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Darin Younce · Joined: 24 Aug 2007 Posts: 342

Well I have to assume this thread is talking about surviving these high fuel prices, so I will address this from a trucking veiw point. Now , everyone has heard the term , "theres strength in numbers". This is certainly true, especially in trucking . You take a guy out here trying to make a living with 1 truck . He is for the most part going to have a higher rate of expenses than a company with say 1000 trucks . His profit margin is no doubt very slim . Lets say he clears around 50 ct per mile after all expenses and averages 2500 miles per week , that would net him 1250.00 per week . That is not a bad living in my opinion but he could be one major breakdown from disaster, or one lost contract, or god forbid one accident. Now take the company with 1000 trucks , they are probably getting a better deal on Ins, fuel and as we all know keep a steady stream of low paid drivers , but they more than likely have a large overhead which could bring their profit margin down per truck compared to the 1 truck fellow . Even so they are still able to survive being that they can multiply their slim profit margin by one thousand , thus making them strong , ( strength in numbers) . Now to answer the original question "what makes the strong ,strong" I would have to say hard work and determination had to play a big part in the first place . For them to make the decision to grow from a small 1 truck operation into a mega 1000 truck company would I assume took both hard work , determination plus a good business head and a bit of luck .
These figures may not be accurate but never the less you can get an idea of what I am saying , Any way my two cents worth ( I better make that one cent , I might need that penny to buy fuel this week) :)

GMAN · Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Posts: 9882 Location: Tennessee

A strong company is built with careful planning and making a decent profit. A strong company will build on their strengths and be quick to adjust to rapidly changing market conditions. A strong company sets objectives and finds a way to achieve them. And did I mention that a strong company makes a profit? From a trucking standpoint, a strong company will only haul freight that is profitable.

heavyhaulerss · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 588 Location: north alabama

Quote:
The strong survive only if the weak don't get a government handout thereby sustaining their weakness forcing the strong to work harder for less and pay more taxes eventually converting the strong to weak in need of government assistance themselves.

Now as far as your actual question about what makes them strong in the first place it is a combination of brains and luck mixed with determination and flexibility. Strength is doing something better than the competition, and that difference may not be desirable to each customer. For example if you are cheap and your competitor is fast then you may lose business if speed is required and gain business when it is not. Of course if you are flexible then you can offer fast service for extra cost when required. Brains are required to press your advantages over your competition. Luck is the reason that some people get the breaks and some get the breakdowns.

Success is easy, just do the right thing the right way at the right time.
_________________
just when i expect to hear some mumbo jumbo, someone post facts that make sense & screws my whole thought process up!! :lol:

2 · Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 151

GMAN wrote: A strong company is built with careful planning and making a decent profit.

A strong company will build on their strengths and be quick to adjust to rapidly changing market conditions.
A strong company sets objectives and finds a way to achieve them.

And did I mention that a strong company makes a profit?

From a trucking standpoint, a strong company will only haul freight that is profitable.
Thank you, GMAN.

Hope you don't mind me adding some space in there. My eyes ain't what they used to be.

If I may summarize, in a word:

Cash.
That is the strenght of the strong.

The strong earn it.
They maintain it.
And, they protect it.

You don't get strong in trucking, by living and running on the edge.

BanditsCousin · Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Posts: 3340 Location: Chicago, IL

I agree and disagree. The most linear answer would be cash. But the "still waters that run deep"philosopher would say its the brains of the operation that got the cash and maintained the cash.

GMAN · Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Posts: 9882 Location: Tennessee

Feel free to jump in at any time, 2. The strong will find the cash. The strong will survive no matter what the circumstances. They will find a way around any obstacles to achieve their goals. The strong will take responsibility for their failures and try to learn from them. The weak will always blame others for their failures. They will keep making the same mistakes over and over again expecting a different outcome. The strong never give up. A failure is merely a setback from which to learn.

2 · Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 151

BanditsCousin, GMAN:

You guys put me to shame, with your eloquence.
:D

Brains and resourcefulness.

Quote: The strong will take responsibility for their failures .

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