Cassens Auto Transport
Here is some encouraging economic news-- not every car hauling company is downsizing!
Allied closes down terminal.
Allied Automotive Group, the motor carrier hauling the SUVs made at the GM plant, will terminate its Janesville operation Dec. 23, putting all 117 employees out of work. Read original article here.
Boydstun Cylinder Strap Trucks Available
This is an excerpt from the press-release sent over earlier:
Boydstun Metal Works has introduced the latest addition to their product line. The new Cylinder Soft Tie unit is now available in a 7 car Quickload trailer with a 3 or 4 car headrack. . . . The decks on the new unit have been designed to come down low enough for a driver to stand on the ground while securing cars which reduces the chance for slips and falls.
Wheel Strap for Vertical E track Delta Ring End
Take a look at the latest car tie down strap we spec'd out for new customer, Excellent Auto Carriers. It features an extra long 10' strap with D ring so he can use his chain ratchets to tighten down. Also, it's got three heavy duty O ring type fittings-- one sewn to the end of the strap, then an idler, then 3 tread grabs, then another idler. The reason for this, is so he can pull excess through, if need be, and secure wheel on both sides with idler. Pretty unusual strap set-up, but I guess in the trailer he had built for him at Trailer Tech, there was one position where a ratchet handle type wheel strap really wouldn't work as well. More info here.
Business trip in Mongolia 2
Hello.We had business meeting with Tuushin Co. Ltd in Ulaambaatar.
the car behind us made by North Korea.
it is very rare.
but it looks like Japanese......
Daimler to Drop Sterling Brand, Eliminate 3,500 Jobs
Light & Medium Truck | Daimler to Drop Sterling Brand, Eliminate 3,500 Jobs: "In a sweeping move, Daimler AG announced today that it was dropping the Sterling Trucks brand, eliminating about 3,500 jobs and closing two of its factories as it reorganizes its North American operations."
They are keeping Western Star and Freightliner, though Freightliner is pulling out of Portland. Freightliner's Cascadia model will be built in Mexico. Ironic, isnt' it, that something named Cascadia will be built in Mexico.
They are keeping Western Star and Freightliner, though Freightliner is pulling out of Portland. Freightliner's Cascadia model will be built in Mexico. Ironic, isnt' it, that something named Cascadia will be built in Mexico.
Briefs: GMAC limits auto loans to credit scores of 700 or better | Business | Star-Telegram.com
Briefs: GMAC limits auto loans to credit scores of 700 or better | Business | Star-Telegram.com: "DETROIT — GMAC, the consumer-finance arm of General Motors, said it will limit auto loans to customers with credit scores of at least 700, making it harder for some to buy a car or truck. GMAC also raised what it charges auto dealers for making loans that aren’t part of special incentive programs, increasing the rate by 0.75 percentage point, the company said Monday. Most loans will be limited to 60 months. GMAC is tightening credit as it and GM battle speculation about their survival."
The GM, Ford death watch - Oct. 9, 2008
The GM, Ford death watch - Oct. 9, 2008: "NEW YORK (Fortune) -- How bad is it going to get for automakers? Worse, much worse."
Say it ain't so. In a phone conversation with my dad this morning, he asked, "Have you seen what's happening with GM?" I clicked over to Marketwatch, and at the time we were talking, GM had lost 16% of its value in just the early morning trading.
At its peak in 2000, GM stock was trading at close to $95 a share. This time last year, it was trading around $45. Now it's worth little more than $5.
Watch for a potential merger or a brand spin-off with Hyundai, who is terrified of losing the lower end of the market to the Chinese manufacturers. Nostradamus has spoken.
Say it ain't so. In a phone conversation with my dad this morning, he asked, "Have you seen what's happening with GM?" I clicked over to Marketwatch, and at the time we were talking, GM had lost 16% of its value in just the early morning trading.
At its peak in 2000, GM stock was trading at close to $95 a share. This time last year, it was trading around $45. Now it's worth little more than $5.
Watch for a potential merger or a brand spin-off with Hyundai, who is terrified of losing the lower end of the market to the Chinese manufacturers. Nostradamus has spoken.
Propaganda to get you to vote Democrat this year
Yes, I really sent this to my parents-- my dad, a dyed-in-the-wool Republican and my mom, a true undecided.
Hey mom-- make sure dad reads this!
Here is my propaganda to get you to vote Democrat this year:
We get the government we deserve. In 2004 we re-elected Bush. In 2000, it could be argued that we didn't know better. Not in '04. We can't pin every problem we're facing on "W", but with hindsight, it is clear that some problems we're in were compounded by his actions.
* massive increases in government spending
* no more surpluses-- huge deficits in the budget as far as the eye can see
* doubling of the government debt
* Bin Laden and extremists of his ilk still out there
* un-insured's emergency room visits getting passed on to insureds in the form of increased costs. these people's conditions might be managed for pennies on the dollar with medicine before they need expensive E.R. treatments , but anything other than the status quo is resisted by the G.O.P. as "socialized medicine.
