In the U.S., the consumer’s automobile collision repair bill is estimated at $40 billion every year. The first fear that comes to mind of the consumer if the car has had a small scratch or a huge dent is the expense bill that the consumer has to face in fixing this, or the tiresome task involved in repairing. To remove this fear, AutoMD (http://www.AutoMD.com) has released the below five tips in celebration with the National Collision Awareness month.
AutoMD.com President Shane Evangelist has gone ahead and said that these simple body repair tips add up to potentially huge cost savings for car owners, whether they are DIYing or going to the repair shop. Of course, the best way to avoid these expenses is to carefully drive following the road rules and regulations and steer clear of collisions.
The top five auto repair tips are as follows:
1. Evaluate and verify the auto labor rates
Auto repair shops usually have two set of labor rates, one for mechanical and the other for body repairs. So make sure to evaluate the labor rates in nearby auto repair shops before getting the work done. Also, double check the bill and verify that you are paying the correct rate for the work. Many garage’s prefix their rates for different tasks. AutoMD’s Shop Finder helps to make a comparative rate study in the nearby shops.
2. Opt for paintless dent repair (PDR)
In cases where the repair is little, paintless dent repair (PDR) would be the best option. There are highly skilled technicians who can repair dents without the tedious tasks of sanding, filler and painting. This reduces the repair cost considerably.
3. Self help for small vehicle damages
Avoid going to the auto repair shops for small scratches. Instead try and obtain your car’s color code and get the right color so that it can be touched-up quickly so as to prevent rusting. Cars with minor scratches can be sand papered using fine sandpaper and soap water and then rubbed down using a rubbing compound to blend the final finish.
4. Replace new parts for the heavily damaged areas
If the damages are heavy, then replace it with new parts as it is more cost effective than repairing. This can be done by the consumer himself instead of going to the auto repair shop. DIY’s (Do it yourselfers) can save money and replace damaged parts by going online and locating replacement parts or from accessing AutoMD How-To-Guides.
5. Use products to avoid damage
Today’s market has number of products which is used to prevent damage to the vehicle like bumper protectors and door damage protectors. Use these products to reduce dents, dings, scratches and other types of damage.
Showing posts with label automobiles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label automobiles. Show all posts
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Shortage of drivers looms for the American trucking industry
Truck transportation is the most widely used method of hauling freight within the United States.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the U.S. transportation network hauled more than 13 billion tons of goods worth nearly $12 trillion in 2007. Trucks transported almost 9 billion tons of freight valued at more than $8 trillion for that same period. [Transportation Statistics Annual Report ][1]
Shortages of truck drivers are delaying some deliveries of products and raw materials across the USA and raising freight costs. The crunch is defying a tepid recovery and near-10% jobless rate that should supply a vast pool of unemployed construction and manufacturing workers. Experts say that the shortages are likely to worsen when the economy heats up and new rules kick in later this year that will make it tougher to hire truck drivers with poor safety records and could limit the number of hours drivers can work.
For the many unemployed truck drivers across the US, it may be surprising to learn that there is currently a nationwide shortage of qualified and experienced truck drivers. According to [USA Today][2] “Shortages of trucks and drivers are delaying some deliveries of products and raw materials across the USA and raising freight costs.” In the context of an almost 10% general unemployment rate in the U.S., such a shortage seems unlikely and out of step with the experience of the wider economy. The USA Today report uses examples from companies such as Con-Way truckload freight company, who had to offer $10,000 bonuses to entice the 70 new drivers they required this summer. [USA Today][2]
According to the [U.S. Truck Driver Shortage: Analysis and Forecast][3], done a few years ago (2004 to be specific), “the truck transportation industry in the U.S. is experiencing a national shortage of truck drivers that has become a limiting factor in the operations of many companies. This study takes a systematic look at the long-term structural problem of the availability of truck drivers relative to the future requirements for drivers that will be created by retirements of an aging driver workforce and by economic growth”. The principal findings of the analysis of the potential future supply of long-haul heavy duty truck drivers were:
• Although that there have been some positive developments in demographic trends affecting the growth of the truck driver workforce over the past ten years (1994 to 2004), the demographic trends will turn against the industry over the next 10 years. The size of the white male population of ages 35-54 – a demographic group that currently provides over half of all truck drivers – will decline by over 3 million persons between 2004 and 2014.
• A major problem for the trucking industry and the U.S. economy as a whole is that the annual rate of growth of the overall labor force will slow sharply, from 1.4% currently to only 0.5% by 2012.
