FEMA loads - reasonable daily rates?

Go to this link and you'll see how much those FEMA WATER loads were contracted for. I believe if I read it right, the bidding starts at $7million, for 470 truck loads and that equals to $14893.16/truck. Granted they get all those trucks, otherwise who knows where it goes to.

https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=cc880a40090973396e743ca5694baf07&tab=core&_cview=0

 

It's not "price gouging" - it's covering your financial butt - If you take a load (any load) to an area hit by a disaster (in this case, a Hurricane), odds are pretty high you're NOT going to get a load back out of that area. So, if you normally charge $2.00-$2.50/mile for a load, you better double it for loads to an area you know you're going to have to dead-head out of without a load - that make sense?

 

Made more sense 5 years ago

 

Old thread that has suddenly become very applicable! I happened to catch some TV this morning. I don't know if it was CNN or FNN. Anyway, there was some talking head from the network, interviewing a lady that is most probably a bureaucrat. The interviewee was talking to the interviewer about "price gouging" going on in Florida right now. And she named Chevron as being a big one. She also said that government was going to go after price gougers and that the fines are going to be some horrendous amount.
I believe there are a few things she wasn't taking into consideration. For one thing, how many of those Chevron stations are owned by Chevron, vs owned by local business people?
Oh sure, it's easy to point the finger at the big bad oil company that has billions of dollars. But how about the local owner who doesn't have access to a multi-billion back up? The gas station only has so much capacity for storage. They may well have no idea of when, or even if, they are going to be resupplied. Is it price gouging to raise the price of gas you are selling? Or, is it a very logical thing to do, hoping to encourage motorists to just buy enough gas to get them out of the area, there by conserving the amount of fuel each vehicle pumps, in an attempt to have enough gas to get many more people out of harm's way?
This station owner is also looking at a uncertain future for his business. Does it not make sense that he is trying to make as much money as possible to tide him over the rough times ahead?
Is there any difference between the station owner, and the O/O who has to raise his rates so he can afford to haul a load in to the impacted area, then deadhead back out?
To my way of thinking, neither of the above scenarios are price gouging.
Owning a gas station, restaurant, motel or other like business does price gouging when they raise their prices because of an event drawing people to their area. They know full well that after the event, they will still be in business, and will drop their rates.
Ever try to book a room in Vegas during a Dead concert, or any of the big conventions they have? Now THAT is price gouging.

 

Not to mention that usually those areas are a complete cluster duck, we have hauling to Andrew in 92, Northridge in 94, Ground Zero in 01, Katrina in 05, and others.

At a staging yard in Louisianan it was taking 20 HOURS to get unloaded for units for Katrina!!!!

 

There's no such thing as price gouging. Prices going up ensures there's a supply. Price gouging laws are ridiculous political pandering that amount to a whole lotta nothing.

 

Just getting some of your tax money back. Gouge away and don't feel bad about It!

 

Yup, she pointed her fingers at the truckers; I bet she's never been closer than 10 feet from one, much less found a load, delivered it, and had to find another (and put up with all the BS in between). It's easy to point the finger if you have no idea what's going on - even if it is 5 years later!! LOL

 

The word "gouging" comes up quite a lot is situation's like this.
But, what is "gouging"? What price inflation level trigger's "gouging"? They never seem to express just what constitutes "gouging".
If i have an object that is in short supply, should i not be able to maximize my profit?

 

Saw a daily rate on power only at $800 a day....... no TKS .