What's Up With Shipping Costs?

[saforwardlook]

I think it's a bit of a stretch to connect a trade agreement that never existed (TPP) or one that was supposed to create a Mexican-middle-class (haha) to increased shipping costs. If anything, fewer trucks = lower demand = lower rates.

It's probably less of a stretch to associate it with increased healthcare costs, fuel taxes, tolls, regulations (fleet upgrades and electronic logs). Or just plain ol' more e-commerce. Time for more competition.

I personally was opposed to the TPP based on what was known about it, so no problem there with me that he axed the proposal. My only point is that those countries that were involved in the negotiations were probably holding off on any tariff increases and now they no longer have a reason to restrain what they do. The only other reason for posting what I did was to suggest that isolating ourselves and putting up tariffs on incoming products is not a zero sum game. Retaliation will take place and who knows where this will all end up. I am not a believer that there are so many simple solutions to all these problems as Donald seems to believe there are. The Affordable Care Act is another not so simple issue to fix either we are finding.

I just wish both parties would really work together for our good rather than stonewalling each other and serving the people who finance their election campaigns instead. But we will see.....................

 

[detmatt]

Tolls could be the biggest scam out there. NY roads are an abomination, yet they keep charging money to drive on them. Very happy I don't have to deal with that anymore. I'd rather just pay a higher price on my car tags each year.

That's funny you say that because the roads in New York are fantastic compared to Michigan. I'd gladly pay a toll if it guaranteed roads free of pot holes. On our recent 2k mile road trip to Boston with 80% of those miles in NY state, we got back on MI roads after over 2 weeks and it dawned on us very quickly that the last pot hole we hit was when we left MI.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

I have never had complaints about NY roads, they get a lot of potholes from the winters but repaired in good time.

 

[Dobalovr]

Being on the other side of your Northern border has brought us into this border tax discussion with a lot of worry about being able to ship our raw resources South. Most of our gasoline is refined by you from our oil, we spend Billions in trade buying back the products America makes often using resources from here so we are also concerned that a trade war is a very distinct possibility which will only raise prices for everyone. Our BoyKing is currently huddled here in Calgary with his Cabinet asking people smarter then him what to do about Trump as he will get slaughtered in any negotiation about NAFTA. IMHO it's classic Art Of The Deal stuff...get the Adversary off balance and weak with worry about what you might do so that they are more agreeable to what the real target he is after is. This way they walk away thinking it could have been worse we "got off lucky"...classic win win

Or it could be at best 4 years of hell at worst 8. At least you have term limits our idiot could be in power for generations

 

[bluefury361]

I have never had complaints about NY roads, they get a lot of potholes from the winters but repaired in good time.

Two summers ago, in June, I traveled from Alabama to up state NY, Lake Champlain.
I love travel on secondary roads and had plotted a N/S route through NY. I quickly learned that it was the time of year that NY DOT repaired the roads. Construction zone after construction zone. I used a lot of Interstate on the trip home.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Two summers ago, in June, I traveled from Alabama to up state NY, Lake Champlain.
I love travel on secondary roads and had plotted a N/S route through NY. I quickly learned that it was the time of year that NY DOT repaired the roads. Construction zone after construction zone. I used a lot of Interstate on the trip home.

Yes, at least they are using the fuel tax money to maintain their roads and I don't think they would get very far doing road construction in January with 2feet of snow on them. Even the interstate is pretty road in the Adirondacks.

 

[MoPar Maniac]

Did union contract agreements have automatic wage increases kick in Jan 1?
And TPP would have nothing to do with domestic shipping rates. And as already mentioned it never was in place.
As far as nafta everything was skewed in favor of other countries and we paid the price.

 

[commando1]

Did union contract agreements have automatic wage increases kick in Jan 1?

Unions for who?

 

[MoPar Maniac]

UP$ U$P$

 

[commando1]

UP$ U$P$

Tells me you don't understand union contracts.
Sounds like you are under the impression union employees are entitled to a wage increase every Jan. 1st just because they're union.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Tells me you don't understand union contracts.
Sounds like you are under the impression union employees are entitled to a wage increase every Jan. 1st just because they're union.

Usually contract anniversary date. 1 st of the year is steps in scale for newer hires unless that stays corresponding to hire date.

 

[commando1]

The huge majority of contracts are multi year.
1 yr. being the rarest with 3, 4, and 5 being the most common.
I've seen contracts without ANY wage increase. Nowadays, contract issues rarely focus on the hourly wage but have instead shifted over to job security and maintenance of benefits from previous contracts.
I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night but I taught college level Labor Relations.

 

[MoPar Maniac]

Didnt stay ay a Holiday Inn but used to be a Machinists steward and bargaining committee member.
And my question was valid. Did their contracts have wage increases on Jan 1. These days more companies run their fiscal years concurrent with the calendar.

 

[commando1]

Didnt stay ay a Holiday Inn but used to be a Machinists steward and bargaining committee member.
And my question was valid. Did their contracts have wage increases on Jan 1. These days more companies run their fiscal years concurrent with the calendar.

I can only speak for the UPS contract. UPS's contract with the Teamsters is not tied to their fiscal year nor the new year.

but used to be a Machinists steward and bargaining committee member.

Welcome, Brother.

 

[MoPar Maniac]

Havent had anything to do with a union since about 82 when I learned they were for themselves and not their members.

 

[live4theking]

I just wish both parties would really work together for our good rather than stonewalling each other and serving the people who finance their election campaigns instead. But we will see.....................

I'm with you on this statement.