THE ECONOMY AND TRUCKING

MILE MARKER #57

As you may have noticed, it is easier to find a parking spot in the truck stops and rest areas now days. This is the worst economy in a generation, and trucking has been kicked hard, right in the air bags. The numbers of truckload freight and LTL freight has declined sharply. It looks like it's going to be awhile before we see improvement. Consumer spending needs to turn around, the unemployed need to become employed, and the inventory-to-sales needs to improve.

Economists say, that usually in times like these, trucking was the leading indicator, preceding the end of the economic downturn, by as much as ten months. The business inventory-to-sales ratio is so bad that trucking will not lead the economy out of this recession.

Recently, it seems like the freight has been picking up in the last three weeks. Hopefully, it is sign that things are starting to turn around. I just keep showing up for work and hope for the best. Its got to get better. Can it really get any worse? I don't know, but my checks still cash without any problem. That's the main thing right now, even though I am about $500.00 to $600.00 lighter a month in my checkbook. That 10% give back is killing me. Inside, I get a little more pissed than usual. Seriously, I made more money 15 years ago. You see it happening to a lot of trucking companies right now - taking more and more from the drivers to keep the company afloat. I'm concerned that the recent spike in fuel at this time will be the dagger to some outfits that made it thus far.

I shouldn't be whining at time like this, but enough is a enough. I guess I should be happy I am working, unlike some friends and other co-workers. Not only my checks are smaller, I now have a longer commute to my new terminal, which is more in gas and wear and tear on my personal vehicle. Oh yeah, I got a new route now. Also, I'm in the process of learning the metro area hauling around a 48 or 53 footer. Fun fun when you don't know the ins and outs of the city all day long. I have been flipped off on a daily basis. They tried to send me with a few skids to a grocery warehouse, but I said no thanks to that task. I'd would rather go try on dresses! I did enough of "sort and segregate" back in the day. It's somebody Else's turn. I still can't believe that in this day in age, those food warehouses still get away with all that crap. What a racket. That's a whole other blog of worms. For now, I'll keep all my anger bottled up inside like the professional that I am, but I don't know how much more I can take.

I will leave you with a heart-wrenching fact. Did you know that 50% of the bankruptcies are health related? 70% of that 50% had health insurance. Really? Go figure.

:) That's me on the outside.

#$%& That's me in the inside.

I keep thinking: Only twelve more years.

Drive safe.