http://www.classadrivers.com/phpBB2/...er=asc&start=0
http://www.classadrivers.com/phpBB2/...er=asc&start=0

 

Ahhh, I see the original poster's name is 2. I was gonna say...I should have known better. Those 2 links explianed it best.

So, can anyone ask what make smart people smart? :lol:

 

Well strength can be confused with moral or immoral decisions also and just because something might be perceived as strong it may very well be immoral and unjust.

To me it would appear that becoming strong or being strong would involve making the hard decisions. Such as putting off a decision until your ready to take on the challenge of that decision when you do make it. To not fall for the instant gratification trap and take your time to earn your way. Avoiding getting into debt. Being frugal and only spending money or getting things when there is a direct return to your business. Being patient, and just working your way through things when it would appear that others around you are more prosperous or getting ahead much faster.

Too many times the things that we see around us are an illusion of prosperity, an illusion of strength, a desert mirage. The strong realize there are no shortcuts, and that those that take shortcuts expose themselves to forces and leverage that can be their undoing as quickly as it created the appearance of wealth and strength.

Now some get lucky, some get ahead by stepping on others, and some are dealt a good hand out of the gate. Those are few and far between.

How you become strong is no mystery. Having the gumption and intestinal fortitude to be strong and a success is the hard part.

Longsnowsm

 

Very well said Longsnowsm.

 

:P

Definitely an open ended question, designed to get people to thinking, if they aren't already.

The question was prompted by someone that recently said that it cost .65, to run a truck. And, another that said it was 1.05.

Then, there was Steve admitting that he was knocking down 800 a week, and thought he was doing good.

This was for anybody that may be wondering what it means, to be strong.

Of course, the focus here is not so much on strength of character, as it is the economic aspects of trucking.

A different way to stir the pot, so to speak.

 

Well I have to assume this thread is talking about surviving these high fuel prices, so I will address this from a trucking veiw point. Now , everyone has heard the term , "theres strength in numbers". This is certainly true, especially in trucking . You take a guy out here trying to make a living with 1 truck . He is for the most part going to have a higher rate of expenses than a company with say 1000 trucks . His profit margin is no doubt very slim . Lets say he clears around 50 ct per mile after all expenses and averages 2500 miles per week , that would net him 1250.00 per week . That is not a bad living in my opinion but he could be one major breakdown from disaster, or one lost contract, or god forbid one accident. Now take the company with 1000 trucks , they are probably getting a better deal on Ins, fuel and as we all know keep a steady stream of low paid drivers , but they more than likely have a large overhead which could bring their profit margin down per truck compared to the 1 truck fellow . Even so they are still able to survive being that they can multiply their slim profit margin by one thousand , thus making them strong , ( strength in numbers) . Now to answer the original question "what makes the strong ,strong" I would have to say hard work and determination had to play a big part in the first place . For them to make the decision to grow from a small 1 truck operation into a mega 1000 truck company would I assume took both hard work , determination plus a good business head and a bit of luck .
These figures may not be accurate but never the less you can get an idea of what I am saying , Any way my two cents worth ( I better make that one cent , I might need that penny to buy fuel this week)

 

A strong company is built with careful planning and making a decent profit. A strong company will build on their strengths and be quick to adjust to rapidly changing market conditions. A strong company sets objectives and finds a way to achieve them. And did I mention that a strong company makes a profit? From a trucking standpoint, a strong company will only haul freight that is profitable.

 

just when i expect to hear some mumbo jumbo, someone post facts that make sense & screws my whole thought process up!! :lol:

 

Thank you, GMAN.

Hope you don't mind me adding some space in there. My eyes ain't what they used to be.

If I may summarize, in a word:

Cash.
That is the strenght of the strong.

The strong earn it.
They maintain it.
And, they protect it.

You don't get strong in trucking, by living and running on the edge.

 

I agree and disagree. The most linear answer would be cash. But the "still waters that run deep"philosopher would say its the brains of the operation that got the cash and maintained the cash.