Hope on the horizon?

[tumbleweeds]

I was asked by a shipper of a very large automotive company how business was for us vanners. When I explained that things were a little slow, he said to have hope. His bosses told his department that as the economy tanks by mid September, they would be running smaller batches through their machines and instead of shipping trailer loads of freight out, they would be sending out small batches in cargo vans and sprinters. He said he has been instructed to create a staging area for several one pallet to 6-8 pallet shipments. They said some of their main customers had informed them that they no longer be able to warehouse large inventories but would need more on-demand, expedited freight. They said it was one way to keep their bottom line clean and keep their stock prices from tanking further. Don't know if it is true. But he looked me in the eye when he said it and didn't shift his gaze down and to the right or up to the left. So he believes it. ( I learned this off NCIS, and playing poker)

 

[OntarioVanMan]

And if they UAW goes on strike next month that's the end of that

 

[Ragman]

And if they UAW goes on strike next month that's the end of that

If the Uaw strikes, that will be the end of most of us.

 

[Treadmill]

And if they UAW goes on strike next month that's the end of that

I've heard that if they go on strike it will only be for a few days.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I've heard that if they go n strike it will only be for a few days.

do you realize what a few days does?....thier suppliers have a few days to catch up whatever they are behind....fewer shipments till they get behind again which could be days or months....it effects right down the chain of supply....

 

[tumbleweeds]

I was sitting here thinking and I don't remember the last time they went on strike for and extended period. Any body remember? Getting old sucks. And if they go on strike for a prolonged period, I will stay home and paint the exterior, build a deck, edge the driveway, etc….. But I may hold off buying new windows. And if the fish are biting, all of the above may still need done next year. A mans gotta eat. Of course my wife says that if we have to rely on my fishing, we are gonna starve! "I get no respect"

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Actually gm and Chrysler could not go on strike till this year because of the government bailout conditions... Now the union wants to eliminate the 2 tier wages program .... It should be fun to watch how much the auto execs bend over !

 

[Ragman]

Actually gm and Chrysler could not go on strike till this year because of the government bailout conditions... Now the union wants to eliminate the 2 tier wages program .... It should be fun to watch how much the auto execs bend over !

Let's be fair here. Chrysler wants to eliminate 2 tier just as bad. Sergio said so himself.

http://www.freep.com/story/money/ca...-contract-talks-marchionne-williams/30102071/

 

[Treadmill]

do you realize what a few days does?....thier suppliers have a few days to catch up whatever they are behind....fewer shipments till they get behind again which could be days or months....it effects right down the chain of supply....

I was just replying to your response. It sounded to me that you were implying it was going to be long. A few days will not be the end for us. Maybe a week at the most it could hurt us. I think there are too many parts already in the pipeline to hurt us in the short run.

 

[Murraycroexp]

Lest we forget that just about ALL of us expedited to Claycomo with Transit parts multiple times just so they could sit in the new warehouse for a few more months before transit production went live. I took Canadian transit parts out there 3 times myself. And those were not the trips with F-150 parts. Confirmed by Ford. Otherwise they said they would have unloaded me immediately, instead of having to wait until 06:30 to get back in line.
Point? Just because the line isn't running the parts doesn't mean the expedites will stop.
Just IMO.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

my point IS....as slow as it has been any interruption is a bad thing....many members are counting on a better fall to recover and build up the emergency fund.....and all depending on what the UAW does that may not happen......even a little slowdown will hurt someone somewhere...which maybe a good thing to cull the heard....just as so many are imported parts from parts of the world now Like Asia, Turkey, South Africa any port interruption hurts too... I mean we even feel the hiccup when Canada has a holiday and we don't....that all...


edit to add: of course its all just opinion...

 

[Ragman]

...... I mean we even feel the hiccup when Canada has a holiday and we don't....that all...

Canada has holidays?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

From May to October, 1 long weekend a month.... ​

 

[tumbleweeds]

Canada has holidays?

Any day it does not snow in Canada is a holiday. National No Parka Day runs for both weeks of Canadian Summer. Then it is back to ice skates on the canals.

 

[KickStarter6]

Lest we forget that just about ALL of us expedited to Claycomo with Transit parts multiple times just so they could sit in the new warehouse for a few more months before transit production went live. I took Canadian transit parts out there 3 times myself. And those were not the trips with F-150 parts. Confirmed by Ford. Otherwise they said they would have unloaded me immediately, instead of having to wait until 06:30 to get back in line.
Point? Just because the line isn't running the parts doesn't mean the expedites will stop.
Just IMO.

I sir have honestly never been to that plant but I do get what you're saying.

 

[Moot]

I was sitting here thinking and I don't remember the last time they went on strike for and extended period. Any body remember? "

The UAW went on strike in 1998 against GM. I remember delivering a bumper to the technical center in Flint. I met an engineer in the employee parking lot and gave him his freight.

 

[KickStarter6]

I've noticed my opinions on unions varies greatly depending on my location