How will rising fuel costs effect you?

lone-traveler

Truckers fear rising costs, stalled freight rates will push them off the road
By Ellen Simon
Associated Press
Sunday, March 2, 2008

Trucker Robert Griffith is on the road three weeks out of four, pulling oversize loads like crane booms, railroad ties and air conditioning ducts. One of his biggest worries: How he'll find the money to buy his daughter a prom dress.

As the cost of diesel doubled over the last four years, his take-home pay has plummeted, from $50,000 to $11,000 last year. He's literally burning money; he spent $64,000 on diesel in the last eight months. Since he canceled his satellite radio, he's on citizens band radio constantly (handle: Instigator) talking about what needs to change so truckers like him can survive.

Robert Griffith, from Lebanon, Tenn., is living on less as diesel costs rise. "I'm a man who's trying to make a living for my family and I'm not succeeding."
"I had to learn to live totally different," said Griffith, 41, of Lebanon, Tenn.

No more $150 family outings to Shogun sushi. No more weekly washes for his Western Star 4900 EX truck. No more health insurance for him and his family.

"It hurts," he said. "I'm a man who's trying to make a living for my family and I'm not succeeding."

Trucking's owner-operators, the self-employed drivers who haul everything from Hummers to hay, are suffering. Many say they're running on the edge of bankruptcy, about to disappear unless they get help. While a wave of trucking failures now might be invisible to
consumers, when the economy rebounds, it would push up shipping rates, helping increase prices.

The housing downturn and decreased consumer spending have cut into loads; the extra trucking capacity is pushing down freight rates. Diesel prices, which are always higher in the winter, have hit such highs that Truckinginfo.com runs ads for thief-stopping fuel-tank locks.

"If you can run all week without a flat tire, you're a little bit ahead, otherwise, you're basically just running to put the money right back into the fuel tank," said trucker Benjamin Stanley, 40, of Spotsylvania, Va. "Truckers are in the same spot farmers were in a few years back."

www.commercialappeal.com
Business section

P1234567890 · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:09 am Post subject:

Maybe someone should do something about the racket which the oil companies (oil cartel) are running.

I think it's sick that these companies are making literally billions in profits at the expense of good, hard-working Americans.

Clearly capitalism isn't in charge anymore. There's a conspiracy to inflate prices. Whatever happened to the competition which is dictated by capitalist economic theory?

Capitalism is supposed to be good for the consumer! What's going on?!?
_________________
"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction."
-Blaise Pascal
"...with or without religion, good people can behave well and bad people can do evil; but for good people to do evil -that takes religion..."
-Steven Weinberg
"I would bless my children with your destruction instead."
-Someone who shall remain anonymous.

45degreeN · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:06 am Post subject:

Well there in the philosophy of supply/demand there needs to be some flexibility of demand based upon price. The higher the price the less the demand.

Well in the oil industry that price (which softens demand) has not been met yet. Demand so far, exceeds supply and as long as this condition exists the price of oil and gas will rise. US demand for oil is such that whenever the price goes lower the demand goes higher meaning that we haven't yet seen that limitation of demand.

While ExxonMobile may have had the highest income of any company in the world they also have pumped more fuel into cars than any other company and we have discussed their profits ad nauseum in the past. There simply is no conspiracy in the oil industry.

Until there is some viable alternative that the majority of people can use, oil will continue to rise in price long term.
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Ana · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:08 am Post subject:

Eventually truckers won't be able to afford to run any more (the dude in the OP is an example of this), and these operating costs will be passed to the customer and in turn the consumer because stuff still has to get from point A to point B. Fuel is probably one of the biggest contributors to inflation there is.
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Truth doesn't care about theology, and theology doesn't care about truth.

lone-traveler · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:38 am Post subject:

www.reporternews.com/news/2008/jan/24/fix-fuel-costs-to-fix-the-economy

I found the "comments" to this article pretty interesting.

hugs
lone

wilber · Banned Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 581

Lone
I have read lots and lots of your posts with interest. I don't think I've ever really introduced myself to you but I want you to know that one of the first posters I look out for when I visit this site is you.
You seem to have great strength in the face of adversity and I admire you (I have also coveted your avatar ever since I saw it. I hope you don't mind my copy - but he's walking too fast for me and should be looking down as yours is. Wink

)

You are teaching me many things - not least, what it is like to live in the U S of A at present. I am very critical of our health service over here (UK) and my family were in a life threatening desperate situation with it recently. But I am so grateful for what we have got over here. I feel useless at times when I read your posts.
It seems the truckers are going through what the farmers are over here. Lives are at stake. I wish I could do more.

I pray for you regularly and I thank you for the blessings you bring into my life.

Your friend across the pond

wilber

lone-traveler · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 5:13 pm Post subject:

Hi Wilber!!

Nice to meet ya.. Laughing

You can share my avatar anytime..(hugs)..
and it's great to have a walking buddy.. Wink

I think everyone is feeling the crunch over this fuel thing Wilber. I was reading about China and how they are putting special provisions in place to control what costs they can.
Not much different..these times, than it was long ago in the days of Pharoah and Joseph. Luckily Joseph was given an insight to the coming famine and planned ahead of time. A lot of people didn't die from hunger even though they had to sell themselves to stay alive.
Sometimes we all just have to bite the bullet and make the best we can of it.
It's not easy. Specially when you see things affecting those in the same industry or more importantly your next door neighbour.

