Perfect Fuel Prices!

Yes in the ideal world if diesel prices go higher we as business people should be able to pass the cost along. Unfortunately that is not the case. Shippers expect us to eat the cost of fuel and so do the uneducated consumers who blame the high cost of products on the shipping. The same went for the dump truck industry, especially in CA where even the most seasoned O/Os have gone out of business unable to compete with bottom feeders who either are subsidized or operating illegal courtesy of California's liberal state government who favors the rights of illegals over its citizens.

Maybe you're right in the case for oil. Then the solution may be that we as business owners and employees of those businesses should take action and vote out the politicians who we allowed to ruin our country. Yes it's partially our fault as voters, it's like driving down the road and putting the speed control on and then falling asleep at the wheel expecting the car to drive itself. We need to be proactive and let the politicians know that although we elected them, they will be watched. We have no more room for error.

 

Please forgive me for pontificating. You can come up with all sorts of reasons for the situation. Oil, politicans, shippers, consumers, bottom feeders. At the end of the day, it does'nt matter what the reasons are.


You, as a trucker, have to confront these issues, and run your business in such a way as to make a profit. You have to take a very hard look at the way, you, as an individual operate. Going out of business, but yet, being able to allocate blame, is really of no help to you.


You must, either reduce your costs or increase your pricing. Can you re-negotiate loans or leases ? Do you need the a/c on in the office ? Is there anything you can do to be more efficent ? etc etc


Ryanair, the largest and most profitable budget airline in the world, run one of the most lean and mean operations anywhere. They are all about reducing costs. A few years ago they removed the pouches at the back of each seat. You know, the little thing where magazines are stored and where you leave your empty chip packages.


This little action meant that planes were easier to clean faster and therefore they have quicker turaround times.


I realise you have many catch 22 situations to contend with and there is no quick fix for everybody. Business is very difficult at the moment. But there are many that are surviving and prospering. You will discover that the ones that are prospering, are the operators that are controlling their costs and also are saying NO to shippers and brokers.


You have to begin to look inward at your business. Looking at all the negative circumstances will be of no benefit to you.


All the best.



.

 

Ron quote.." As to your country of Ireland, are you not socialized? Are there not government subsidies as in AirBus? Maybe if you lived in the USA you would gain an appreciation for all of the politically correct BS that is occurring. "


Ron.........

1. No, Ireland could'nt be characterised as a Socialist country.

2. As to European subsidies to Airbus.......I believe that they no longer exist. They paled in comparison to the US subsidies of tens of billions of dollars to Boeing. I know it's a constant argument between them. I could'nt give a crap.

3. I do live in the US. I have been here for 20 years and am now a US citizen. This is my country, the stars and stripes are my flag.


I am currently in South America, living off the proceeds of the sale of my business. I came across this forum in my research of becoming an owner operator, as I want to get back to the States and don't really know what to do, business wise.


I owned a very sucessfull business in New York for 16 years which was a manufacturing/distribution business. Whilst I have never even been inside a big rig, I did have 25 van drivers, at the time I sold the business. The new owners have since increased that amount.


Despite never having been in your type of business, I do have a somewhat basic understanding of it, and a keen realisation of the problems you folks face. In my previous comments, I was merely trying to point out that you (truckers), and not you, personally, need to put your foot down and charge the amount of money that is needed to operate your (truckers) business at a profit.


Very often in business we get set in our ways. Bad habits creep into our practices when times are good. When times get a little leaner, it is often hard to see what is staring us in the face. It is often hard to identify where savings can be made. We've gotten so used to doing things in a certain way.


You, personally, may not have had any experience in my type of business. But, I know for sure, that you would have looked at the way I did certain things, and be able to point out ,how I could have saved money. Someone with no financial or emotional involvement in your business will see some things, that totally escape you.

All the best.....

Irish Always...American First.



I'm not sure why this all typed out in Red.............maybe I'm a closet Socialist.


.