quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
Nope, the ports do not work 24-7. They tried to up the hours of operation at Long Beach some time back and found they had both inadequate port manpower, and an unwillingness of the trucking industry to step up their hours. Long Beach quickly gave up that idea.

Mr. Potato Head today is just too stupid to even give consideration to. The problems plaguing the ports are too few workers working to offload containers, and a severe lack of trucking to move the goods from port to warehouse and beyond. Warehouses are also full of goods right now because there isn't enough trucking to move them to their destinations. None of that will be cured because Joe Potato Head happened to decree a change in hours.

What's the process for loading rail cars with containers? Does it have to go to trucks first and then to rail cars, or is it pulled off the ship and loaded directly onto a rail car? I guess I don't understand why the infrastructure wouldn't exist to directly off load onto rail cars, bypassing any trucking issues. Of course you still need all the necessary rail and dock workers.

Let’s go Brandon!!!!

American Households’ Heating Bills Are Expected to Spike This Winter: Federal Agency

The average heating cost for a U.S. household is forecasted to see a double-digit increase this winter, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) in its October winter fuels outlook (pdf). https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/s...021_Winter_Fuels.pdf

Retail energy prices are expected to approach “multiyear highs” due to supply-demand changes following the pandemic as well as a colder winter ahead.

Propane costs are forecasted to rise by 54 percent, heating oil costs to rise by 43 percent, natural gas costs to rise by 30 percent, and electricity costs to rise by 6 percent.

With natural gas consumption projected to rise by 3 percent this winter, households are expected to spend $746 this winter, up from $573 last winter.

The increase in natural gas heating costs varies by region with the Midwest U.S. leading the price hike at a 45 percent increase from last winter, and the Northeast expecting a hike of 14 percent.

Nearly half of all U.S. households use natural gas as the primary source of heating.

Households relying on heating oil over winter will spend $1,734 over winter, relative to $1,212 last winter.

Houses in Northeastern regions will be more affected by the price hike as nearly one in five homes in the region rely on heating oil as their primary source of space heating.

The projection is based on the Brent crude oil price, which helps determine the prices of U.S. petroleum products.

“The higher forecast Brent crude oil price this winter primarily reflects a decline in global oil inventories compared with last winter as a result of global oil demand that has risen amid restrained production levels from OPEC+ [Organization of the Petroleum Exporting] countries,” according to the EIA.

While most households commonly use electricity for heating, 41 percent rely on electric heat pumps or heaters as their primary source for space heating.

These homes should expect to spend $1,268 this winter season, relative to $1196 last year. This projection accounts for 3 percent more residential electricity demand with more Americans working from home, a colder winter, as well as a rise in fuel costs for power generation.

“During the first seven months of this year, the cost of natural gas delivered to U.S. electric generators averaged $4.97/MMBtu, which is more than double the average cost in 2020,” stated EIA.

The 5 percent of U.S. homes using propane as the primary means to heat can expect to spend $631 more on average compared to last winter, depending on the location.

Residents of the Midwest can spend an average of $1,805 this winter, reflecting higher propane prices and a 2 percent increased consumption.

Propane prices have been at their highest since February 2014 due to increased global demand, relatively flat U.S. propane production, and limited oil supplies from OPEC+ countries.

The estimated rise in energy consumption projected by the EIA may vary with weather conditions in the 2021–22 winter season.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/...7Ct3EAx2njfFdDju%2B3

quote:

Originally posted by JoseyWales2:

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
Nope, the ports do not work 24-7. They tried to up the hours of operation at Long Beach some time back and found they had both inadequate port manpower, and an unwillingness of the trucking industry to step up their hours. Long Beach quickly gave up that idea.

Mr. Potato Head today is just too stupid to even give consideration to. The problems plaguing the ports are too few workers working to offload containers, and a severe lack of trucking to move the goods from port to warehouse and beyond. Warehouses are also full of goods right now because there isn't enough trucking to move them to their destinations. None of that will be cured because Joe Potato Head happened to decree a change in hours.

What's the process for loading rail cars with containers? Does it have to go to trucks first and then to rail cars, or is it pulled off the ship and loaded directly onto a rail car? I guess I don't understand why the infrastructure wouldn't exist to directly off load onto rail cars, bypassing any trucking issues. Of course you still need all the necessary rail and dock workers.

Containers are offloaded from container ships, loaded onto essentially flatbed type trailers and moved around the port by trucks. Not all, but lots of containers go to warehouse storage where they're stockpiled and shipped from there. Trucks are needed to move that inventory from dock to warehouse, to rail spur, to depots for long haul trucks to take overland. Covid rules, Biden administration unemployment subsidies, and a prior shortage of truck drivers are all contributing to the mass shortages of labor preventing all this freight from moving. None of that is going to be resolved in the short term by Mr. Potato Head and his cast of morons even if they had a clue what they were doing (which they don't).

