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Good morning!

If you’re reading this still stuffed like a Thanksgiving Turkey, you’re not alone– me too, folks.

Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

1. 🚛 The Shipping Showdown: FedEx and UPS dropping prices like it's hot in the 2023 discount wars.

2. 🗺️ The Turnover Twist: Dive into the trucking world's puzzle – high turnover vs. driver retention.

3. 🌉 Bridge Battles: Historic bridges vs. modern trucks – a clash of eras causing some real headaches (and heartaches) for heritage lovers. Spoiler alert– truckers usually win.

Hop in for an expedition through the smooth and rough patches of the road.

⛽ Joe’s Fuel Corner

1. Avg. Gas Price: $3.25.

2. Avg. Deisel Price: $4.23.

3. Priciest Gas State: California ($4.89)

4. Cheapest Gas State: Mississippi ($2.76)

Roll up to the pumps with a bit more cheer, folks! The national average for gas is now $3.25 a gallon. That's a sweet relief compared to the dizzy heights we've seen before. Diesel lovers, you're looking at $4.23 on average, but hey, it's better than it was.

What's cooking with these prices? Well, a mix of global events and market shifts always stirs the pot. So keep your eyes peeled and your tanks ready. Might not be a bad idea to enjoy these prices while they last 'cause you never know when the next bump's coming!"

FedEx and UPS Battle it Out with Deep Discounts in the 2023 Shipping Wars

Shipping's the new playground, and FedEx and UPS are the cool kids handing out candy.

2023's been a gold rush for shippers, and 2024? It's shaping up like a high-roller Vegas trip. 

FedEx and UPS are throwing discounts around like confetti at a New Year's party. We're talking deep cuts, the kind you haven't seen since the flip phones were cool (yeah, way back pre-pandemic and the '08 recession).

Small biz owners, perk up your ears! Are those juicy discounts usually reserved for the big dogs? They're now coming your way. 

Josh Taylor from Shipware is spilling the beans on these deals. Think discounts on everything – surcharges, fuel, you name it. FedEx and UPS are playing Santa, and it's not even Christmas. They cover early termination fees and toss signing bonuses like beads at Mardi Gras.

Why this mad discount dash?

One word: Amazon.

The Amazon shipping service is cutting prices like a Black Friday sale, with no extra charges for those pesky weekend deliveries.

The parcel world's kinda sleepy right now, mirroring the broader economic snooze fest. So, FedEx and UPS are betting big on discounts to pump up their volumes.

The Highway Hustle Take: Shipping's a lot like a high school dance – everyone's looking for a dance partner, but not everyone's got the right moves. FedEx and UPS are busting out the moonwalk and the robot, trying to woo everyone to their side of the gym.

But with the market like a drowsy sloth, these big players might just be trying too hard to be prom king and queen. So, what do you do? Watch the dance-off from the sidelines or jump in and boogie? That's your call, hustlers. Just remember, even in a shipping disco, it's always smart to keep one eye on the exit.

Here’s what this means for you:

🚚 More Hauls: Increased shipping activity due to discounts, leading to additional job opportunities.

🗺️ New Territories: FedEx and UPS expansion opens up fresh routes and markets for owner-operators.

⚖️ Industry Shifts: Rate wars could change logistics dynamics, offering competitive advantages to owner-operators.

🤝 Long-Term Deals: Opportunities for stable contracts with carriers amidst aggressive pricing strategies.

🏢 Small Biz Boost: Attracting smaller businesses with discounts could raise demand for owner-operator services.

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Turnover is Profitable, Unfortunately

The trucking world's latest drama: High turnover is more profitable than keeping drivers around. Sounds wild, right? But it's the hard truth in this $875 billion industry.

📉 Turnover vs. Training: Trucking bigwigs are wrestling with a big question: Should they focus on churning out new drivers or make life better for the ones they've got? Right now, the cash flow says "keep 'em coming and going."

🏫 Schools in the Spotlight: Truck driving schools are crucial for prepping the next wave of road warriors, but there's a hitch – where should the industry's bucks and efforts go?

