Article about L.A. / Long Beach port traffic

Trucking is feast and famine. The freight goes to those who have cash money stored against times like these and are ready when the ships pull back in begging to be unloaded by the dozen.

Thats how we survived trucking some years, thousands in cash waiting days or weeks between good loads. because we could. Or simply went home on unemployment until the next season to return to work.

I recall quitting one container company, Port East of Baltimore about 1980's late, they paid 40.00 gross for one box to Norfolk which is about 5 hours one way, then sit from 7 am all the way to 6PM and drag a empty chassis back to the yard in Baltimore arriving at 10PM, sleep 4 hours and go back out at 3 am in a older car burning about 8.00 in gas daily commute. Ultimately there is no point. Futile. No money in it. Wages gross 240, 5 to 6 days weekly, withholding cuts that to about 145 or so, gasoline is around 50 a week leaving 100 and food on road takes care of that in 4 days leaving two without food. which is not that bad when you space a non eating day in between. Maybe save 120 dollars month. Less if you run Chester PA boxes in toll groups on 95.

They got their boxes to norfolk. Many boxes. Until I started having trouble with uppers to stay awake and almost kill people from the way they run their business in daycabs in those days.

I got out of that. Norfolk Ports can take care of themselves just fine. Left overs go to Seagirt in Baltimore. Or Chester or Charlestown etc.

As a result one life long lesson....

Never commit to low wages unless you can profit at the end of day, food, fuel costs and withholdings etc. If you cannot build savings QUIT and join another company who will pay you well. Or get out of the industry go home for 10.00 or 15.00 a hour and do much much better.

 

I'm looking at that empty dock and thinking, "now would probably be a good time for capital improvement."

Maybe shut down two cranes for overhaul, pave the lot, shore up the piers? All the stuff you can't do when you're busy.

 

Not just docks,but everything transportation related.

 

Nah, let's wait until it gets busy again and institute a software upgrade that will grind paperwork to a halt.

 

Guess those high paid longshoremen haven't heard of "saving for a rainy day". No sympathy from me.

 

With the modern robotic, ghost ports being built, they'll be unemployed soon.
China built the first one; it's a giant port with only 11 workers. Everything is done by computer & robots; even loading and unloading the ships.

China Innovation! Watch How China's Biggest Automated Container Terminals Operate Automatically

 

1. 'Ghost port': Asia's first fully-automated port begins ...
   'Ghost port': Asia's first fully-automated port begins operations in Qingdao
   Seven of the world's busiest container terminals are in China but now, one of them is completely void of workers. The eastern port of Qingdao is home to Asia's first fully-automated port, Qingdao New Qianwan Automatic Container Terminal, a change which …
   
   
2. The "ghost port" of Qingdao is starting operations ...
   https://logistik-aktuell.com/2017/12/15/ghost-port-qingdao-starting-operations
   Dec 15, 2017 · Largest port in the world. The Port of Qingdao has traditionally been one of the most important Chinese ports for solid and liquid bulk goods. The Qianwan container port is also just one of four port facilities in Qingdao. There are also the Dagang Port Area and the Huangdao Oil Port – China’s most important port for crude oil imports.
   

 

I know it's coming but what amazes me is how they're willing to spend cubic tons of money to get rid of people but they don't spend a dime to fix existing inefficiencies.

I'm thinking about how when you have an appointment time, (oh wait, the broker gave you the wrong time), and you have a pickup that they're expecting someone to get that day, (sorry, even though you're two hours "late" we're still pulling the order.) but at least they're ready for you when you get there, (we'll call you when a dock opens up.) and cell phones have sure helped (ring, ring, driver? Come into the office and we'll give you a door number)

Then when all is said and done,,,

"RHONDA!! Where's the paperwork for 272 to Baltimore?!? Yeah you said you put it on my desk but where?!?"

 

I took a picture of the dock area for my customers and told them to check stock, might want to order extra right now while they have stock, bc who knows when they will start getting shipments again.