US Trucker's may go on strike !

[HeavyChevy75]

Something with the oil/gas prices has to change. These oil companies are making way to much $$ to complain about per barrel. I am working on getting a hybrid bike to ride to work. It just needs to warm up a little bit. My biggest issue is that sometimes I need to go on base. The non-base days it is 3 miles, the base days it is 11.

[MMDad (Premo)]

I sympathize with the plight of independent truckers. Their increased costs trickle down to the consumers, but it takes time and many cannot afford these prices in the meantime.

However, I don't see what a strike like this will do for them. It can't lower prices. Driving to DC burns more fuel in a wasted trip. Those of us who get it are already aware of the issue. Those who are not aware will just get mad at the truckers.

[SouthernMdRocks]

Originally Posted by raven

US Truckers are planning a convoy from PA to the Nations Captial within two weeks their cry for help is due to rising fuel cost. This will be one of the first steps before they go on strike.Other steps may include driving 5mph under the posted speed to start grid locks and taking off one work day per week.

Yeah,,,,, there is no excuse for those high diesel prices. The cost of hay is bad enough without the extra trucking costs!!

[bcp (Premo)]

the oil companies are reporting record earnings because of the price rise in oil. they price is not rising due to the record earnings.

lets say the oil company is set to make a 10% profit on a gallon of fuel.
At 2.00 they make 20 cent, at 4.00 they make 40. they doubled their income but did not double their profit margine.

Now that the investors are used to making 40, the price can not go down unless the oil company raises its margin.
so, lets say the price drops back to 2.00 for a couple quarters, to insure profits for the investors, the oil company would have to claim a 20% margin just to maintain investors income.

now, the price starts to climb again on a gallon, you dont think that the oil company is going to reduce their profit margin to help ease the price do you?

the government would have to step in and regulate the profit, and as soon as that happens, investers are going to find other places to put their money, the market would take a huge hit and inflation woudl soar, recession would be certain.

so, My way to fix it, and would not be popular to others, woudl be to subsidise the truckers fuel with dollars currently being spent in foreign aid.

maybe if we hit the world where it hurts right back, they will reduce the cost of a barrel to us.

[woogie]

The really sorry thing about all of this is that back last
year, Sept/Oct I believe, there was a "news" (and I use
that term loosely) "story" about how by May of 2008
gasoline and oil prices would be $4+ per gallon! Then came
the "stories" about refineries "having 'problems' and 'fires'
and how the "OPEC Nations" raised the price of crude.

Yet the Big Oil companies knew IN ADVANCE when, how
much, etc. that fuel would go up! And this isn't the first
time! The last time was just the same! Heck! Big Oil will
jack up prices if they THINK there will be bad weather!
Anyone ever PLAN for anything anymore?

One way you can be sure that fuel will be making a big
jump is to watch regional prices at the pumps in areas
over borders which usually have different price spreads.
When the price of gas in MD, VA, and DC is all the same
you can be sure that there will be a jump! This is because
the gas stations get the word ahead of time and adjust
to get that last bit of profit before the price changes.

Fuel will then jump in big amounts and then settle out for a
while and the price differences between juridictions will begin
to show up again. I've watched this.

Plus "The People's Republik of Maryland" (aka 'The Free State')
is getting ready to jack up fuel taxes! Double Whammy!

Everybody is in on it except the consumer!

[jrmy1080]

everybody that can ride a bike. That would do a little bit, don't you think?

[Tomcat]

Originally Posted by lulu belle

One big advantage diesel engines have that is not being looked at enough, I really don't know how it may factor for price ranges though, but diesel engines have the ability to run on BIOdeisel with little to no modifications to them.

Originally Posted by bcp

have to be careful what you put in them when it comes to Bio. in many cases you still have to have regular diesel on board to run when you first start and prior to shutting down, that bio diesel can clog the injector rails, and then you are in for an expensive repair.

Bio Diesel is normally something like 85% regular diesel and 15% vegetable oil (soy, canola, corn). No problems running it in a newer diesel, in some older diesels (pre 1994) you might have to switch from rubber to synthetic fuel lines and seals. Another slight problem is it cleans your fuel system (crap that builds up in the lines etc.) so you might have to change your fuel filter sooner. All that said, running your diesel on WVO (waste vegetable oil) is something all together different. You go to Mickey D's and get their used french fry oil, filter and treat it and then run your diesel for free, yea right........ the 2 tank conversion kit and all the work required to switch your vehicle over to run on it would have taken me something like 3 years of "free" fuel to break even. You still have to start using regular diesel, then switch over to WVO, which also has to be heated so it flows properly. If anyone’s interested in this technology, I've got a couple of diesels for sale.

[mackco79 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by MMDad

I sympathize with the plight of independent truckers. Their increased costs trickle down to the consumers, but it takes time and many cannot afford these prices in the meantime.

However, I don't see what a strike like this will do for them. It can't lower prices. Driving to DC burns more fuel in a wasted trip. Those of us who get it are already aware of the issue. Those who are not aware will just get mad at the truckers.

Are you kidding me!!! If there is no strike then there will be nothing done.. You can get as mad as you want but when you dont have any food to eat the government will finally have to help. They wont have a choice but to do something about the fuel prices. If not lower them they can give a tax break or a surcharge to help pay for the fuel... I say strike away... I for one will park my truck. Every time I fuel up I put on an average of 200 gallons my truck holds 300 gallons even at $3.00 dollars a gallon that a kick in the butt...
STRIKE AWAY...

[chubby.chick]

I hope the truckers strike. Shut down the money hungry gas whores.

[bcp (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Cowgirl

Larry, I'd like to agree with you, but when oil prices go up, Mr. Gas Station Owner shouldn't raise the price until he runs out of that tank of gasoline. Instead, prices jump up right away.

Gas stations have to charge you what it will cost to fill his tanks the next time, not what it cost to fill them the last time.
else, all of his 2 or 3% profit margin is gone in the increase.

by the way, make sure to buy a cup or coffee or something when you fill up. its how they make their money.