I watched some news at lunch today, and saw an interview with the head of the port of Long Beach (a rather slimy, guido-like, character) who basically noted the port would step up offloading but expressed concerns that the trucking industry might not step up their efforts to match the accelerated unloading. Basically it was an "it's the other guys creating the problem" moment. Long story short, we're all screwed as these administration morons and nitwits fumble around in the dark dealing with a problem so far over their heads they can't even see it.

Between a shortage of drivers there's also a shortage of trucks, new and used.

We have had trucks at the shop for months waiting on parts, that isn't helping.
I'm swinging a new engine in and am dead in the water waiting on an oil filter base that's on national back order.

quote:

Originally posted by powermad:
Between a shortage of drivers there's also a shortage of trucks, new and used.

Just wait until 2023, when all heavy duty diesel trucks in California will be required to have "2010 model year engines or the equivalent." I'm sure that won't be a burden on truckers.

Suddenly I have visions of container-loads of chips needed to build or fix trucks sitting on a ship that can't dock to unload.

quote:

Originally posted by Il Cattivo:
Suddenly I have visions of container-loads of chips needed to build or fix trucks sitting on a ship that can't dock to unload.

I know where there's a field FULL of Class 8 trucks waiting for chips. One of my peeps tells me that they'll drop a chip in, run the truck out to the storage lot, then take it out to move another.

Am I the only one who is seeing as many trucks on the road as I ever have? No shortage of them around these parts. Trains are running 24/7 as well.

Seriously...every time I try to go anywhere on an Interstate....trucks galore. Esp on I-95 in SC.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Am I the only one who is seeing as many trucks on the road as I ever have? No shortage of them around these parts. Trains are running 24/7 as well.

The trucks that are popping up are worn out hulk's.
People grabbing 1.5 million mile rigs and running them.
Lots of auction trash that shouldn't be on the road.
Russians are cobbling all kinds of crap together.

One rig came in yesterday that had been wrecked and the frame at the front was broken.
They must not even be looking for stuff at the scales anymore as there is a lot of shit rolling down the road that should be in a scrap yard.

Meanwhile in Florida, the governor is inviting shipping to come to Florida ports. We have some major ports that are under utilized. It would be great for the Florida economy, but I don't know what our capacity is for getting that stuff off the ships and on to trucks.

I read a piece today about California law that requires trucks to meet certain emission standards, with engines manufactured after 2011, to be registered, with an aim to make all trucks electric by a certain date in 2035. Long term companies are not going to invest in trucks that will be outlawed in the future. Come on to Florida guys we will make it work.

From what I understand there are a lot of factors affecting trucking in California. There is the high price of diesel fuel, the 55mph speed limit and the new AB5 laws that define who is an employee and who is am independent contractor. This is causing a lot of owner operators to quit or leave California.

quote:

Originally posted by HayesGreener:
Meanwhile in Florida, the governor is inviting shipping to come to Florida ports. We have some major ports that are under utilized. It would be great for the Florida economy, but I don't know what our capacity is for getting that stuff off the ships and on to trucks.

I read a piece today about California law that requires trucks to meet certain emission standards, with engines manufactured after 2011, to be registered, with an aim to make all trucks electric by a certain date in 2035. Long term companies are not going to invest in trucks that will be outlawed in the future. Come on to Florida guys we will make it work.

That went into effect a few years ago.
The company I work for supplied new trucks for that cash for clunker deal.
Sold the trucks and got a 5 year service contract for them.
IIRC it was a $30 million deal and a pretty big deal for the company.
Which owns every Mack and Volvo dealership on the west coast from Canada to Mexico and east into Arizona and Nevada now. Over 30 stores now I believe.

Moving ships from Commie fornia to FL would take some serious transport costs, fuel, labor, panama canal fees, doesn't the canal has restrictions on size and capacity...

Even so, move the ships on the east coast here to unload if they can, problem still is trucking.

Maybe I'll retire and get my CDL, if I could drive a Semi with a Sleeper, sell the house, load up the Harley and travel the country without the cost of a motorhome....... and get paid...

[FLASH_VIDEO] [/FLASH_VIDEO]

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Moving ships from Commie fornia to FL would take some serious transport costs, fuel, labor, panama canal fees, doesn't the canal has restrictions on size and capacity...

Even so, move the ships on the east coast here to unload if they can, problem still is trucking.

They could always spread it around - there are ports with highway links from South Carolina to the Texas/Mexico border.