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Gino
P&P Score: 98.88   Points: 94.23   Accuracy: 41.56%   Average Pick Score: 2.45   Annual Return: 21.19% (61.76% since 3/15/09)  

Gino's Blog : Insider information from a trucker.

Date November 8, 2009    Comments Comments (3)    Rate this post Recommend This Post (70)   
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Here we ago again. Fuel prices at the pump have been creeping up for almost 3 weeks (penny by penny), my miles have been going down for about the same (I get paid by the mile). Still much more freight going into the U.S. than there is coming back to Canada and those of us that are still standing are fighting for that. My company says "NO" to cheap freight so we're losing alot of freight.

I used to plan my trips so I could get into a truckstop early enough to get a parking spot, usually by 8 or 9 PM. Now I can drive in at 1 and 2 AM and find several spots available. Even with the lack of truckstops, parking is not a big issue, right now. The freight just isn't moving.

Things are getting tough out there. I know 2 truckers (owner/operators, like me) that handed in there keys and said "that's it, I'm bankrupt", they just couldn't keep up with the maintenance and repairs to stay legal (and safe). Personally, I'm just making enough to pay the bills and keep my truck on the road, still hurting from the last time the bottom dopped out.

I managed to make it through the last “economic dip” and I'm still digging myself out of that, so this time...??? I'm not sure how long I can go. Hopefully this wont last long, but I am getting nervous.


3 Comment(s):

Author JoeJustJoe     Date November 8, 2009 15:51  Edited: November 8, 2009 by JoeJustJoe Abuse this post Report Abuse
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Bad news Gino, you haven't even seen the worst of it yet. The GOOG news is that fuel prices and the prices of everythang else will be coming waaaaay down....ssspecially during calendar year 2010. Regretfully there is going to be alot more fokes in your position so "hopefully" you can do what you can to survive cuz the survivors will be in a position to benefit greatly. Anybody that has any type of nonsecured debt is actually in the driver's seat....the Golden era of the debtor so to speak. :-) All unsecured debt gets eliminated...vanquished...poof!...nice! Not to mention the fact that even secured debt becomes worth .20 to .30 centavos on the dollar too as many companies face no choice but a BK filing. I was willing to settle for saying .40 to .50 centavos on the dollah...then Uncle's Fester n Ben got in the way...then the O'Bomba's. Tain't no way out of this problem now I'm afeard....for NE1 who is dumb enuff to even give a damn that is. Gonna be fun to watch! ...and profit from. *-) 3J
Author Gino     Date November 8, 2009 16:22  Edited: November 8, 2009 by Gino Abuse this post Report Abuse
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I just sank the money that I had earmarked for when I started trading real dollars into my truck. New front tires, 4 new batteries, my annual safety inspection, a three axle alignment, oil change and grease. Still need to replace the 8 rear tires. I talked to the recruiter and signed up to train new drivers. They need 30 days on the job training before they can work for TST. This should get me some more miles as the dispatchers treat you as a team and send you farther, and the $500 dollar bonus when they are trained and in their own truck will help. Hopefully the new guys wont wreck my truck in the process or end up costing me too much more in repairs. It's the only thing I could do to try and keep in the black.

So it might be a long while before I save enough "disposible income" to start trading real dollars. Till then I guess it's just playing games and bugging you guys as my entertainment.
Author JoeJustJoe     Date November 8, 2009 16:50 Abuse this post Report Abuse
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Well, as fer as the markets go you won't be missing too much. On a weekly basis thur is just now beginning to be a handful o'stocks that even qualify as long term buys....and half the time those end up putting in new trendlows which mean they are going even lower....like ESLR for instunce. I've lowerd my target for it twice since I initiated my blog on it. Twon't be too long now before the trend moves to the downside and trying to figger out wherst a GOOG entry point is will be futile....just as trying to chort the markets has proven to be for most sheeple the past 7 mumphs. The indicies are ALL going to new 52 week lows....and alot of companies we know as everyday names will be going bankrupt. It'll take awhile to play out...but "probly" not that long...once those who are responsible for the rally get eliminated quickly cuz they were once again leveraged in the wrong seckter. Not that any secktor will be the right seckter actually. *-) One thing you can do right now at the very bottom o'the longer term cycle is trade in somma them thur "soon to be MUCH less valuable Canadian loonies" for some U.S. dollahs *-) Whenst (not if) they all come a runnin to the shelter of the U.S. dollah it will gar-own-tee the govmint can continue to print as much as they want to...cuz trust me...they'll need more to replace all the dollahs that will get eliminated whenst (not if) GS is trading at $40 dollahs.....let's not even discuss the "likely" bankruptcy of Citigroup or "lesser" criminals :-) 3J
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