Fuel Costs

October 9, 2008

Tire Pressure

Tires are often the last items we think about when it comes to car maintenance, until the day we have a flat. Keeping tires inflated properly and a good tread will save on fuel costs, tire repair, or even towing if you get a flat.

Inflating your tires to the recommended PSI will keep your tires in better condition, preventing uneven wear on the tread. Check the sidewall of the tire, or the manufacturer’s sticker inside the door for the required PSI. The vehicle manual also gives recommended tire size and inflation instructions.

Accidents are a major concern with over-inflated or under-inflated tires. Taking the time to check the tire pressure is worth the safety of the passengers in the vehicle. This is even more urgent if traveling on the highway. Most people do not consider an improperly maintained tire life-threatening, but it can lead to dangerous circumstances.

Invest in a decent tire gauge to measure the PSI in your tires. Don’t decide a tire is inflated properly just by looking at it. Do not rely on air pumps for accurate pressure readings either. They are not always reliable. Air pressure gauges are carried at auto manufacturers, auto supply stores, or even department stores. Find a gauge with a calibration up to 80 PSI.

Check the tire inflation on all tires, including the spare on a monthly basis. Keep a log in the glove compartment of the pressure readings. This way, you can determine the tires need servicing or not. If you decide your tires need to be looked at by a service technician, show the log readings. The serviceman will get a better idea of what to look for by the pressure readings recorded in the log.

Measuring the tire pressure only takes a few minutes, and will give you peace of mind when you are driving. Insert the gauge into the stem of the tire. A measure stick will push out of the end of the pressure gauge, telling you the tire pressure. Add air to the tire if the gauge reads lower than the recommended air pressure. Let air out of the tire if it becomes overinflated by pushing in on the stem in the middle of the valve. Measure the tire again for proper PSI.

This can be confusing the first few times, so if you feel uncomfortable pumping the air to the correct pressure, bring the vehicle to a service station. They will fill your tires to the proper limit. Some service stations offer this service for free; others will charge a small amount.

There are different causes for damaged tires: over inflation, under inflation, heavy loads in the vehicle, or not rotating the tires. Make the monthly tire check part of your routine for the best wear on your tires, and more importantly, the safety of your passengers.

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Filed under Driving Tips by Roman Robinson

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October 6, 2008

P.a.m. Transportationsa Profits Get Pumped By High Fuel Prices

While many consumers are plagued by the rising cost of gas, they are not the only casualties of this oil war. Many trucking companies are getting slammed and are struggling to find ways to make up for their increased fuel costs. Many of these extra costs are getting passed on to the employees of these companies. Weall look at the ways that diesel costs are destroying P.A.M. Transportation.

In an article that was published in the Times Record on February 10, 2008 they reported a large loss, it is written that aP.A.M. Transportation Services Inc. reported a large loss of $839,909 net income loss in the last three months ending in December 2007.a

A recent article from The Auto Channel that was issued on May 1, 2008 stated that losses were continuing for the company in the current year. For the first quarter of 2008, a whopping almost three million dollars was lost and their share were reduced to a value of only twenty nine cents.

These articles are just further evidence of the horrible situation that trucking companies, like P.A.M. Transportation, are having to deal with. It is known that the trucking and transportation industry is essential to the infrastructure of our society and it hurts the economy to have this happening as a result of high gas prices.

Drastic measures need to be taken to help P.A.M. Transportation and other trucking firms. P.A.M. is exercising executive pay cuts, and the remaining cuts come in the form of lower employee wages and health plans. This is bad for these companies, and itas bad for America.

The changes being made can be seen by the way P.A.M. Transportation has limited its coverage area. For example, the company no longer uses on of its New Jersey terminal which may save money in long the run, but in the short time they had to pay employers because of the way they severed their work contracts. Lawsuits were made for environmental concerns and the employers. The only plus of the situation is that more employment opportunities were made available in Sacramento.

Stories like the one at P.A.M Transportation are becoming more and more common nationwide, and this will see impacts beyond the trucking industry. When the trucking industry suffers, other industries suffer including all businesses that use trucks to deliver their products. This includes retail, manufacturing, construction, and others. This will undoubtedly mean higher prices at your local store for food and other consumables.

In conclusion diesel costs are destroying P.A.M. Transportation and something must be done about it so similar companies donat see the same fate. The average consumer as well as these trucking of industries will feel the pain. It will also mean that it might cost more to buy a car or purchase an electronic product. Finally, it can even affect how much you spend to build a home, as the materials to make it are all trucked to the site.

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Filed under Autos, Trucks and More by Jim Arnold,

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September 23, 2008

Title: Are Diesel Costs Destroying P.a.m?

Consumers are facing inflation coupled with the rising gasoline and grocery prices. Cost of living is rising day by day. Inflationary pressures are forcing business houses to adjust their working as well. Recently I saw an article in the newspaper titled, aDiesel Costs Destroying P.A.Ma and I realized that consumer alone were not bothered with the rising prices of fuel.

Many of the companies suffering from the impact of inflation and adjust and find ways to profit. Some companies have got to maintain those losses and trying to emerge from chaos. In a newspaper article a few days ago bought my notice the fact diesel costs for the destruction of PAM The transportation company reported a second quarter net income loss of $ 1.33 million this year. It has recorded profits of $ 2.19 million in the same period last year.

The high cost of diesel fuel costs, this quarter, an increase of about 6 percent per mile, net of fuel surcharge to help. The company’s operating expenses, in the quarter, mainly due to additional fuel costs to rise 9.6 percent. The rise in costs, the company’s profit was also affected.

The additional cost of fuel, quarter dollars collect 26,240,000, 43,120,000 and fuel cost adjustment dollars. Additional costs of fuel a year was back in 14,150,000 and 29,010,000 U.S. dollars of dollars of fuel costs. The disadvantage of these figures, the company affecting earnings are serious.

The company also 1,300,000 dollars during the same quarter last year, 2,800,000 dollars in the first quarter was a loss. The company’s adjusted operating profit in dollars 4,400,000 serious impact. The truckload freight demand and a decrease in the rate of price competition has led to slip. In high-cost scenario, they can not accept the current rate available to negotiate the rates are not possible.

To reduce costs, executive pay cuts and have to pay the family as a small, compared to last year. 8 cents per share, the company has recently lost a quarter of a loss. The cost of two large-dollar revenue 600,000 negative impact on the total amount received was fair.

The company shut down P.A.M.as Parsippany, New Jersey terminal which led to $300,000 severance pay to their employees. They had a $300,000 legal settlement resulting from a 1986 environmental remediation lawsuit. The company provided local Sacramento truck driving jobs and other truck driving jobs to the truckers.

Company focused on developing strategies to save fuel. The question is the cost of diesel destruction of PAM? Is authentic, but the company has plans to return and Contrib. The company plans to expand its customer base. Non-commercial vehicles increased by 13.4 percent for the quarter by expanding both the retail and consumer goods businesses.

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Filed under Autos, Trucks and More by Jim Arnold,

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