[no_worries]

wildkat, I would speculate that your rates are higher up there because you've got a higher demand for trucks and fewer of them. That economy, from what I hear, is going great guns and they need all the trucks they can get. We're slowing down here and we had too many trucks to begin with. For many down here, the rates they're getting don't have anything to do with their costs.

[wildkat]

Originally Posted by no_worries

wildkat, I would speculate that your rates are higher up there because you've got a higher demand for trucks and fewer of them. That economy, from what I hear, is going great guns and they need all the trucks they can get. We're slowing down here and we had too many trucks to begin with. For many down here, the rates they're getting don't have anything to do with their costs.

You may be right about that...we have a severe driver shortage here, especially in Alberta, where, as you say, our economy is hotter than you know where! Personally I could do with just a bit "less" busy some days, but mostly I don't complain... I remember a time when unemployment was at 25% & interest rates were about the same...I would NEVER want those days again... I HAD a job back then too...but it was tough!

[no_worries]

Ride it a few more years and retire, right? :wink:

[wildkat]

Originally Posted by no_worries

Ride it a few more years and retire, right? :wink:

YUppes NW...am gettin older now...and am wanting to slow up some in the next couple of years

Matter of fact our Director of Operations asked me the other day what my future plans were...

I looked him square & said...well I have 32 months left to pay on my truck, then I'm gonna run her for 5 more years... then that purty purple Pete is gonna become the nicest lawn ornament you ever saw, cause I'm gonna park her in a promenant spot in my yard & plant flowers around her! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[heavyhaulerss]

If you cannot survive, the government is NOT here to bail you out

are you kidding. bailing out the forclosures, bailed out bears & sterns. the govenment is always looking for someone to bail out.

[no_worries]

C'mon now wildkat, you're Canadian. I expect you to stretch that puppy out, turn it into an RV, and join the rest of your countrymen down in AZ during the winter :lol:

[Colin]

If you cannot survive, the government is NOT here to bail you out

Originally Posted by heavyhaulerss

are you kidding. bailing out the forclosures, bailed out bears & sterns. the govenment is always looking for someone to bail out.

That's what I was going to say. Don't forget some of the airlines after 9/11. BILLIONS in aid.

15 BILLION

[actros]

Hello, I'm a French trucker.

If you want to compare prices, I give you some informations.

Diesel in France = 1,30 €/ liter = 4,92 €/ gallon = 7,74 $/ gallon.

Tractor full option with a 480 hp ( cabover ) we have not conventional tractor = 90000 € = 142000 $.

Trailer dry van ( 48' ) = 30000 € = 47200 $.

Insurance for tractor, trailer, driver and goods ( annualy ) = 5000 € = 7800 $.

Tractor and trailer tires = 5700 € = 8900 $.

Maintenance and repair ( annualy ) = 7000 € = 11000 $.

Driver income net = 27000 € = 42500 $.

Income taxes, health insurance, and other = 13000 € = 20500 $.

Phone, GPS, = 2400 € = 3800 $.

Meal, shower = 9900 € = 15600 $.

The prices may change if you drive for a small or for a big company.

[Dejanh]

80% of the fuel cost in Europe is TAXES, that is why European Union is riding on a high inflation as we speak and thats why their Euro is so strong, but not for long.

Truckers DONT PAY that amount you mentioned Allan, most of those contries have capped diesel costs for commercial use, kind of like Mexico has.

When i was there in December of 07, Italy just had a strike where the whole contry was paralized for a week because of rising diesel and France had one as well 3 years ago I`believe which included farmers too.


Point is not about your fuel surcharge Allan, mine is great too but the whole costs goes much deeper than that.
If the fuel surcharge you're getting is great, you're still LOOSING money thru INFLATION that skyrocketed while a BASIC pay of people has not followed.

[no_worries]

Actros, thanks for posting that information. It's always interesting to compare numbers from other places. I have a few questions.

The price for a dry van is much higher than ours ($25,000). I've heard you use mostly soft-sided trailers over there, is that true? If so, the cost you give would be about the same here.

Is that net income figure before taxes and health insurance or do those costs come out of the $42,500?

How many kms do you drive in a year?

What do you get for fuel mileage in your truck?

Thanks.