Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Light Sweet Crude

Last week, I did a post on the high fuel prices and got the following comment by an anonymous person who sounded a wee bit snippy. They wrote:

“Which will in turn increase all the prices charged for items (groceries, clothes, ect). Trickle down, indeed. Those of us who do not get an increase in pay for the increasing cost of living do care. I am glad that you do not have to worry about it, though.”

It appeared as if the person was annoyed that Ed and I have the ability to adjust our income to compensate for the increases, as if it’s our fault fuel prices are so high. Even the closing line, in an attempt to sound happy for our good fortune, comes across in a sarcastic “oh, aren’t you so lucky” sort of way.

First of all, we buy clothes and food too, so in that respect the high prices trickling down affect us also.

Second, it is unfortunate that you aren’t able to adjust your income to compensate for the higher fuel prices, but perhaps you can look into a few things to assist you in that area. Such as using public transportation, driving a more fuel efficient vehicle, not buying more home than you can afford, cutting back on your beer consumption, giving up your cigarette habit, getting a job that pays more than minimum wage or better yet, getting an education so you can get a job that pays more than minimum wage. I’m sure there are hundreds more money saving tips, but I think you get the idea.

Third, you might want to consider using your voice to elect lawmakers who will research and implement ways to be less dependent on foreign oil, instead of complaining that other people have advantages you do not.

The reason you are paying more for a head of lettuce is not because we have raised our shipping rates, but because some politician in Washington is lining his pockets with profits gained from his affiliations with oil producing countries and big corporations. By promising all sorts of legislative magic and doing their bidding in return for compensation, they make more money, yet you still pay the price.

Last year, we spent over $73,000.00 on fuel. Seventy Three Thousand Dollars. For just one truck. That figure doesn’t include oil changes, maintenance, repairs, tires, communications, tolls and all other expenses vital to the operation of the average truck traveling the highways today. That figure represents fuel alone, the bare bones element needed to get that truck around the country.

In case you're wondering, the average truck gets 5.5 miles per gallon. We travel approximately 150,000 miles a year. Even someone with high school math can do the calculation on that one. And with the fluctuating fuel prices, it is absolutely vital to have the ability to increase our rates to compensate for those fluctuations.

It really doesn’t have anything to do with us being “lucky” although it is advantageous that we can make income adjustments. It really has more to do with greedy politicians and the corporations who pull their strings. Perhaps if our government passed laws putting a cap on fuel prices for the trucking industry (the very industry which delivers goods necessary to the infrastructure of this country) the prices for the items you consume, which are needed for your mere existence, would stay at a reasonable rate and you would not be absorbing the cost to make those deliveries.

Good thing to keep in mind at the voting booth this year, dontcha think?

6 comments:

Don Olney said...

Very nicely put oh first lady of trucking!

Tracey said...

Amen sista!

Anonymous probably doesn't even vote!

Anonymous said...

I totally agree. I love when you got up on your soapbox!
Greggie

Tui Snider said...

73 grand on fuel - phew! I hear ya on the voting booth.

I appreciate your perspective!

(And to think gas is roughly $8 a gallon over here. I'm lucky I get to hoof it in Naples, not to mention the crazy way they drive here...)

Anonymous said...

LOL - I was actually saying that you were pretty ignorant (not stupid, just don't know about the economy) of all the effects of the increases because you said you didn't care. I was trying to say that you should care. But apparently you are aware of the effects and you still said you don't care. Yeah, that actually surprises me.

I was thinking more of the people who cannot change their situations. Senior Citizans as an example. Your post was pretty selfish, in my opinion, stating that you don't care how high they raise the prices because YOU get to charge more. I'm surprised that you are not a Bush supporter, with your "me" attitude.

No, I'm not annoyed that you have the ability to increase your income to compensate for the increases, I was (and still am) honestly glad that you don't have to worry about it. Some truckers are locked into contracts and they do not have the option to charge more when fuel increases.

Yes, I do vote.

I know as much as I need to know about the trucking industry - probably more than you do.

Thanks for all the personal attacks and assumptions, they say alot about you.

MeHereNow said...

$73,000.00 WOW! That's a whole lot of $$$.

Our fuel (petrol) is currently at 104.9 per litre I put 60 pound in my car yesterday and it didn't even fill it up! Rant over!