U.P. Truckers face financial disaster

Cybergal · Dec 3, 2007

U.P. Truckers face financial disaster
12/3/07

MASS CITY A meeting of log truck drivers Saturday in a small Ontonagon county hamlet could have ripple effects across the state for one of Michigans top industries.

More than 70 truckers, loggers and industry shareholders voiced their concerns at the Greenland Township Community Center about the rising cost of diesel fuel prices.

If things continue as they are, well all be done by spring, said Jason Tapani, an owner/operator in Chassell and one of the meetings organizers.

Tapani said the industry standard 10 years ago was a formula of allowing 25 percent for wages, 25 percent for insurance and maintenance, 25 percent for truck payments and 25 percent for fuel.

At $3.56 for a gallon of diesel, fuel costs now account for 50 percent of his total expenses, he said, making it impossible to operate his business legally and turn a profit.

Im working 85 hours a week and Im barely surviving, he said. I shouldnt have to work that hard and not see it in my business.

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mininggazette>>>>

myminpins · Dec 3, 2007

Cybergal · Dec 6, 2007

12/6/07

Divided, truckers will definitely fall
Times are tough for those in the logging and paper manufacturing sector. Once the state's second largest industry, both wood products manufacturing and paper manufacturing are now considered declining industries in the Upper Peninsula according to an industry sector analysis prepared by the Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Growth.

That report found jobs in the wood products manufacturing fell 18.7 percent from 2004 to 2006, while paper manufacturing jobs fell 4.4 percent during the same time period.

The high price of fuel could be the final nail in the coffin for an industry already in decline.

While jobs should be more in demand based on the recent property sales from large land companies to paper companies, there's a problem getting that timber to the mills.

A group of 70 truckers, loggers and industry shareholders are gathering momentum in their efforts to find a solution to the rising cost of diesel fuel, which they say currently accounts for 50 percent of their total expenditures.
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http://www.mininggazette.com/stories/articles.asp?articleID=9704

BumpInTheRoad · Dec 6, 2007

The Rising cost of diesel fuel is taking it's toll already.

CAZ · Dec 7, 2007

I live in the U.P my current job is to selling semi tires. Alot of my business comes from loggers and they are hurting badly. It also has affected my badly as well. I have taken a big loss in pay being that I work on commission. That's why I will be going to driving school march 3rd. With the price of fuel and price of tires which take 11 gallons of crude oil to make 1 semi tire. And the price of wood way down it does not look good for the logging industry.

Designors · Dec 7, 2007

You can thank Oil Tycoon Bush for that .... he is going to be the downfall for O/O .... but he is sitting on a nice penny when he gets outta office

Oil prices HOPEFULLY will go down once that putz is outta office

wallbanger · Dec 8, 2007

Designors said: ↑

You can thank Oil Tycoon Bush for that .... he is going to be the downfall for O/O .... but he is sitting on a nice penny when he gets outta office

Oil prices HOPEFULLY will go down once that putz is outta office
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Yeah well, I think we are all hoping for that. But I won't be holding my breath.

PaidByThePound · Oct 26, 2011

Designors said: ↑

You can thank Oil Tycoon Bush for that .... he is going to be the downfall for O/O .... but he is sitting on a nice penny when he gets outta office

Oil prices HOPEFULLY will go down once that putz is outta office
Click to expand...

old thread but, LMAO!!!! boy fuel has really dropped since Bush hasnt it!!!!!

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