The Republican party used to be fiscally conservative. Not any more. That's why I am no longer a Republican. But I didn't leave the party. They left me. Say what you will about Bill Clinton's personal conduct, his successful battle against government budget deficits was masterful. Part of his effort was politically unpopular-- raising taxes, and trimming entitlements. But he turned around the budget deficits that were the legacy of the Reagan-Bush era. And the economy didn't self-destruct, even though he came to office directly following the recession of '91.
This election, I encourage you to re-evaluate how you look at things.
* Are we better off than we were four years ago? Eight years ago?
* What are the qualitative differences between McCain and Bush policies?
o I haven't seen much difference, other than a campaign promise about health care...to tax company sponsored health benefits in exchange for a $5000 tax credit. This bill, if it even becomes a bill, will almost certainly die in committee on capitol hill.
* Has anyone talked about how to constrain these budget deficits, or the risks entailed to the economy if we don't?
My personal belief is that people will decide the presidential race based on the most important thing, something I haven't yet heard a debate moderator even ask!
Who will be the best unifier of the country? Who will bring people together to solve our common problems?
Think about it before you pull that lever or mark that ballot!
Hey mom-- make sure dad reads this!
Here is my propaganda to get you to vote Democrat this year:
We get the government we deserve. In 2004 we re-elected Bush. In 2000, it could be argued that we didn't know better. Not in '04. We can't pin every problem we're facing on "W", but with hindsight, it is clear that some problems we're in were compounded by his actions.
* massive increases in government spending
* no more surpluses-- huge deficits in the budget as far as the eye can see
* doubling of the government debt
* Bin Laden and extremists of his ilk still out there
* un-insured's emergency room visits getting passed on to insureds in the form of increased costs. these people's conditions might be managed for pennies on the dollar with medicine before they need expensive E.R. treatments , but anything other than the status quo is resisted by the G.O.P. as "socialized medicine.
The Republican party used to be fiscally conservative. Not any more. That's why I am no longer a Republican. But I didn't leave the party. They left me. Say what you will about Bill Clinton's personal conduct, his successful battle against government budget deficits was masterful. Part of his effort was politically unpopular-- raising taxes, and trimming entitlements. But he turned around the budget deficits that were the legacy of the Reagan-Bush era. And the economy didn't self-destruct, even though he came to office directly following the recession of '91.
This election, I encourage you to re-evaluate how you look at things.
* Are we better off than we were four years ago? Eight years ago?
* What are the qualitative differences between McCain and Bush policies?
o I haven't seen much difference, other than a campaign promise about health care...to tax company sponsored health benefits in exchange for a $5000 tax credit. This bill, if it even becomes a bill, will almost certainly die in committee on capitol hill.
* Has anyone talked about how to constrain these budget deficits, or the risks entailed to the economy if we don't?
My personal belief is that people will decide the presidential race based on the most important thing, something I haven't yet heard a debate moderator even ask!
Who will be the best unifier of the country? Who will bring people together to solve our common problems?
Think about it before you pull that lever or mark that ballot!
GE Capital--addendum
Here is a little follow-up to yesterday's story. Just talked to a trailer manufacturer in Michigan who told me that GE Capital's minimum FICO for loans is 750. This is pretty much their way of saying "Um, we're not loaning any money on trucks, sorry."
How the financial crisis affects car haulers
First of all, the scarcity of money-- the so-called "liquidity crisis" makes deals on major equipment harder to complete. You pay more for the capital you need to purchase new trucks. It becomes harder for you to sell your truck, because the person buying your truck has the same problem. There are fewer buyers that qualify as lending guidelines grow tighter. Some banks go into panic mode, and refuse to write certain loans, no matter how good your credit is. There is less competition among lenders for your business. That's never a good thing.
Consider the rates that GE Credit is offering today in their fleet credit program: 12% to qualified buyers. Three months ago, the rate was 8%. (As reported by Andrea West, owner and finance manager of West Coast Enterprises, the nation's newest Cottrell auto transport trailer dealership.)
Secondly, there is less freight to haul, because fewer people who want new cars qualify for credit. It becomes harder to "push that 4000 lbs of steel" across the sales desk at dealerships around the country. Less new car sales equals less used car sales. Less car sales means the auction freight slows down.
Thirdly, less POV freight as people cutback their spending, and as the housing crisis makes it harder to sell homes and move.
Disaster Economics 101
As with all things, the less there is of something, the more you will have to pay for it. The less money there is available to be loaned out (liquidity) the more you're going to have to compete for it. Also-- as more and more banks have to take crappy loans back onto their balance sheet, the less money they will have available to loan out, because of capitalization requirements.
And with banks uncertain about each others' willingness and ability to repay loans to each other, more and more banks here and abroad are having to rely on the central banks for overnight requirements.
The "seizing up" of the commercial paper market is happening in parallel with this, (in a huge oversimplification) pretty much because money market funds no longer want to buy the commercial bonds offered by businesses needing to raise large sums of money for short periods of time to meet their cash requirements.
Normally, banks perceive loans made to each other to be so "safe" that the spread between what the US Treasury pays and what a major bank pays for money is measured in tenths of a percentage point.
The current spread between the 3 month Treasury bill and the LIBOR (London Inter Bank Offering Rate) is almost four percentage points. This spread provides a pretty good index of liquidity within the economic system, and lower is definitely better.
