Trucking Under Democratic Or Republican Government

The loss of Stevens Transport in the oil field had more to do with their own failures than the field itself. You never saw Stevens trucks hauling for the major energy services because everyone knew they were unreliable and made a lot of mistakes. Once things started getting tight, the big companies kept going albeit slowly but the smaller energy services packed up shop and companies like Stevens had to throw in the towel.

Things are going to be stable for awhile - in the short term at least.

As OS commented - everyone still has to eat and wipe their butt (regardless of political affiliation). So folks in reefer and consumer goods are going to be in pretty good shape - as they typically always are.

Where we typically see change in a Dem admin - is in REGULATION(s). Where the current admin has tried to reduce the overburdening number of rules/regs across the board (DJT executive order 13771: "directs agencies to repeal two existing regulations for every new regulation, and to do so in such a way that the total cost of regulations does not increase."), dem admins seem to get "paid by the word" for writing new laws and regs so lengthy and convoluted that "you have to pass it to see what's in it". This will come in the form of new/micro-managing regs across the board in all facets of industry.

We are going to see changes down the road - more than likely in fuel prices - which DRIVE UP THE COST OF EVERYTHING. Remember back in '08-10 - when diesel was close to (or over) $5 in the NE? And the PRICE OF EVERYTHING on the shelves in stores WENT UP, to compensate for the FREIGHT CHARGES INCREASING. Anyone remember prices GOING BACK DOWN, after fuel prices came down? Anyone? Bueller?

Promised energy policy from the left (green new deal, banning fracking, etc.) will take us back from PRODUCERS/EXPORTERS to IMPORTERS/DEPENDANTS. We will destroy our "energy independence", and put 100's of thousands OUT OF WORK. Where this affects trucking is in fuel prices and TRUCKING JOBS IN THE ENERGY SECTOR.

During the previous admin - we did see a little more "enforcement activity" - as fines are considered to be a "revenue source". These seemed to go down somewhat, during the current admin. Look for them to return.

The bigger changes we're going to see - depend on what is ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED as far as healthcare, immigration, welfare (universal basic income? PLEASE), "green new deal" type of crap comes down the pike. Sadly the (supposed) president elect, is going to surround himself with people like Bernie, AOC, Warren, et al - who have all these great EXPENSIVE government programs, that SOMEONE HAS TO PAY FOR (if you're wondering who someone is - look in the mirror). Weak trade policy (unlike the current admin) is going to shift jobs back overseas - especially in the manufacturing sector. Higher taxes and regulations will make it cheaper to "offshore" a lot of things (being that China uses slave labor - and we actually HAVE TO PAY our workers). This will likely result in a slowdown in "supply chain trucking".

Millions of people here illegally - who suddenly gain legal status - are LIKELY TO FLOOD THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY (and it's not 11 million - likely closer to 30). Open border policy is going to invite millions more in. More COMPETITION FOR TRUCKING JOBS - is likely to DRIVE PAY DOWN.

OTOH - politicians are famous for empty promises - how much of what was pimped on the campaign trail, that gets enacted, will remain to be seen. Both sides are famous for SPENDING OTHER PEOPLES MONEY but no one porks better than the left. Should the senate get tied (with the VP breaking the tie), and the WH in dem hands - they will RAM THROUGH EVERY SPENDING BILL they've been trying to get through for years. We are going to IMMEDIATELY RUN UP TRILLIONS UPON TRILLIONS MORE IN DEBT. And you either TAX to get the money - or BORROW IT (can anyone say CHINA?). I see this happening at RECORD SPEED - and then, the right taking back both houses in the '22 mid-terms - but the DAMAGE WILL ALREADY BE DONE.

COVID hurt us BADLY FINANCIALLY - both as individuals, businesses (small and large), and the addition of TRILLIONS in new (albeit somewhat necessary) government spending - that again - someone HAS TO PAY FOR. And if you think the left is going to "take it from the demon rich" REMEMBER - THEY ARE THE DEMON RICH.

I'm just glad I'M OLD (not as old as OS, but OLD). If the left does HALF of what they promised - most of us will LONG FOR THE OBAMA ERA TO RETURN.

