I drive for a large tire distributor and we are currently receiving 30% of our orders. And prices are jumping monthly.

Just escaped CA and moved to Florida. We decided to trash all the 10-15 year old mattresses we were sleeping on and buy new and not haul beat ones cross country. Wife came down here almost 2 months ago to set things up and buy appliances and beds etc. Well we’re here now sleeping on airbeds for the 2nd night and the bed store calls today and says at least 2 weeks minimum more with no guarantee of that date. They were due Thursday this week to coincide with our arrival. Also couldn’t get appliances delivered for many weeks. Which is weird because we remodelled our house prior to sale in CA and we went to a decent size appliance chain in the Bay Area and bought a stove microwave and dishwasher at 7pm on a Tuesday and they were all delivered Thursday. So maybe 15mm Bay Area vs the not nearly as populated FL panhandle?

quote:

Originally posted by ElToro:
Also couldn’t get appliances delivered for many weeks. Which is weird because we remodelled our house prior to sale in CA and we went to a decent size appliance chain in the Bay Area and bought a stove microwave and dishwasher at 7pm on a Tuesday and they were all delivered Thursday. So maybe 15mm Bay Area vs the not nearly as populated FL panhandle?

Probably more to do with the Bay Area's proximity to West Coast Ports.

I'm responsible for getting quarters for a laundry non profit group that helps those experiencing homelessness. My bank had absolutely no quarters. They even called other branches who also didn't have any. Fortunately, the owner of the Laundry location was present and was able to get us the quantity that we needed.

My friend works at a Wawa convenience store. She said that they are giving out coupons for one of their hoagies if you were to bring in bulk coins.

Who knew quarters would become a high demand item?

I forgot to mention...Walmart, the express self check out lanes were "cards only". The reason was, "due to coin shortages."

Reading all of the above makes me happy that I live in a timeless world of endless beauty. Breathing air and looking at the top side of the grass! I recall the 'opening of China' by Nixon was for the great new pool of consumers for American products. What happened?

quote:

Originally posted by oldbill123:
And the MOB probably still controls the docks

I think that mob is the CA state government.

The video speaks of the lack of trucking available to haul containers out of the port. I used to occasionally haul containers out of Long Beach. Then CA required that all trucks be 2010 or newer, then you had to buy a $300 annual drayage sticker, then you needed a $150 TWIC card, and on and on. I can't remember all the specific hassles, but I remember it was just one regulation after another, in addition to the normal FMCSA hassles. I was just one simple owner-operator, but I finally just said "screw it, I'm done with the port." I'm not alone. A lot of other guys did the same. I am now the accountant and occasional pinch-hitter for a trucking company, and we don't haul out of the port, for any price.

In the larger picture, the government-mandated emissions on big diesels, which aren't reliable at any price or amount of maintenance, has driven up both maintenance and new-truck purchase costs. Then the 2018 e-log mandate, the 2019 drug clearinghouse, and the part "B" license headaches. Even for those who don't run against the regulations, compliance has added costs and headaches to an already heavily regulated and taxed industry.

Factoring everything I just mentioned, who wants to be a trucker now? Nobody. Whereas it used to be a profession, it is now just a fallout job when nothing else is available. Right now, nearly anything else is available. Add to that the constant drone that "truckers will be obsolete in five years through automation" (a complete joke), and what younger person would choose the profession? In the last decade the average age of a truck driver has moved from a person in their 40s up into the late 50s.

You think there's a shortage of trucking now, just wait another ten years! Right now trucking is a $70-100,000 job, but we can't even get people to sit for an interview. Nobody wants to start a company where you spend 25% of your time just trying to comply with the byzantine rules, regulations, and taxes. Drivers don't want to work in an industry where getting a single speeding ticket while driving their POV makes them unemployable in the industry for two years.

Perhaps there's a future for short-line railroads.

“Just in Time (JIT)” delivery was the newest flavor that reared its head 20 or so years ago. It’s great if it works, but any glitch causes a problem.Delays are rampant.

Accountants are running the show. “Hey, we can get rid of all our satellite warehouses around the country and do JIT! We’ll save on inventory taxes and warehouse expenses.”

So if a spare part is needed, it’s no longer stocked locally. It may even not be in the USA.

Screw the customer but the bean counters are happy.

I priced a moving truck from El Paso to Jacksonville, one way, and it's $3,500. Also priced a moving truck from Chicago to Jacksonville, one way, and it's $3,500. Yet if I price that moving truck from El Paso to Atlanta, it's $2,500. Gal said the demand for trucks going to Florida one way have driven the price way up. Last year I paid $1,200 for a one way truck from Orlando to El Paso.

I looked into a Trek road bike last summer and they were 6 months behind. I gave up looking, it's probably longer than that now.

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:
I priced a moving truck from El Paso to Jacksonville, one way, and it's $3,500. Also priced a moving truck from Chicago to Jacksonville, one way, and it's $3,500. Yet if I price that moving truck from El Paso to Atlanta, it's $2,500. Gal said the demand for trucks going to Florida one way have driven the price way up. Last year I paid $1,200 for a one way truck from Orlando to El Paso.

Try pricing that from pretty much anywhere in CA to anywhere in TX or FL and it's even more.