We WILL Survive 2009

[TeamCaffee]

We keep hearing the doom and gloom for this year but instead of letting that get to you let’s figure out a way to get through this year!
We plan on not going home as often – cutting back on eating out as often – keeping a close eye out on our numbers each month so we know exactly what our bottom line is that we can accept a load for. We will also be watching what we need per day for income so even though the short load looks awesome if it ties up a day is it really worth it?
We will continue to keep watch over our MPG, our tire pressure, and continue to use our OPS1 as our oil changes now are over 100,000 miles apart. Bob will continue to do as much maintenance as possible on our truck to keep down repair cost.
How do you plan on getting through this year?

[chefdennis]

Sure we will survive and some will even excel. Me , i plan on doing just fine. I'll work "smart" verses hard and watch expenses as you mentioned. I prefer Preventitive maintainance to maintainance. I will continue to replace "wear" items instead of waiting for a breakdown that might happen while under load and cost even more money along with costing others time and money.

I take cooked meals from home and also cook in the truck (I have 8 servings of different soups and stews and chili vacuum sealed and in the frig right now along with 12 other meals) So my food epense while on the road is at a minimum (but I still love those nasty "egg mc muffins with greasy sausage! in the morning!), I will grab a fast food burger or arbys rast beef to eat while i drive from time to time, but if i am eating while sitting, i am cooking or heating something i bought or brought from home.

My contacts with home aren't going to change as my cell plan covers both the home and computer and a new video cam for the laptop lets me see and talk to my daughter now without adding expense, I have never went over the alloted time on my plan.

So yea, i will just be trying to work smarter and do preventitive work on the van for the most part along with controlled food cost.

Oh and I love the Dollar stores!!

[aileron]

Well, I am driving a B unit for FedEx, and since they go with a flat rate in about 2 weeks, I have no more incentive of doing short loads, especially leaving home with a short load. No point in ending up in a dead area or deadheading back home, and loose the whole day for no money. And I know they have a bunch of those shor loads out of Atlanta airport. Watch it that I will be making more money this year that I made last year. This, and also what the others above me said. It will be interesting, but we will survive.