Perfect Fuel Prices!

Exactly right!!!

Lets not forget that many shippers are already paying the "proper" FSC and yet it is not getting to where it is supposed to. Also with the fuel discount that JB, Werner, Swift..... get they can absorb a higher fuel cost because they bought futures. When we were paying $2.75 and they bought it at ????$.98/gl????? bulk. Now that the price of fuel has gone up they can ask for an increase in FSC from thier customers perhaps low enough not to alarm them but still higher than what they were getting so they are now making more money off the FSC that they really do not need. Why do you think they advertise o/o's pay only $1.25/gl?

 

So exactly what is your solution for smaller companies that cannot get FSC right now? simply park and go out of business?

 

As the rich gets richer, the trucker gets poorer.

 

Holy you know what, did I just read this guys post correctly.... LOL, this is exactly why nothing will happen, negative outlooks on striking will not help, blah blah. Some will step up, and anything is possible.

 

No one is standing around here. Striking would not have been my first option, but it's happening. Now that it's on, the public needs to be aware of why we're doing this. By striking we run the risk of alienating the public's trust even more if we do not strike in a respectful manner. None of us want to blockade freeways, on-ramps, off-ramps or toll booths. Otherwise cause havoc that public employees have done in the past. But Parking and Shutting Down in front of "City Hall" accomplishes many things. It shows that

• We can organize as an industry
• Make our grievances known peacefully
• Communicate with the public and improve our IMAGE

We're not asking for "Hand-outs" btw!!! We just want to be able run our businesses and turn a profit. It's a sad state of affairs when fuel cost more than insurance, more than the mortgage and in some cases both!!!

There's nary an O/O who wants a government handout. That's why we're INDEPENDENT. But Don't Screw US over by kowtowing to the special interests groups like the envior-whackos and the pro-Mexican truck lobbies. Our politicians forgot who put them in the office in the first place. We're mad but we're not stupid. Most of us would rather be hitting the road and turning the wheels than striking. But our livelihoods and our independence are at stake.

Trucking is American as apple pie and putting a man on the moon. We're movers and shakers around here.

We Ain't Standing Around

 

How about you go buy a truck and trailer, run out west then back and pay for fuel and then come on here and talk all this crap. Yes i get a fuel surcharge but the bull s#it surcharge is not enough to cover the #### fuel that keeps going up, what is it at now 63cpm? HAHA thanks, right now it costs around 80cpm to operate my truck. All OOIDA is good for is their dumb lawsuits and bull S#it insurance they try to push on you. You have no idea what you are talking about untill you are in our shoes, and by the sound of you i doubt you have your own truck.

 

I must be missing something here. Why can't an independent implement a FSC? I'm independent and I implement one. I don't even charge an FSC for the most part because my rates are calculated on my cost per mile (adjusted weekly), but if I am being asked to bid on something either long term or in the future, I include an FSC clause.

Am I planning to "strike?" Uh, no.... I'm doing quite well, thank you very much. Is fuel higher by $1/gal since August? Uh, yes. Yet I'm making more profit per mile than I was a year ago. You want to know my secret? JUST SAY NO TO CHEAP FREIGHT! It's really quite simple. You want to hear a shipper or a broker squeal? Tell them what you WILL haul for (and don't be greedy). No need to be rude, ruthless or anything less than professional; just either say no or give them your rate.

If you are leased to a carrier.....quit! Go find another carrier and negotiate what you need to be successful. Or get your own authority and be truly independent.

If you have contracts with shippers and you did not include an FSC clause, shame on you. Calculate what it costs you to get out of the contract or just live with it until you can renegotiate.

Going on "strike" is silly and will only negatively impact the public's perception of those in our industry. Indepedents can't "strike" by the way. If you don't want to haul cheap freight, then by all means park your rigs until you can get what you need to be successful. Demanding that someone do something about higher fuel prices because you can't manage your business is just wrong.