Anyone else upset about the price of fuel lately?

[marylandkw]

I seem to remember someone else talking about it on here this summer. I have a very aggressive fuel surcharge based on 5mpg and as fuel soared so did my profits as I get better than 7mpg.

So now fuel is getting cheaper everyday and shows no signs of slowing. I can't be the only one upset can I?

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

I seem to remember someone else talking about it on here this summer. I have a very aggressive fuel surcharge based on 5mpg and as fuel soared so did my profits as I get better than 7mpg.

So now fuel is getting cheaper everyday and shows no signs of slowing. I can't be the only one upset can I?

Don't worry it will rise again ,and higher than $4.50-5.00 a gallon just be patient it should'nt be too long .

[mike3fan]

I seem to remember someone else talking about it on here this summer. I have a very aggressive fuel surcharge based on 5mpg and as fuel soared so did my profits as I get better than 7mpg.

So now fuel is getting cheaper everyday and shows no signs of slowing. I can't be the only one upset can I?

I too have taken a big hit since fuel has gone down,damn commies.

[heavyhaulerss]

The f.s.c. is not as bad as no freight. I was telling my daughter about 2 months ago, that if fuel/gas prices start falling fast like everyone wants... it wont be a good sign. now she understands a lil about the economy. when the fuel was high , I always had plenty of freight. I really did not mind having to work more to make up for the higher operating cost as long as the work was available. besides, I think for most of us the fuel was not the only or even the biggest problem. It was everything else combined, groceries, tires, truck part's, utility bills, property tax, e.t.c.

[marylandkw]

Don't worry it will rise again ,and higher than $4.50-5.00 a gallon just be patient it should'nt be too long .

I don't know if you are serious or not but I sure hope you are right. I like $4.25 or better. I know I am being selfish and not thinking about the bigger impact to the economy and such but I get to be selfish once in a while!

[marylandkw]

The f.s.c. is not as bad as no freight. I was telling my daughter about 2 months ago, that if fuel/gas prices start falling fast like everyone wants... it wont be a good sign. now she understands a lil about the economy. when the fuel was high , I always had plenty of freight. I really did not mind having to work more to make up for the higher operating cost as long as the work was available. besides, I think for most of us the fuel was not the only or even the biggest problem. It was everything else combined, groceries, tires, truck part's, utility bills, property tax, e.t.c.

That is kinda the stinger on the whole situation right now. My FSC's have come down but my tires, oil changes and other parts are still expensive. I work on annual contracts(lucky I guess) and many come due at the end of December for 09'. I am already crunching numbers and trying to figure out what to do with my rates.....Fun for sure

[GMAN]

It isn't just the fsc that has dropped. Freight rates have also dropped. Even if you take away the fsc from the rates from a couple of months ago rates were still higher than now. Several things are in play. This is a slower time of year for most types of freight other than the typical seasonal runs such as mail, Christmas trees, etc., We shall see if the slow down reflects on lower demand for capacity between now and the end of the year. The economy is generally down from a few months ago. Decreased demand and owner operators and carriers who are willing to haul for peanuts has resulted in lower rates. Some shippers and brokers are taking advantage of the situation and racking up their bank accounts at the expense of the truck owner. Fuel gave everyone an excuse to raise their rates without confronting the real issue, cheap rates.

[Rev.Vassago]

I just got an early Christmas present today when I found out that all the FSC on the military stuff I haul dropped from 15% to 4%. What used to be a $325 FSC is now a $93 FSC. That friggin sucks.

[BigDiesel]

Not seeing rates drop that much in neck of the woods... XMAS tree rates are down a little this year, but our nursery loads are fine.... But nursery loads pay a bit more as there is more time and stops involved.

[Orangetxguy]

I just got an early Christmas present today when I found out that all the FSC on the military stuff I haul dropped from 15% to 4%. What used to be a $325 FSC is now a $93 FSC. That friggin sucks.

Who did the math to determine the FSC Rev?? Did LandStar hire a certain someone formerly associated with this forum??

[GMAN]

Not seeing rates drop that much in neck of the woods... XMAS tree rates are down a little this year, but our nursery loads are fine.... But nursery loads pay a bit more as there is more time and stops involved.

My nursery loads are close to what they were in the spring, but not as many of them available. There are some who have been coming in trying to cut the rate. We chose not to participate in the rate auction. Of course, the rates have come down somewhat due to the lower fsc. Most everything else has seen a decline.

[GMAN]

I just got an early Christmas present today when I found out that all the FSC on the military stuff I haul dropped from 15% to 4%. What used to be a $325 FSC is now a $93 FSC. That friggin sucks.

Merry Christmas!! Cheer up. This won't last forever.

[Rev.Vassago]

Who did the math to determine the FSC Rev?? Did LandStar hire a certain someone formerly associated with this forum??

I swear it was. I was dumbfounded when I found that out.

[Chiefwhatdahey]

I swear it was. I was dumbfounded when I found that out.

DOD adjusted the cost basis from 1.40 per gal. to 2.50 per gal. about a year ago, are you saying they chopped it again?

[Rev.Vassago]

I'm not sure. But I hauled a military load at the end of October, and got $325.50 FSC on a 775 mile run. I hauled the same load yesterday, and got $93. In that time, the price of fuel did not drop that much.

[marylandkw]

Merry Christmas!! Cheer up. This won't last forever.

Promise?

I am fortunate in that I negotiate most of my rates once a year and add a FSC of my own design onto them. So my "base" rates have not dropped but I sure miss my FSC. I guess this is one of the good things about being Local.

[Chiefwhatdahey]

I'm not sure. But I hauled a military load at the end of October, and got $325.50 FSC on a 775 mile run. I hauled the same load yesterday, and got $93. In that time, the price of fuel did not drop that much.

I can't say for sure but I think Dawn and the others were supplementing the fsc when fuel shot up, this was after the DOD did their thing. My guess is the agents quit doing that when fuel went back down, I won't haul DOD unless the fsc reflects the regular rate, it just isn't worth it.

[rank]

It isn't just the fsc that has dropped. Freight rates have also dropped. Even if you take away the fsc from the rates from a couple of months ago rates were still higher than now.

It's the same ol' deal here. Real rates have fallen a little but not as much as I thought. When I took the fuel out of the equation, they were still $2.70/loaded mile compared to 6 month low of $2.50. My rates don't really get too low anyway because I just park 'em. I expect Jan, Feb to be bad tho.

[RostyC]

It might be good for you guys but high fuel is what really gave this economic downturn a kick into high gear. I know I stopped spending when diesel got outrageous. (two of my trucks are diesel and my wifes is a 454 chevy )Heating oil is still high and that will stop me from spending as well.
Matter of fact I ran out of fuel last week (I wasn't paying attention) so I grab a few buckets and go get 20 gallons of diesel to put in the tank till I could a delivery and it turns out diesel is now cheaper than heating oil. WTF!

So in the long run I don't think high fuel benefits anyone, and I still say you can't have growth with high energy prices, it stifles it.

[GMAN]

I think you are correct about the high fuel prices, RostyC. The problem we are seeing now is that freight rates have declined faster than the drop in fuel prices. That coupled with the slower freight has made it difficult to make as much money. With the slow economy people are not buying as much so there isn't the need for as many trucks to haul the freight. Unless people buy products there is not a need to replenish supplies. I think high fuel costs are the primary reason for the slow down. The banking problems are only a by product or effect.