This brings us to the final point, that most self-employed car haulers are already aware of...There is just less money "out there".
Consider the rates that GE Credit is offering today in their fleet credit program: 12% to qualified buyers. Three months ago, the rate was 8%. (As reported by Andrea West, owner and finance manager of West Coast Enterprises, the nation's newest Cottrell auto transport trailer dealership.)
Secondly, there is less freight to haul, because fewer people who want new cars qualify for credit. It becomes harder to "push that 4000 lbs of steel" across the sales desk at dealerships around the country. Less new car sales equals less used car sales. Less car sales means the auction freight slows down.
Thirdly, less POV freight as people cutback their spending, and as the housing crisis makes it harder to sell homes and move.
Disaster Economics 101
As with all things, the less there is of something, the more you will have to pay for it. The less money there is available to be loaned out (liquidity) the more you're going to have to compete for it. Also-- as more and more banks have to take crappy loans back onto their balance sheet, the less money they will have available to loan out, because of capitalization requirements.
And with banks uncertain about each others' willingness and ability to repay loans to each other, more and more banks here and abroad are having to rely on the central banks for overnight requirements.
The "seizing up" of the commercial paper market is happening in parallel with this, (in a huge oversimplification) pretty much because money market funds no longer want to buy the commercial bonds offered by businesses needing to raise large sums of money for short periods of time to meet their cash requirements.
Normally, banks perceive loans made to each other to be so "safe" that the spread between what the US Treasury pays and what a major bank pays for money is measured in tenths of a percentage point.
The current spread between the 3 month Treasury bill and the LIBOR (London Inter Bank Offering Rate) is almost four percentage points. This spread provides a pretty good index of liquidity within the economic system, and lower is definitely better.
This brings us to the final point, that most self-employed car haulers are already aware of...There is just less money "out there".
Ford, BMW & Renault forecast slow 2009
Bloomberg.com: Worldwide:
I guess you'd file this under "Expecting things to turn around? Don't hold your breath.
"Oct. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Ford Motor Co. and France's Renault SA said a slump in car sales may be more prolonged than manufacturers have anticipated.
Auto markets won't recover until at least the middle of next year, BMW Chief Executive Officer Norbert Reithofer said today at the Paris Motor Show. The world's largest luxury-car maker may deepen production cuts if people continue to delay purchases. Ford CEO Alan Mulally said a recovery won't begin before 2010 and Renault boss Carlos Ghosn said the slowdown may last two years."
I guess you'd file this under "Expecting things to turn around? Don't hold your breath.
"Oct. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Ford Motor Co. and France's Renault SA said a slump in car sales may be more prolonged than manufacturers have anticipated.
Auto markets won't recover until at least the middle of next year, BMW Chief Executive Officer Norbert Reithofer said today at the Paris Motor Show. The world's largest luxury-car maker may deepen production cuts if people continue to delay purchases. Ford CEO Alan Mulally said a recovery won't begin before 2010 and Renault boss Carlos Ghosn said the slowdown may last two years."
Cottrell trailers marketing genius
Cottrell has re-branded their strap trailers under the moniker "NextGen". This came on the heels of the stern letter they sent out that warned against modifying their chain trucks to use straps instead of chains. This letter basically said, "Convert your chain trailer to straps, and you might just void your warranty. blah, blah blah You should buy a strap truck, if that's what you really need. blah, blah blah"
This is sheer genius. Lawsuits against Cottrell are practically a cottage industry for certain law firms. The LAST thing they need is another lawsuit. It defies logic to imagine how a jury could conceivably blame Cottrell for a problem resulting from a modification of their trailer done by a third party. But of course, the legal system defies logic on a daily basis. Cottrell has turned a potential negative into a marketing opportunity.
So... if you're hauling Toyotas, you have the pleasure of deciding whether to (maybe) void your warranty on your not-so-old trailer... OR... sell your chain trailer into a down market, take a hit and buy a new strap unit from Cottrell. If you can get financing.
Of course, you could buy a strap unit from Boydstun, but at least as of today's date, that would have to be a strap unit that utilizes screw actuator units. Boydstun is supposed to be coming out with their own version of a cylinder-strap trailer any day now, so I'll post something on that when I hear more.
This is sheer genius. Lawsuits against Cottrell are practically a cottage industry for certain law firms. The LAST thing they need is another lawsuit. It defies logic to imagine how a jury could conceivably blame Cottrell for a problem resulting from a modification of their trailer done by a third party. But of course, the legal system defies logic on a daily basis. Cottrell has turned a potential negative into a marketing opportunity.
So... if you're hauling Toyotas, you have the pleasure of deciding whether to (maybe) void your warranty on your not-so-old trailer... OR... sell your chain trailer into a down market, take a hit and buy a new strap unit from Cottrell. If you can get financing.
Of course, you could buy a strap unit from Boydstun, but at least as of today's date, that would have to be a strap unit that utilizes screw actuator units. Boydstun is supposed to be coming out with their own version of a cylinder-strap trailer any day now, so I'll post something on that when I hear more.
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