The Truckin’ Blog

Good Monday from Wyoming again. I delivered my load in Utah bright and early this morning and ran up to Idaho for a load of french fries going to Missouri. I have made it back over to Cokeville, WY for the evening. I have a good wi-fi connection here at the Flying J so I am trying to catch up on some downloads and post. I keep falling behind on the list of podcast I listen to on a daily basis even though I usually have 8-10 hours of driving to listen to them. If I go more than a couple of days without updating the the downloads then I really fall behind. I guess I should cut back, maybe.

Being an over the road truck driver fuel prices really hit me hard in the back pocket. Fuel prices have risen to a new record high today at$3.157/gal nationwide according to the DOE website . Gas prices on the other hand continue to fall and have reached $2.603/gal nationwide. I have seen stations where diesel is a whole dollar higher than gasoline. I know this is an attempt by the oil companies to take the heat off of them for the high gas prices. They are just passing the high price to truck drivers and the transportation industry. The average consumer just sees its cheaper to fill his gas tank tank and thinks things are getting better. Most people do not realize that most of the big companies are passing the high price of fuel back to the consumer in the form of a fuel surcharge on the products that they purchase in the grocery store and Wal-Mart. This passed on fuel surcharge is pushing inflation and interest rates making everything more expensive. The oil companies continue to reap record profits and the American consumer is paying for it. These prices are having a devastating effect on the independent truck driver who finds it hard to re-coup a fuel surcharge from brokers and companies they do business with. Many of the hardest working drivers in the business are packing it in and getting out of driving. This fuels a vicious circle in that the best and most experienced are getting out to be replaced by inexperienced less productive drivers. The big companies have to hire more drivers because the rookies are nowhere near as efficient as the old hands, they add more trucks and you end up with more trucks on the road jamming up the roads and burning even more fuel. Come on Mr. President, its time to tell your friends in the oil industry to knock it off with the games they are playing. I know there are problems with oil supply out of the Gulf but that does not explain the disparage between diesel and gas prices. Next time you drive buy somewhere that sells gas and diesel check it out and ask yourself why? Remember that you as the consumer are paying for this differance in prices eventually.

Well that pretty much takes care of my rant for the week. I hope everyone is staying safe and profitable.
Have a good week.
DR