🚦 Safety & Experience: Less experienced drivers are 47% more likely to cause a serious accident. More experience behind the wheel means safer roads. So, why aren't we keeping these folks longer?

💸 The Money Puzzle: Researchers found that truckload carriers actually rake in more dough by paying drivers less and dealing with higher turnover. Yeah, it's a head-scratcher.

🤔 The Big Debate: Some say there's a driver shortage, but the real deal? It's a game of musical chairs with drivers hopping from one gig to another. The American Trucking Associations cry shortage, but many folks in the trenches disagree.

The American Trucking Association cites a gap of 78,000 drivers. But many on the ground argue it's more about drivers jumping ship for better offers. Large truckload fleets, for example, had a staggering 94% turnover rate from 1995 to 2017.

🔄 The Vicious Cycle: Under the current system, trucking's stuck in a loop – train, hire, lose, repeat. Newbies might get lured by higher starting salaries, but the lifestyle's tough, and many don't stick around.

💡 The Highway Hustle’s Take– What's the Fix? Better pay, benefits, and home time could help, but it's not just about money. Maybe a sprinkle of human decency and respect could do wonders. Treating drivers right doesn't cost a dime, but it might just help reverse a bizarre business model that seems counterintuitive but has been financially effective.

• Improved Compensation and Benefits: Increasing driver pay and offering more comprehensive benefits can make the job more attractive and financially rewarding. This might include higher per-mile rates, guaranteed minimum pay, and better health insurance plans.

• Enhanced Work-Life Balance: Implementing policies that allow drivers to spend more time at home can improve job satisfaction. This could involve more flexible scheduling, shorter routes, or a relay system that limits long-haul distances.

• Respect and Recognition: Cultivating a culture of respect and appreciation for drivers can boost morale and loyalty. Regular recognition, awards for safe driving, and open communication channels can make drivers feel valued.

• Quality Training and Career Development: Offering thorough and ongoing training can help new drivers feel more prepared and confident. Career development opportunities, like paths to become trainers or move into management, can also retain talent.

Mortal Kombat: Truckers and Historic Bridges

Another historic bridge is in critical condition. 

In West Earl Township, Pennsylvania, the historic Bitzer’s Mill covered bridge, dating back to 1846, sustained significant damage due to a semi-truck driver ignoring the 10’6″ height restriction. 

The driver mangled the bridge’s roof supports and made the situation worse by trying to reverse. 

“Oh %&$! Oh no. Oh no. Oh no,” we speculate was the thought process upon reversing and hearing more crunching. 

PennDOT has shut down the bridge, pending repairs, and established a detour via Farmersville Road, Route 322, and Pleasant Valley Road. 

This isn’t the first historic bridge to meet its match with an overly ambitious or careless trucker: 

• Long Grove, Illinois: A 15,000-pound truck destroyed a newly restored covered bridge

• Princeton, Illinois: A semi-truck destroyed the historic "Red Covered Bridge"

• Minnesota: A 2005 Peterbilt truck tractor collapsed a 56-foot bridge over the Goose River

• Paoli, Indiana: A tractor-trailer driver damaged a historic cast-iron bridge

So, in homage to this historic bridge, let’s think of how far the automotive industry has come since it was first constructed in 1846. 

In 1846, the primary mode of personal and public transport in most parts of the world was still horse-drawn carriages. Innovations and improvements in carriage design during this period indirectly influenced the development of the automobile.

the mid-19th century was a period of significant growth and innovation in steam power and railways. This technology laid important groundwork for the development of motor vehicles.

The first automotive vehicle in the United States would be built in 1893 by brothers Charles and Frank Duryea, 47 years after the bridge’s construction. The Duryea Motor Wagon was the start of the first American car manufacturing company, marking the beginning of the shift from horse-drawn carriages to motorized vehicles.

Anyway, we hope the bridge makes a full recovery. The driver is fine, with maybe a bruised ego and probably dozens of emails from angry historians. 

Trucking Memes for the Soul

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