Regardless of what the media says - things are still in flux right now. Much depends on how a new admin deals with C-19. If they go to another national shutdown (which I believe they will) - what happens next is anyones guess. My belief is - the same total number of people that are GOING TO DIE from C-19 ten months ago - are STILL GOING TO DIE EVENTUALLY (one way or another). Are we better off totally destroying an economy - to save lives we are likely to LOSE IN THE LONG TERM ANYWAY? Or keep the country running? Telling people to "take up coding", is NOT THE SOLUTION TO JOB/BUSINESS LOSSES.

If we KEEP SPENDING AND PRINTING WORTHLESS PAPER - we are going to continue to devalue our currency to the point of COLLAPSE.

Yeah - some of my comments have to do with trucking - and some of them don't. But the industry is a barometer for how things do in many other sectors of our economy. And is usually one of the quickest to react to changes. Yeah - both sides of the aisle need to eat and wipe their butts - but there is MORE TO TRUCKING than reefer and walmart DC's (though soon, that may be all that's left).

FLAME AWAY - as a conservative, I'm used to it...

Rick

As a former govt employee ..any govt is run horribly. I want them out of my life and I am moving to a cabin in MT. Lol

I was just wondering how politics affects the overall quality of life of truckers whether O/O or company-hired. Is pay affected? Job-related safety conditions, etc? Will drivers have more home time if Republicans or Democrats are in charge? Will they have roomy and more comfortable cabs if the Libertarians are in? It used to be that unions and Demos were hand in hand. I heard the drivers all liked President Trump. I would say the markets, the economy, is what drives this business more than elected officials. Trucks stop rolling goods along, farms stop growing food and people starve to death.

As a former govt employee ..any govt is run horribly. I want them out of my life and I am moving to a cabin in MT. Lol

I was just wondering how politics affects the overall quality of life of truckers whether O/O or company-hired. Is pay affected? Job-related safety conditions, etc? Will drivers have more home time if Republicans or Democrats are in charge? Will they have roomy and more comfortable cabs if the Libertarians are in? It used to be that unions and Demos were hand in hand. I heard the drivers all liked President Trump. I would say the markets, the economy, is what drives this business more than elected officials. Trucks stop rolling goods along, farms stop growing food and people starve to death.

But the Troll will never stop.

As a former govt employee ..any govt is run horribly. I want them out of my life and I am moving to a cabin in MT. Lol

Maybe you could take over Ted Kaczynski's cabin, lol.

As a former govt employee ..any govt is run horribly. I want them out of my life and I am moving to a cabin in MT. Lol

I was just wondering how politics affects the overall quality of life of truckers whether O/O or company-hired. Is pay affected? Job-related safety conditions, etc? Will drivers have more home time if Republicans or Democrats are in charge? Will they have roomy and more comfortable cabs if the Libertarians are in? It used to be that unions and Demos were hand in hand. I heard the drivers all liked President Trump. I would say the markets, the economy, is what drives this business more than elected officials. Trucks stop rolling goods along, farms stop growing food and people starve to death.

Democrats would be pushing for better fuel efficiency, so probably smaller, less roomy cabs. Democrats would have stricter non idling laws, and enforce them more. Democrats would make drivers less safe, as they have been, by encouraging rioting and looting, and calling to defund the police.

Democrats enacted AB5 in California that is spreading throughout the country. In an attempt to get gig workers benefits, they have eliminated some lease ops at mega carriers. prime for example no longer employs lease ops from CA.

Own your rig with own authority, go company, move or quit was the choice

I would say the markets, the economy, is what drives this business more than elected officials.

Exactly.

Folks, trucks will keep rolling regardless of the circumstances. The question is, who will get those miles if the economy slows?

Keep something in mind. There's always plenty of room for the best. If things slow down, it's the low-performing driver that will suffer the most. The top-performing drivers will continue to run hard and make great money.

As always, get out there and show them you're highly motivated, safe, reliable, and productive. If you can do that, you'll always make a great living in this industry regardless of circumstances.

Join me on my boat, that’s the next thing on my list l, tired of taxes.

As a former govt employee ..any govt is run horribly. I want them out of my life and I am moving to a cabin in MT. Lol

It is about time that we move ahead. The election is over so move forward. It does not matter if you are Republican or Democrat the results are in and the people have spoken. It has been going on this way since George Washington. If things don't go the way you like them to you have another shot in 2024.

We have so many things to worry about other than if our candidate won the election or not. Stop fueling the masses and let's get back to normalcy. We have a serious killer out here, Covid-19, to deal with so we can all breath easier. The hatred, unrest and rioting need to stop before we tear this great country apart.