I find it very odd that when Washington needs something from the people they talk about family, but when the people need something from the government, they talk about business. I think they are using doublespeak to confuse everyone.
An example of doublespeak: The federal government is demanding trucks have more fuel efficiency and better emission controls and with the next breath, state governments talk about adding toll roads – - a lot of them. It seems in their haste to acquire new revenues, the states are making federal guidelines hard to achieve.
I really like this one: In Connecticut, New Jersey and DC they are poised to fine drivers who fail to clear the snow and ice from the vehicle rooftops. It’s already been approved by the state Assembly’s Transportation Committee, but it is loaded with “unintended consequences” and risks. That is doublespeak for “we have not thought it through.” For instance, when would the snow and ice need to be removed –before, during or after the load is delivered? How high or thick does it have to be to pose a threat to others? How safe is it to make drivers climb up to the roof to dislodge ice?
The biggest problem with all this doublespeak is that it drowns out any voices coming from independent trucking businesses and owner operators. It is not hard to understand the frustration and sense of abandonment that truckers feel when they hear doublespeak with a Catch-22 thrown in for good measure.
However, if there ever was an argument for joining the ATA or OOIDA right now, this is it. One trucker’s voice is easily muffled but thousands joined together are called VOTERS and that gets their attention. Tough times call for action, not despair and only those who survive this credit crunch will come out on the other side. Take a look around at solutions you may have dismissed before because you either didn’t need them or had preconceived notions about how they work.
As an alternative to troubled banks, factoring invoices is a safe financial haven that was designed specifically for the trucking industry. It does not create a debt against your company or place a lien. All it does is purchase your unpaid freight invoices for a fee as low as 1% and pays you within 24 hours instead of waiting 30-60 days to be paid.
Lucky for you, there is no doublespeak spoken here.
A transportation industry expert, John Downing is the Vice President at Freight Capital who specializes in financial solutions for the trucking business.
