The Source for Trucking News, Opinions and Trucking Jobs

I’m still learning about the business side of trucking and this trip definitely added to my education. Apparently, most anything going to Alaska is paid enough for the truck to go empty back to Seattle. Which came to $1.73 a (practical) mile. With fuel ranging from $2.23 a gallon (US) at the new Flying J in Edmonton, AB to $3.17 (US) in northern BC, and more in the Yukon, plus $75 (US) trip permit for Yukon (one-way) and Permits in Alaska – $340, expenses start to eat into any good rate. But for the trip of a lifetime, I had to do it at least once, no matter what.

I was hoping for cheap fuel in Alaska since they can tap right into the pipeline, but according to one fuel stop owner, fuel used to be cheap in Alaska until, the single refinery in Alaska was bought by someone else and they determine the price for the entire state. And they think Alaska should pay the same as the lower 48. (Meaning: They want more profit.) But even $2.52 a gallon in Tok, Ak is more than most in the States. It’s a little cheaper in Anchorage, but not by much.

Most of the trucks leave Alaska empty because there is nothing manufactured in Alaska that anyone exports. Anything that’s exported is either on boat (container) or locked in by a few trucking companies that are based in Alaska. About the only export is household and I was lucky enough to get one (if nothing changes between now and than), so if everything goes well, this trip up north should pay pretty well.

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Originally posted 2005-06-30 19:31:17.

In my own sick twisted world, I found this absolutely hilarious -

Judge denies CRST’s request for temporary restraining order against Hunt
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — CRST’s request for a temporary restraining order to keep J.B. Hunt from hiring away its drivers was turned down by a federal court June 29, but a CRST official predicted that his company would have ample ammunition with which to go to court.

Typical American attitude – use the court to solve our problems.
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Originally posted 2008-10-27 19:32:00.

After a really rough couple of weeks of not being able to work as much as we wanted, then some really dumb decisions on my part, then problems at the border and now not working as much again… Maybe the adventure is over and it’s time to find a job. Still trucking, but maybe something where the freight is more consistent. Maybe something dedicated, or at
least so we can get home more and have predictable money and time off. We have the experience as a team, but we really don’t want to have to drive 5000 or 6000 miles a week to make the same amount of money we do now driving half that. We hate not being able to make appointments with anyone because our office can’t be depended on to get us home on time. If we’re home too early, we don’t leave again because we may not make it back in time for whatever we have planned.

I’m tired of getting lost in a maze of “No Truck” signs, and trying to get a big 53′ trailer into places that are too small for a pick-up truck. Dealing with small minded shippers that freak-out over nothing. If we went terminal to terminal, no more shippers, just drop and hook and there’s a terminal in Vegas. Even if the pay per mile was less and the driving more, it would be the same amount of money on average but more miles would wear the truck out
sooner.

Or maybe I just need a vacation! It’s getting close to the time for us to leave and I don’t want to cut it too close. My office would have us unloading the same day we have to catch a plane and think they did a good job at getting us back. It’s too soon for us to go cross country
and have time to wait for another load to get back in the general area of Las Vegas.

So far the choices I have are spend a lot money to paint the truck and add equipment to the trailer or get our Hazmat endorsements and fix my Canada problem (again) and do something with the trailer. Probably won’t do anything till after January when we have two really good trips already planned.

Originally posted 2006-11-24 23:52:24.

During the last few weeks there have been several articles about the driver shortage. Even USA Today ran an article about how the driver shortage can halt or do damage to the economy.

At the same time trucking companies are posting extremely good profits because of the tight capacity.

Werner Enterprises Reports Record Operating Revenues and Earnings “I am pleased to report our twelfth consecutive quarter of improved year-over-year earnings. Despite rising costs for fuel and driver pay, we improved our operating margin by negotiating needed rate increases,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Clarence (C.L.) Werner. “Our freight volumes and service performance are at a high level as we move into the seasonally strongest period of the year.”

Even with high fuel and driver costs their sales team renegotiated higher rates with their customers.
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Originally posted 2004-10-18 04:00:00.

I thought I had finally found news that the Capacity Crunch was affecting store shelves. But after some careful reading, it’s only another press release from the industry whining about how few drivers they have to abuse.

Trucker shortage could affect consumers.
That’s bad news for an industry where driver turnover is growing, and the demand for delivery of goods is rising. It’s also bad news for consumers who are facing longer delays and higher prices for food, clothes and thousands of other products that must be trucked each day.

Consultant Lana Batts said the industry already is 195,000 drivers short of what it needs.

“The market is tighter than it has ever been,” said Scott Arves, president of transportation for Green Bay, Wis.-based Schneider National Inc., one of the nation’s largest trucking firms. “It is a very tough, demanding job: long hours, significant time away from home, increased road congestion, an increase in regulation.”

So far, the only quotes are from a trucking consultant and Schneider (they seem to be in every news article about this shortage, why is that?)

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Originally posted 2005-02-25 08:45:28.

Local governments, truckers split over value of lower speed limit

Cursing a $700 fill-up at the pump, big rig driver Lance Warnacut complained some more when asked about the prospect of lower truck speed limits and lane restrictions in Tennessee.

Come on now, $700??? Even with fuel prices today in TN is $2.15 that’s 325 gallons. Most trucks either have a pair of 125 gal or 150 gal. And you can’t use all 125 or 150 gallons. It’s possible he had larger tanks, but it sounds more like an exaggeration.

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Originally posted 2004-11-08 04:32:00.