2017 Rates Prediction

I was offered a then fabulous wage of 16 to start in the long house that week in the Baltimore Seaport, thought about it into 50 years of a life making 30 plus dollars an hour. I turned it down because I rather run around the USA on 3 dollars a hour plus food and see it all instead of being cooped up inside a place where people use violence properly.

 

And some like myself, would go the other way. Money isn't everything to some. I have great insurance, make very good money, good retirement, but what's it worth to have piece of mind? To be happy with your job and enjoy what you do? Although I get paid for 40 hours a week, I have roughly 62 hours of time in that 40 hour check. And haven't smiled in years! But you are correct, many may park the truck and sling on a carpenters belt if construction picks up. Been seeing a lot of movement around the state docks here in Alabama where I'm working, lot more than usual. Be safe out there.

 

Construction is picking up here in Fla. Usually when housing and construction picks up so does trucking.

Hurst

 

Agreed. I got out of trucking for 15 yrs after my kids were born. So many things I would have missed out on.
Some things you just cant put a price on. Family first.

More than one way to earn a living.

Hurst

 

Im not doing well at the moment because I am suspecting a railroad building up. At night UP is running rolling meets where one train over takes a slowr train. I guess if I start hearing the screech of DOD heavy tank flatcars empty being rounded up by the hundreds several times a day and night I'll assume we are fixing to go to war. Again.

 

Wondered about the future of construction yesterday, as I watched a barge loaded with coal go past on the Mobile river. Lost one of my best men yesterday, had to get him on the road to Willard, Ohio to replace a motor on a turntable for the RR. Trains are backing up, and the big wigs are squirming lol. Now they are thinking about sending a man to Mississippi to get the motor as they drop off other things to me here in Mobile, Al. I see a lot of things stirring in these RR yards, State a Docks, and on the river. May be a gleam of light at the end of the tunnel for the blue color worker?

 

Maybe. War is one possibility on short notice. I'll keep an eye and ear out we have been down this road before what with North Korea fixing to fly a ICBM that they apparently just built and need to test in against the UN Resolutions. China cannot be too happy with N. Korea constantly digging to build a missile that can deliver a nuclear strike against the lower 48 states here in the USA.

 

UN... LOL

 

Oh no. Not those two letters. They are just letters in the alphabet. Ive already been told off once and not going to nibble on those two nice little letters today. So you pardon me when I pass on that LOL.

 

I was in site development for the better part of 15 yrs.

I'm no expert on economics,.. but based on my perception, everything seems to revolve around housing. Everything from banking to construction, trucking, retail,.. etc all has a trickle down effect based on housing.

Following the housing market is usually a pretty good way to gauge whether or not we'll have a good year in trucking or not.