Sign Of The Times?

It's pretty bad. This time of year, my phone rings every 10 hours. I worked through the entire memorial day weekend last year. I worked 3 days last week and they have nothing going out on weekends. When I got back yesterday, the area where we keep the loaded trailers was less than a third full. I've never seen it that empty on a Saturday

Same here, they called me off day after memorial day we have been calling 5 drivers off a night I've heard. When I come in we have gone having 40+ loaded trailers to go out now we have around 6.

Michael pulls a reefer for Marten and in the past 14 months there have been a few weeks when he's been a bit slow and made just his guaranteed weekly pay of $1,425. His DM will usually find some local loads for him to move around. Sometimes if there is not a refrigerated or frozen load they find a load from another fleet that needs moving and he's hauled flooring in the reefer a couple of times but I imagine that is the sort of business that is slowing down.

Last week I was wondering how the transportation industry is doing with higher fuel costs and a possible recession looming. Michael does not own any stock in Marten but I checked it out anyways and saw that they had just authorized buying back more of their own stock a month ago so this is somewhat reassuring. I did not check into other publicly traded companies (I own some FedEx stock but that is a lot more complicated to assess). When I looked at Marten's 1st quarter financials I saw that they beat earnings estimates by analysts but it will be interesting to see how it looks this current quarter. Net earnings were roughly 10% of total sales. That requires a lot of activity to keep things in the black, not a good time for someone to think about buying or leasing his own truck.

FWIW, wasn't gonna comment, but .. sheesh!

Tom's head boss in Chi'town (Lemont) offered him to take this past week off, and still get paid for Memorial day. He's still got one (or 2?) more vacay weeks...think it's back to 2 now.

SO THEN, Yes, he did. Yes, the soup, ketchup, and dog food will still need boxes, haha! (Unless Don did it all!)

Back to 'business' tomorrow, though! (I'm kinda glad, sorry!)

~ Anne ~

ps: Hope it wasn't a 'bad week' to buy a 'new car.' {no emoji for pulling hair out...}

Well, even if they somehow pull JB outta' his seat, it wont be much better with the alternative taking over... Or, the Calif old, crusty, beyotch, after "Kam Allah over her face" got axed too......

Somethings gotta give, somewhere ! Nothing a well placed drone strike, can't fix over in the USSR/China spots lol. But, we're too sissie-fied with our "puppet" man in power. Same laughing stock, we were, when the other dude, from 2008-2016 sat there.....SMFH

Rob T, thanks for asking about my knees. This Tuesday I have the procedure from the pain management doctor that should alleviate the pain for the short term. I hope it works because I’m scheduled to start work again on Wednesday. Long term, I met with a very highly recommended orthopedic surgeon last week and he said knee replacement is my only solution. That would be very problematic for me as I would be off work for several months and have to clear out and turn in my truck. But first things first. Hoping the pain management thing works. I’m told the procedure can be effective for up to a year.

I'll be wishing you well tomorrow, BK. I wish they had something 'similar' for my Rotator Cuff! Pain is (sadly!) not my issue; it's the ROM (Range of Motion) I still struggle with.

I've heard from others (ie: G'Town, too!) that it can take quite a while. I'm still doing as much PT as my arske (well, arm!) can handle, haha!

Hope tomorrow's procedure helps, man.

~ Anne ~

I think the next six months or so are going to be a complete sh*t show. That’s my bet. Yea

I think the next six months or so are going to be a complete sh*t show. That’s my bet. Yea

I'm not a bettin' woman, Bird One, but even if I were, I SURE wouldn't bet 'AGAINST' ya! Yep!

(Tom's whole VACAY week already HAS been, haha!)

I know, I know . . . re: JB and the 'Sunshine Band' ... hehehe.... YEP!

With as much as we spent, I'm happy HE'S back to work, (and myself as well!) Our water tank BLEW (LITERALLY) right before his 'wake up' time TODAY, ...and I'm so glad he was still here, because.... um.... DUH! Our local plumber guy was here in 1/2 hour. Gotta love SOME of this small town stuff! We've patronized him before; he put the original in.

$724 later w/ a $26 tip, (and the new (to us) Toyota we just bought on Mem Day...) what else?!?!? Wasn't any sense waiting for 'better' car prices, either.

Scary times, my friends. For sure. Anyone even THINKING of O/O'ing or L/P'ing r n has something not too right.

I'm super happy that PJ had a back up plan, for sure!

~ Anne ~

ps: Take care, Bird One. We'll meet up one day! Maybe we will make the company picnic out by you, this summer. New car & all, why not ?!?!? :)

Anne I hope it all works out. I think I’m on pretty solid ground. I had to send the truck to the shop this week and they called me twice hoping I was available.

The stuff I delivered last week was ordered 1 1/2 years ago. The monument industry is that far behind filing orders.

The last few months I was at QC we were having alot of orders cancel at the last minute. In 1 month I had more cancelations than I had in 4 years. When I questioned why it was becoming such a problem all I got was shrugged shoulders.

Anne I hope it all works out. I think I’m on pretty solid ground. I had to send the truck to the shop this week and they called me twice hoping I was available.

The stuff I delivered last week was ordered 1 1/2 years ago. The monument industry is that far behind filing orders.

The last few months I was at QC we were having alot of orders cancel at the last minute. In 1 month I had more cancelations than I had in 4 years. When I questioned why it was becoming such a problem all I got was shrugged shoulders.

PJ, I hope the truck is up & at'em in no time!!!

Like I mentioned earlier in this (I believe?) thread.....the monument industry is still booming around here, too.

Keep up in the loop, man! You're 'recession proof.' Nobody lives forever, haha!

~ Anne & Tom ~

Thanks Anne, it will be back by end of the week. It just has a very small coolant leak and the left stack mounting bushing need replaced. It was something I could schedule anytime. My oldest granddaughter is competing in the national gymnastics in Orlando on thur representing Cali so we are going down to watch. Time mangement at its finest👍