Rising Fuel Prices

jrcarroll · Jul 12, 2006

This is the time to finally ask this question for everyone.
Has the economy driven the fuel prices up to a point where the expedited frieght possibly is becoming a thing of the past?
We have seen the price go up twice this week, and there seems to be no end in sight to this, remembering back when people were talking about prices being near $5.00 a gallon.
Thus smaller loads are being combined and loaded onto the larger trucks, as it seems "A" & "B" loads are history.

cheri1122 · Jul 12, 2006

Expedited freight will be history when the shippers & consignees decide they really don't need the freight immediately - I for one, don't see much chance of that happening. Less freight, sure, but even consolidating loads is tough to arrange, given the unplanned nature of the need.
We will complain about the higher prices, as always, and we'll try to cut back even more, though we're probably already doing everything we know to do in that direction, and we'll snort when we read the advice on dealing with the high cost, such as: "drive less" (thanks - I would have never thought of that, myself!) and ultimately, we will pay whatever it costs. Or we will find another line of work, because I don't see a revolution happening, either. Few of us are capable of rioting in the streets - and that's a GOOD thing.
Every possibility for relief from the skyrocketing cost of fuel is a long term possibility, is the message that comes across from our leaders, so, just like the issue of health care - we'll do the best we can. What choice do we have, really?

Tennesseahawk · Jul 12, 2006

Is it, a good thing, Cheri? I've never known complacency being a good thing. Ppl can afford an extra $40-60 a week to get to work and back. But they don't see the cost high fuel has on the good that are shipped. There's no breakdown on their milk cartons that xx amount is due to shipping. And at that point, ppl are dumb. Revolution is a good thing, I believe. But it's gotten to the point (and designed that way by those who rule over us) that ppl would rather watch reality tv than live in reality.

What ppl don't realize is that in the Declaration of Independance, it states that we, as citizens, have the DUTY to rise up against oppressive governments. Not the right, but the DUTY. Big difference. Of course, anyone who would do so would be labelled a terrorist. I'm learning to hate that word as overused. And good ppl who are fighting against their own tyrannical governments are labelled as such. Way to go, self-serving big-wigs. If you want to be so broad, then let me have a go. If you big governments see terrorists as ppl who are trying to undermine my way of life, then ADD THE OIL COMPANIES TO THAT LIST!!!

Tennesseahawk · Jul 12, 2006

Oh... one other thing to add. Because the prices are going higher, our governments (both state and fed) see the need to reach into our pockets as well, and raise the taxes on gas. Broom told me NC's tax is around .40/gal. Umm... if they did that when it was around a buck a gallon, I'm sure we'd hear about it. All goes back to that complacency thing, I guess.

cheri1122 · Jul 12, 2006

THawk: I said rioting in the streets is not a good thing - it makes people look like cretins who don't know any better than to destroy things. And it encourages looters, who really ARE cretins.
Complacency is a bad thing - it's why the government gets away with as much as it does. Which is far too much for the corporate interests who donate to the all important campaign coffers, and not nearly enough for the people who work hard their whole lives, just to scrape by. Is that oppressive, or what?
I bet if you added up all the ways the government uses to get your money into their accounts, and figured out just how much of the work you do is for someone else's benefit, you'd be amazed at the way we get treated by our "public servants".
They're still selling us down the river, only now they know how to hide most of it with creative bookkeeping.

cheri1122 · Jul 12, 2006

Note: if one of the Mods chooses to move this thread to the Soapbox, I'd understand - it's where I thought it was in the first place, lol. :+

Moot · Jul 12, 2006

The revolution will not be televised. It will be pre-empted by Real World.

cheri1122 · Jul 12, 2006

Moot: is "Real World" one of those reality shows? And isn't it surreal, watching people watching reality shows on television? If they like reality, why are they watching television, anyway? :+

Moot · Jul 13, 2006

Ask my daughter. She's 23 and still watches that crap.

davebeckym · Jul 13, 2006

Back to Rising Fuel Prices. Just in time started during a time of rising fuel prices which lead to rising prices on just about everything. When prices are going up JIT make even more sence because it's even more important to turn over inventory as fast as possible.

When inflation is low, shipping by rail makes more sense. Keeping inventory in boxcars and warehouses is cheap. When fuel and prices are up this helps expedite freight become the best way to turn over inventory fast. And since start up costs become more expensive it keeps drivers and O/O from jumping in.

jrcarroll · Jul 13, 2006

>
> Back to Rising Fuel Prices. Just in time started during a
>time of rising fuel prices which lead to rising prices on
>just about everything. When prices are going up JIT make
>even more sence because it's even more important to turn
>over inventory as fast as possible.
>
> When inflation is low, shipping by rail makes more sense.
>Keeping inventory in boxcars and warehouses is cheap. When
>fuel and prices are up this helps expedite freight become
>the best way to turn over inventory fast. And since start up
>costs become more expensive it keeps drivers and O/O from
>jumping in.

However the van loads seem to be dropping off. I'm not saying that all expedited friehgt will be gone, just the A & B loads, at least as far the the "big" expediters are concerned.
>
>

B4604

Moot · Jul 13, 2006

In a current Truck Topics article Michelle Potter, President of Con-Way Expedite says: "The cargo van business is still 30%-40% of what we do every day."

This of course doesn't mean that cargo vans are hauling these loads. Just that 30-40% are A or B loads.