But, we can see the signs too. We see rising costs. We understand economics..(me..somewhat..), and we can plan ahead to help others in need.
Which is what christianity is all about..helping others.

Reminds me of Jesus when he is talking to the Pharisees:

Mat 16:1 ¶ The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
Mat 16:2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, [It will be] fair weather: for the sky is red.
Mat 16:3 And in the morning, [It will be] foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O [ye] hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not [discern] the signs of the times?

Could be in the days of Pharoah and the famine coming on in all the areas surrounding them, that they would have seen this as the end of the world as they knew it too.

Gen 41:29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:
Gen 41:30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;
Gen 41:31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it [shall be] very grievous.

Sounds like the market to me.. Confused or disgusted

, up down, up down...

We all have good years and bad years, and it always seems the bad years out weigh the good years. But...
If we stick together and help eachother in whatever way we can, even just encouraging words.."don't worry, we'll get through this".. we'll make it.. Very Happy

What are you talking about "useless" Wilber???
Your posts encourage me to keep on ramblin..and sharin, and huggin, and just being with you.
Your a blessing to me, even when your not talking to me.
I read you..Loud and Clear..10-4..good buddy.. Laughing

And I pray for you as well, and thank God for you blessing my life as well..

BIG HUGS
lone
here we go.. Very Happy

everybody now.. Laughing

Written by: (Bobby McFerrin)

Here's a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry, be happy.
In every life we have some trouble
But when you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy.
Don't worry, be happy now.

(Chorus)
Don't worry, be happy. Don't worry, be happy.
Don't worry, be happy. Don't worry, be happy.

Ain't got no place to lay your head
Somebody came and took your bed
Don't worry, be happy.
The landlord say your rent is late
He may have to litigate
Don't worry, be happy.

(Chorus)
(Look at me -- I'm happy. Don't worry, be happy.
Here I give you my phone number. When you worry, call me,
I make you happy. Don't worry, be happy.)

Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style
Ain't got no gal to make you smile
Don't worry, be happy.
'Cause when you worry your face will frown
And that will bring everybody down
Don't worry, be happy.

(Chorus)
(Don't worry, don't worry, don't do it.
Be happy. Put a smile on your face.
Don't bring everybody down.
Don't worry. It will soon pass, whatever it is.
Don't worry, be happy.
I'm not worried, I'm happy...)

Very Happy

45degreeN · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 7:05 am Post subject:

That old depression era song might be more apropos "Brother can you spare a dime" (except now its more like $500)

"Brother, Can You Spare a Dime," lyrics by Yip Harburg, music by Jay Gorney (1931)

They used to tell me I was building a dream, and so I followed the mob,
When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear, I was always there right on the job.
They used to tell me I was building a dream, with peace and glory ahead,
Why should I be standing in line, just waiting for bread?

Once I built a railroad, I made it run, made it race against time.
Once I built a railroad; now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?
Once I built a tower, up to the sun, brick, and rivet, and lime;
Once I built a tower, now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell,
Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum,
Half a million boots went slogging through Hell,
And I was the kid with the drum!

Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.
Why don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell,
Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum,
Half a million boots went slogging through Hell,
And I was the kid with the drum!

Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.
Say, don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?
_________________
My boss is a Jewish carpenter.

Read the
www.Christian-Thinktank.com

FFT · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:06 am Post subject:

45degreeN · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:57 am Post subject:

Yes I recognize the idea of inelastic demand and all of the other loses our economy has experienced may drive down the demand (not the actual price of the fuel as the causative factor). 'Inelastic demand' is just another way of saying the demand is really higher than the supply and until it gets balanced out (if ever) it will remain highly priced.

It is hardly just American demand though. China has a rapidly growing economy that has a growing demand for fuel also. They're competing on the world markets for oil and while the regular news doesn't carry much information about this, it will remain a fact of life this expensive fuel.

I am currently looking for the price to soon go to Euros rather than dollars since the dollar is so weak. Europe's fuel prices have eased due to this weakness and this may bring on the change.
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www.Christian-Thinktank.com

ragman13 · German Shepherd Joined: 07 Jul 2007 Posts: 325

Hello
I got an email stating that if we all boycott the largest oil company (Exxon) then it will force them to lower their prices. I have decided to only buy Shell, potentially removing 8000 dollars in sales from Exxon. Do you all think that this has any ability to affect (or is it effect) the price of gas? The email was probably created by shell.
_________________
If Jesus Christ were to come today, people would not even crucify him. They would ask him to dinner, and hear what he had to say, and make fun of it. —Thomas Carlyle

Shh. Don't tell anyone that I am a Fundamentalist!

FFT · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:15 pm Post subject:

It does nothing to change gas prices.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/gasout.asp
_________________
When Science was in its crib, Religion tried to strangle it. When Science was in its infancy, Religion tried to abuse it. Now that Science is grown up, Religion wants to be in its good graces.

Theology is philosophy/ethics for people who already know what conclusion they want to come to.

ragman13 · German Shepherd Joined: 07 Jul 2007 Posts: 325

Thanks FFT
_________________
If Jesus Christ were to come today, people would not even crucify him. They would ask him to dinner, and hear what he had to say, and make fun of it. —Thomas Carlyle

Shh. Don't tell anyone that I am a Fundamentalist!

Dust

A new record......120 bucks @ the pump. Ouch!
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The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

Luvnlife · Lion King Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 1200 Location: US

P123 said: