Going against the grain

Save a spot for me starting 01/01/13...

Nice chatting with you today...

Rick

 

I'm also optimistic about opportunities in trucking, but not really because of the economy. I think it's more for practical reasons, some of which you mentioned. Like you said there is certain niche markets the major shippers really can't serve.

I think you'll always be successful Bill, whether the economy improves or not because you take the time to educate yourself and pay attention to all aspects of your business. Communication, compliance, equipment purchases and sales, maintenance, accounting, etc... all areas where you can make money. It seems to me there are many still thinking their job is just to deliver from point A to point B and they really throw away all their profits by making poor decisions in other areas. Sometimes something as simple as sending texts or emails with pics, or calling with an ETA and sticking out your hand and striking up a conversation will land a guy solid repeat business. Or just knowing where to take your truck to get a broken spring fixed can save a thousand dollars. Or being able to make some repairs yourself, and being able to figure if it is better to let a shop do it. I just still see alot of guys doing it wrong, makes me think those of us that are doing it right or at least trying to do it right will be successful.

 

No, really don't see things getting better. Yes, the economy is rebooting, many repoed houses have been sold off and some jobs have been created at much lower wages for most people who lost their jobs over the past 5 years due to companies moving out of the country. Most people I know do not have the money to buy new cars or homes and the like, most are just getting by. I see the things happening now, happening due to a election year boost. Next year things will fall back down and trucking will slow back down.

As long as the Government keeps printing money, our money we have will be worth less and less, thus limiting buying power and hampering the growth of the economy.

 

I agree there is money to be made out there, I hope to be recovered enough from a bad accident that I was in last August to be able to buy my own truck at the end of this year or the beginning of next!

 

Without getting all political - much depends on what happens this November. Election Year Rhetoric notwithstanding.

Since fuel prices are "artificially set" anyway (and not all that dependent on ACTUAL SUPPLY) - remember how fuel took a HUGE DROP in the summer preceding last election? Diesel was topping out around $5 per in July of '08 (and gasoline right up there also), then all of a sudden, in September it was down under $3? All artificial, all to create a "perception". The price of FUEL, drives the landed prices of GOODS - all perception, all manipulated (meaning NOT REAL).

The economy has the "perception" of having rebounded slightly. Due to all the screwing around the banks and foreclosure mills got caught red-handed in, the pace of actual final hearings (and new filings) slowed greatly - which doesn't meant there aren't still a zillion mortgages in default now, plus ones that will go that way next year - just the pace of actions by the banks has slowed, in order to not cause the (perception) of additional "alarm" about "good people ending up homeless". Similarly goes the "unemployment rate" - which is based on people ON UNEMPLOYMENT, not counting the folks whose benefits have run out and are STILL NOT EMPLOYED. PERCEPTION.

As far as Bills call on the larger Transport companies having their capacity (via equipment replacement/expansion) driven by SHAREHOLDER CONCERNS (based again, on perception) that the ROI on purchasing new equipment doesn't justify the expense of doing so - is probably spot on. That and CSA 2010 having the desired effect of forcing drivers into "un-hireability", and forcing companies to take a hard look at the bottom line of the equipment hits they're taking (anyone see CRE's latest numbers?). Schnieder replacing 3,000 units out of its 10,000 is probably by dire necessity - they aren't UPGRADING capacity, they're maintaining capacity.

So, Bills assertion that the future may lie in RELATIONSHIPS, and the "big boys" finding it more profitable to BROKER, versus updating their fleets and/or expanding capacity, may in reality BE more profitable for them (and potentially US as O/O's).

It's time for US to GET SMARTER, OPERATE SMARTER and WORK TOGETHER (not saying we should resurrect Hoffa from whatever 55 gallon drum he's floating in, mind you) - but the competition shouldn't be US AGAINST EACH OTHER - but US AGAINST THE ECONOMY.

This could be a great time, in the coming year or two - for SMART FOLKS (not calling anyone here DUMB) to build RELATIONSHIPS, learn how to play in todays game, learn how to run more profitably, and be BUSINESSMAN (that may also happen to be DRIVERS - rather than drivers, who are trying to be BUSINESSMAN) - it's all about PERCEPTION - and it really comes down to: how WE PERCEIVE OURSELVES, and how we PRESENT OURSELVES AS BUSINESSMAN - that holds the key to whether we are REALLY SUCCESSFUL, versus "just getting by", versus FAILURE.

Rick

Who should really wait for his second cup of coffee and at least 3rd cigarette of the morning before posting...

 

You mean James Hebe of Navistar is wrong ?

. http://www.ttnews.com/articles/printnews.aspx?storyid=21792

 

I'll say after getting an education on this issue from members here I changed my opinion on it and think it one of the worst anti-competitive measures out there and really don't get why OOIDA would support such a thing. The tools are out there to check credit and pay histories of brokers.