TRUCK NEWS Page 45
April 2009
Opinion
Putting things in perspective
JUSTIN POLLARI
Publisher’s Comment
5536-V
Rob Wilkins
D.O.B.: Jan. 31, 1987
for their family’s food and rent? I’m curious. We will work our way out of this mess and the economy will recover. Whatever you are doing to minimize the effect this downturn is having on your business, do so with this in mind. No doubt, one day we’ll be the ones talking about the four-mile walks to school, every day, uphill, both ways, during raging snowstorms. And around she goes… ■ – Rob Wilkins is the publisher of Truck News and he can be reached TruckNews Guide Ad gm2011.qxd 11/26/08 at 416-510-5123.
Missing since: December 07, 2001 Missing from: Hilton Beach, Ontario Height: 5' 9" Weight: 140 lbs. Eye Colour: Blue Age Enhanced to 20 years.
Hair Colour: Blonde
Justin was last seen talking to a trucker on Highway 11, just outside of Sault Ste. Marie, near his hometown.
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4:51 PM
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What a difference a year makes. For many, retirement plans have been put on hold. Anyone invested in the stock market has witnessed their net worth decrease by 40% or more, company retirement plans are experiencing burn rates at an alarming pace and for many, just paying the mortgage is a monthly challenge. For sure, it’s hard to keep a positive attitude. Things will turn around but just try telling that to someone with a family of five who has just been laid off. I was moaning about the market conditions to my dad the other day. He has a business background (prior to retiring, he managed a local manufacturing plant employing just over 200 people. It was an established business that consumed his entire working career. In fact, it was the first job he applied for after returning from the war) so I like to bounce business problems and scenarios off him, hoping for feedback. After rambling on about the current state of trucking affairs (it was indeed a long rant) he stopped me abruptly. “Robert John (I knew he meant business when he used my second name) this is not the depression that I lived through (I was waiting for the “I used to walk four miles to school, every day, uphill, both ways, in raging snowstorms”) so don’t let me hear you whine. They were bad times and we were on our own. There were no government bailout packages being handed out.” Fair enough, he had been through the worst of the worst. He was one of four brothers. In order for his family to make ends meet, all of them had to find part-time jobs and donated their earnings to the common good of the family. From what I understand, it was the norm back then. Family finances came first. I wonder how many kids these days would be willing (without a granddaddy of a fight) to forfeit their part-time wages to help pay
MISSING
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When the going gets tough, the tough get smarter If there was ever a time to find ways to run your business more efficiently, now is the time. So, where do you find accurate information about industry trends and future estimates for shipment volumes, rates and surcharges, so that you can plan your operation accordingly? Where can you find stats that allow you to compare your trucking operation to others, so that you can identify potential problems and opportunities for your business? Look no further, Truck News and Truck West are about to publish a comprehensive guide for trucking and transportation professionals, called “Inside the Numbers” – a snapshot of expectations
for shipment volumes, rates, surcharges and capacity concerns based on detailed research of shippers operating in several industries. • What can your trucking operation expect in 2009? • What are the business trends that are changing your industry? • What are the strategies shippers will be using to stay the course in 2009? This timely report will provide you with a wealth of knowledge that you can use to guide you through the difficult year ahead.
If you’d like to reserve your copy of the “Inside the Numbers” report, send an email to krattray@ctl.ca.
Coming Soon! www.trucknews.com/inside