Politics Information |
Fuel Prices and Trucking; A Reality Check On What Drives America
It appears we are having a terrible situation with the diesel fuel prices in the US. It is affecting everything, since everything we buy is shipped by train or truck and most of the times both. We have artificial fuel price manipulation and large trucking companies operating at less than 3% margins. We have seen 100s of medium size trucking companies file bankruptcy and 1000s of small companies file as well between 1999 and 2002 and we appear to be headed for another round here in 2005. This is causing problems in the used truck sales market. We have noticed this affect with used trucks on this market it is affecting new truck sales right after several major mergers. There have been lay offs at all large trucking company manufacturers. Employees from Volvo, Peterbuilt, Daimler Chrysler who have been laid off, some have hired back a few due to the emissions rules and need for cleaner trucks and also trucks which are more efficient. The efficiency saved at these fuel prices will nearly pay the additional costs of the payments and truck manufacturers intend to capitalize on that fact. Fuel prices are a disaster in CA and there is a mandatory diesel engine emissions statue for vehicles over 14,500 GVW. The EPA laws are also causing underground tanks to be continually dug up everywhere to protect the ground water, all these things combined are causing huge issues on top of the already high diesel prices and insane government add on taxes. Oregon State has now decided to induce as well; any truck with no OR plates will be charged extra tax for fuel. Oregon is trying to keep road tax money due to a recent law passing to keep registration fees low. Consumers believed they would save money by low registration, now it is simply added to diesel fuel, which affects everything you buy and leads us into recession. This is a big tax on all diesel sales of trucks. Washington State; same thing; some highest prices in the Nation are now in the west. Even ID, AZ and NV are raising prices but keeping them just under WA, OR and CA. Many truck stops in NV, and AZ even though just over the CA border are keeping inline with just under a nickel per gallon less. Big saving for trucks with 200 gallons of fuel capacity. So now the truck stops in NV, AZ are crowded. And the ones in NM, TX, KS, OK insane where fuel prices are a good 10 to 20 cents per each gallon cheaper. Truck stops in San Bernardino, LAs main distribution hub are busy, but are not selling much fuel, as trucking companies and drivers are only buying enough to make it out of the state where they can fill up at lower prices. In NV and AZ where fuel does not get taxed as much and wholesale prices are lower but prices only 5 cents less. Diesel fuel Sales and distributors are making insanely high margins, or at least a lot more than normal. Noticed that where most of the people live, such as near water (great lakes and Ocean) that is where the fuel is more expensive? This is causing consumers to be damaged in that the cost of everything goes up. In 2000 trucking companies all started raising prices 5%. And then another increase eight to ten months ago. We have not seen a fair price for fuel in UT, MT, WY, CO either yet we should have. The railroad industry is fairing only a little better able to import their own fuel cars to the locations they need to fill at and buy at a bulk price where it is cheaper. After huge consolidations and soon to be more in the rail industry with Canadian Rail Companies. We see problems here too. Especially recently when the Railroads were shut down due to freezing of switchers and safety devices needed for operations. We think we maybe able to realize a great market in these venues in the future. When trucks and trains stop, America Stops too. Most grocery stores and Major Retailers operate on a real time basis, meaning that Inventories of the past and big warehouses are not needed to the same degree as before. This is what the new economy is bringing. It means lower prices to consumers due to inventories being less and less cost needed to store goods for any amount of time. It also means foreign trade zones and areas where there are no inventory taxes such as NV will not be as significant as before, but still needed to compete in the fast paced World. Those foreign trade zones, which were decreed after many of the BRAC military base closures have a one ups man ship on those other areas with warehousing incentives. Places such as Columbus OH and Mathers AFB in Sacramento CA. Of course there are over 400 of these foreign trade zones in the US now and more than 100 more waiting with permits. Some of these old military bases are now superfund sites such as Dobbins AFB out side of Atlanta. As America matures, we have learned allot from our past and we should be taking these learned experiences with us as we deal with any potential threat of economic melt down. With Inventories being less for large retailers, it also means that small manufacturers who want to service the large retailers will have to be able to adapt or die to the relentless need for that retailer to move products faster and faster and inventory the products at their manufacturing facilities, and then move them quicker. But they cannot afford to run their own trucks because the fuel costs will take them out of the running to offer the lowest cost to the purchasing departments of retailer, store the product, make the product, ship the product and offer the best terms on payment to the retailer. Who is not anticipating on paying quickly, but stringing out the payables almost as bad as Sears in the 70s and 80s. Look at the new boss at Home Depot, from GE, savvy guy, watching numbers and look at their CFO, both sharks; great for shareholders equity, but devastating for the small manufacturers. Will these large companies look to Sam Walton's buy American philosophies? No, they are beholden to Wall Street to save a buck and if that buck is in China, tough. Great makes us competitive here, but we have a standard of living to protect, if we erode our job base and therefore having a declining middle class we lose anyway. Home Depot loses their market and we lose to China. We have allowed 1 million immigrants per year to enter our country nearly unchecked, what happens when these new people are happy at a lower standard of living, driving the wages lower and then causing civil unrest with different races vying for the same jobs before we can stop our self segregation and start melting as was our original plan. If we kill our job base, we are sunk. All over oil prices? It is time for us to stop this bull and move back into the grove. America works better when everyone is winning together. That same mission works well on a sports team, military armies and even in the economy. Everything relates to everything else and nothing can be considered of no value and no decision of policy should be arbitrary. Deciding not to decide is a decision and that has not worked yet and we need to do something now. "Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs
MORE RESOURCES: Unable to open template $TEMPLATEfilename, exiting |
RELATED ARTICLES
Unemployment Iraqi Style Let's put it all into perspective: the U.S. Is George Bush Two-Faced? Yes, Bush is two-faced. The two sides of the faces are total opposites. Silicon Valley Brain Drain; Bad Trade Policies, Why? We have brain drain issues in Silicon Valley, we have taught so many students from India, Pakistan, China all kinds of heavy duty industrial high tech studies and research and now that they cannot find jobs, many will be going back to those countries to work and with them all our technology. Brain fart? You teach them nuclear physics and you assume if they go back they will make paper dolls or something? Try nuclear weapons dummy. Mexican Trucks in the United States; NAFTA Trade and Problems Expected new applications for Mexican trucks to enter the US to be over 9000 in 2005. Most of these newer applications will be to take freight to Port Los Angeles for shipping to Asian markets, and importing parts to be assembled and shipped to Mexico and later sold in the US. The British Sikh Army Britain has a proud tradition of valiant armed forces and a capable military which has managed to defend these isles effectively for hundreds of years. British Military achievement is well known throughout the world and the bravery and versatility of its soldiers, seamen and airmen is unquestioned and forever stamped in history. George Bush--A New World Order When this president's father was in the Oval Office, he was fond of singing the praises of the "New World Order" that was to arrive. The phrase carried a lot of baggage, especially with conservatives who had long heard the term associated with a one-world government with little room for individual rights. PA Congressional Pay Hike Raises Eyebrows While many Pennsylvanians are struggling to figure out how they can pay their real estate taxes before the end-of-the-year deadline, the PA congress not only votes an extra $11,403 onto their base pay, but those on committee chairs receive an additional $4,050. Speaking in terms of percentage, the pay hikes ranged from 16% - 34%, while most of their constituents are lucky to see a 3% raise. The Fabric of Economic Trust Economy is called the dismal science because it pretends to be one, disguising its uncertainties and shifting fashions with mathematical formulae. Economy describes the aggregate behaviour of humans and, in this restricted sense, it is a branch of psychology. Telemarketing and Job Losses Telemarketing and DO NOT CALL lists sure made headlines, but I bet there is something you did not realize. The good news about such industries is they bring in good telecommunication infrastructures, lower costs for consumers telephone bills, and are pollution free. How Futuristic Is Anarchy As A Way To Organize The State (I) When organising a country or a group of people in need of structuring, people tend to automatically sidestep ideologies that do not take authority imposed from above for granted. Anarchists and other proponents of alternative rule almost by definition are seen as destructive elements in a society. The United States Government Owes Arthur Anderson 16 Billion Dollars Since the court case was over turned against Arthur Anderson in the Enron scandal, the United States Government owes Arthur Anderson sixteen billion dollars. This money should be taken out of the Justice Departments fund for pensions for all the government workers and paid to the damaged Arthur Anderson partners. The Power of Media: Russian Perspective Journalism, as it is often said, is the 'fourth branch of power', along with legislative, executive and judiciary, not any less mighty than those three, even if not legally endorsed in the Russian constitution. It is the power of symbolism, and it cannot be escaped, but can only "used" to bring truth, or "abused" to bring propaganda. DC Lawyers; Have I Got a Case for You? This is no time for the Black community to sue the CSX Railroad which is a conglomeration of merged companies and the Southern Pacific Railroad Co, which did receive profits from the use for Black slave labor, but had nothing to do with CSX today which is a well diversified company in color of skin and forms of transportation. Stop hurting America with this kind of headline grabbing. The Black Flag Of Anarchy Rational, sober, logical citizens wonder what exactly the terrorists want. What purpose does it serve to fly planes into buildings, kill and maim police recruits by the hundreds, or blow up innocent commuters on mass transit? Such a question carries the assumption that there is a goal hidden beneath the madness. Proven Risk Youth Vs At-Risk & High-Risk Youth In the fields of juvenile justice policy and programming, there are certain terms that are used to describe target populations. In terms of youth who are prone to illegal and illicit acts, the two terms that are most commonly used are at-risk youth and high-risk youth. Patriots and Parrots: Imprisoning Tongues in America It can be dangerous to engage in free speech. This year alone, 242 journalists, in countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, have been tossed into jail for their words, and one has been killed. Ronald Reagan is Right Why is it that every single thing government does; it does not do well? Why is it that every single mistake of any real hurt is caused by the government? Why is it that every time government screws up AGAIN, we are told that they will fix the problem? Yah right? When has government ever fixed anything? Ronald Reagan once said the most scary words in the English Language were; "Hi, I'm from the Government; and I am here to help you!" he later said when asked about that quote that he could not recant it and offered advice to anyone who hears it; "RUN" he said.Let's face it you do not have to be Ronald Reagan to know when you are being fed a line of malarkey. Droughts, Dirty Water and Disease When we go through periods of droughts we also have other problems, which are increased. Things such as West Nile Virus, Bark Beetles, Disease Epidemics, Med Fly and realize these problems which occur during certain weather periods are compounded when the cycles get out of control. The Worlds Eldest Democracy Was A Truly Romantic Affair Visible remnants of the world's eldest democracy can be seen in a town in the Carantania region in what is now Austria, where during the early Middle Ages, the tribal society of a Slav people managed to live for over 100 years without being invaded and out of sheer happiness invented a democratic system. They did not call it a democracy but the word invented later was taken directly from their example. Confession of a King Rufus King: (Said to be the fifth most important person in the founding of America by another researcher.)I have also presented a great deal of possibility-thinking in regards to the elite families and their noble lineages or genetic manipulations including the Merovingians that include the likes of the Randolphs and Churchills. |
home | site map | contact us |