Fuel for Thought

Thanks Putin

In just over one week, one man changed the world. One man made a decision that affected our whole way of thinking. One man, single-handedly got all of our attention. If anyone out there does not believe that one person can make a difference, look to the Russian leader who did just that… in under two weeks. 

Remember back around March of the year 2020. A presence like the modern world had never seen before was just emerging. No one at that time could foresee the magnitude of what was to come regarding the coronavirus (Covid-19) firestorm that was brewing. It consumed our daily lives throughout the remainder of 2020, as officials around the globe tried to figure out how to fight it and to prepare for devastating shutdowns. It had a lasting effect on people around the world. Covid was the top news topic by a long shot. Covid was also the most searched term on the internet, followed by vaccine searches.

We all looked forward to 2021 in the hope that we would see the Covid-19 outbreak subside in the light of new vaccines. As it turned out, 2021 was just a continuation of 2020 as we meandered through the year trying to regain some semblance of our previous normal lives. Of course, it was not to be. Sure, we slowly reopened businesses from late 2020 through 2021, but with all the mandates (federal, state and local), we were far from back to normal. 

Now we have made it through 2020 and 2021 to find 2022 still slogging along as to the effects of covid rules and mandates. While the mandates are not strictly enforced, they are still present in many areas of the country and we still encounter the occasional mask requirement to get through our day.

Most of that seemed to change back in late February when one man decided to take his military and invade another country. 

This one man has made a new change to our way of life. He has so drastically affected our energy cost (gas and diesel prices) that no one has even mentioned covid in the last week or so. While no one wants to pay higher fuel prices, it has effectively removed covid as the topic dujour. The only current crisis on everyone’s mind is the cost of fuel. No one is concerned about getting covid at their fuel stop, only about the cost of the fuel. We may now be in an oil crisis as we are stunned at the rate of increase we see daily at the pump, but we are no longer concerned about pumping fuel near another person. 

Thanks Putin for eradicating covid from the forethought of so many around the world. As we move into this next crisis, some may not be able to afford the fuel to go where they need, but at least there is somewhere to go if you are able. It is unlikely that a shutdown will be the perceived solution to this current crisis.

Thanks to Putin, you don’t have to worry about covid, but the price at the pump might make you sick. Unfortunately, the only cure for this illness is higher rates or better fuel economy, higher wages or lower fuel prices. At least owner operators can make adjustments to their business models to offset some of the cost. Fuel surcharges are sure to increase each week as the fuel price continues to climb. 

He may not be the “person of the year” for his recent actions, but you cannot deny that Putin put covid on the back burner. Unless you are in the Ukraine, which would you rather deal with elevated fuel costs or another covid shutdown?

See you down the road,

Greg