.

See what I mean about gettin' too far ahead
with the homework?

And, ALL the help implemented by the gubmint desk drivers doesn't come cheaply either.
NopE!
AfterAll, they're EXPERTS at what they do,
or don't do --- as the case may be.

They're experts at spendin' stuff.
And especially when the experienced gubmint is spendin' tax monies -- a lot of which could assist an American Trucker, --
But instead, they spend a LOT of the tax monies on and for the support of illegal aliens.
Many of which receive $75 for unloading one Big truck's trailer. And they often unload 4 or 5 of those trailers in a day.

Simple cypherin' would indicate that illegal un(free)loader -- if they're workin' a 5 day week, could bring in around $90,000 a year -- probably tax-free -- while our taxes educate their offspring and provide them food and medical care for their (extended) family.

But I hear no Americans want to un-load semi-trailers.
And I notice who's tellin' me that.

I reckon it's just a case of prioritizing.

TO each ----
according to their needs.
FROM each ----
according to their ability.

Imagine that.
And go figure.
Does that sound good for y'all?

Now, I'm hearin' talk of yet another "Trucker's Strike" call to arms.
How many is this now?
I lost track a loonnng time ago.

On the plus side though --- AFTER each "strike" I always noticed what changed, and it was always the same, -----
Nothing.
At least not for the better.

Dad-gummit!
Let's do again what hasn't worked before.
What are the odds it'll turn out exactly the same
only different THIS time?
MayBE we'll get lucky!

Calling ALL Lemming Limited Truckers!
When y'all hear the command -- move out toward yonder cliff with a drop to the deep, blue body of water, far, far below,
FULL speed ahead.
Don't look back.
Keep your eyes out of focus on what's ahead.
Ignore the facts.
We'll show 'em.
TRUCKERS CAN SHUT DOWN AMERICA!

And, by golly we oughta DO IT!
That'd sure get J.Q. Public's undivided attention, ---- and make them aware of just who WE are.
And what we CAN do, if we put our collective minds together.
Ya reckon.

And when J.Q. and his family soon run outta toilet paper, can y'all just imagine the impression the Public Family will have of the bully Big truckers who are making the Public Family's life miserable?

##**&%%## !
Truckers!

If they even read any of the truckers' demands, they'll think of their OWN demands first.
Guaranteed!

Git back to work, you bad Big truckin' guys and gals!
QUICK!
Or we'll run y'all OFF the road.
Y'all just get in our way, anyway.
Who needs you, mean-spirited, Big truck bullies?

We've put up with y'all's whinin' long enough now.

By-Golly! -----------------------

They're OUR commodities.
And WE want them
YESTERDAY !!

Now git 'er done!

OH!
An AfterShock AfterThought --------
Just WHO do y'all think is gonna get blamed for the rise in price of said commodities IF freight rates rise to the occasion?

HuH?

SaY what?

WhO?

The wasklie Big truck truckers will get the blame?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
I think you're right.
Who said that?

Well, next time,
raise your hand first.
Don't just blurt out the answer(s).
Y'all never know when a desk driver might be readin' these threads in an attempt to research for the correct answer(s).

Sure wouldn't wanna steer them in the wrong direction. They do a good job of THAT all by themselves.
Doncha know.

[18wheeldumptrucker]

Originally Posted by Hilltop

INTERESTING THOUGH FOR THE DAY... JUST GOT THIS FROM A FRIEND..

OPEC sells oil for $128.00 a barrel.

OPEC nations buy U.S. Grain at $7.00 a bushel.

Solution: Sell grain for $128.00 a bushel.

Can't buy it? Tough! Eat your oil!

Then, oil will come down.

I like this way of thinking. This should make everyone who supports wanting lower fuel prices to contact their representitives, and congressmen. I beleive that there is no excuse to let these nations off and sell them our commodities on the cheap. This is where we can have them by the balls, seeing as how they can't grow much of anything.

[18wheeldumptrucker]

Originally Posted by 18wheeldumptrucker

The only thing that's keeping the bucket rolling is some big road projects up here. I know, you think I'm lying. You can only say to yourself, "he lives in Ohio, they don't fix roads up there!!??" but, oddly enough, ODOT keeps on doing SOMETHING!!????

Damn!!! I'm quotin' myself!! Just found out that the company that we're contracted to is laying off or firing a bunch of their employees due to the "down turn" in the economy. I guess this was perhaps just the "first wave". Kinda have to wonder hwo long until they trickle down to the contract drivers?? Starting to get pretty scary around here!