• If the trucking industry is to attract the higher share of workers that it needs to achieve the growth projected over the next 10 years, earnings in the industry must, at a minimum, return to the relative position that prevailed during the 1990s. [U.S. Truck Driver Shortage: Analysis and Forecast][3].
According to Office of Publications & Special Studies [4], the employment in trucking generally follows the larger business cycle. Consequently when the demand for goods is stifled, the call for freight services is likewise sluggish.
A dramatic slowdown in consumer demand has been crippling the Nation's trucking firms, making job losses during the current recession worse than at any time since the series began in 1990. (Below Chart - Chart # 1)
According to a Bloomberg Report [5], U.S. trucking companies may face a 30 percent surge in wage bills by 2014 as rising demand for freight shipments threatens to push the industry’s driver shortage to the longest on record. The current shortfall will double in a year to about 300,000 full-time positions, or 10 percent of the workforce, said Noel Perry, managing director at consultant FTR Associates in Nashville, Indiana. A three-year deficiency would top the 300,000 vacancies lasting for about a year in 2004, he said. [5]
Increase in Spending
Saia Inc. (SAIA) said this month it would increase wages by 2.5 percent for drivers and many other employees. The added cost will be $10 million, according to the Johns Creek, Georgia-based company. That is about 1.1 percent of 2010 operating expenses. At Con-way’s truckload unit, some routes are being limited to only four to five states so drivers can be home once a week. A new “lifestyle” program allows drivers to alternate between two weeks of driving and time off.
Possible Solutions
What amazes me is that the cost to ship freight is higher not because of anything else, but in most cases it is the simple demand and supply rule. In other words, if a customer wants to move their freight to an area that does not have any other freight identified, they obviously raise the cost of shipping. Obviously, the trucking industry does not function like a taxi stand, as the overheads are very high. It includes fuel, driver wages, logbook time, and the time taken to transport a load and more. It is just that the operating costs are far more expensive. This is particular evident for independent owners and operators. They are the ones who have to worry about getting decent freight costs, cost of repairs, fuel costs, high insurance costs, taxes among other overheads. They work close to 10 hours a day and virtually live in a truck. It just is not a nine-to-five job as it is completely a different lifestyle.
Most of the independent operators are not surprised about the low pay rates. Besides, as the job gets more dangerous day by day, it's not surprising that they are not getting drivers to work under the salary/ pay that is being offered. How many would be prepared to be gone from their home for over four to six weeks on a stretch and living and sleeping in areas where they have no idea about. Besides, how can they manage to lead a happy family life.Given the current conditions, to become a trucker they must be prepared to sacrifice. Therefore, it is not shocking that the freight industry is faced with a shortage of drivers and it is fast losing even more.
Given the above reasons, the primary reasons that people still accept a driver’s job is money and thanks to the recession, it is the only commodity, which is in short supply. Perhaps with increase in pay and better terms, America can reverse this situation in a couple of years.
References :
[1] - Transportation Statistics Annual Report
[http://www.bts.gov/publications/transportation_statistics_annual_report/2008/pdf/entire.pdf]
[2] - USA Today
[http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2010-09-09-truckshortage09_ST_N.htm]
[3] - U.S. Truck Driver Shortage: Analysis and Forecast
[http://www.cdlschool.com/_pdf/ATADriverShortageStudy05.pdf]
[4] - Office of Publications & Special Studies
[http://www.bls.gov/opub/ils/trucking.htm]
[5] - Bloomberg Report
[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-25/driver-shortage-shows-gain-in-u-s-truck-cargo-freight-markets.html]
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the U.S. transportation network hauled more than 13 billion tons of goods worth nearly $12 trillion in 2007. Trucks transported almost 9 billion tons of freight valued at more than $8 trillion for that same period. [Transportation Statistics Annual Report ][1]
Shortages of truck drivers are delaying some deliveries of products and raw materials across the USA and raising freight costs. The crunch is defying a tepid recovery and near-10% jobless rate that should supply a vast pool of unemployed construction and manufacturing workers. Experts say that the shortages are likely to worsen when the economy heats up and new rules kick in later this year that will make it tougher to hire truck drivers with poor safety records and could limit the number of hours drivers can work.
For the many unemployed truck drivers across the US, it may be surprising to learn that there is currently a nationwide shortage of qualified and experienced truck drivers. According to [USA Today][2] “Shortages of trucks and drivers are delaying some deliveries of products and raw materials across the USA and raising freight costs.” In the context of an almost 10% general unemployment rate in the U.S., such a shortage seems unlikely and out of step with the experience of the wider economy. The USA Today report uses examples from companies such as Con-Way truckload freight company, who had to offer $10,000 bonuses to entice the 70 new drivers they required this summer. [USA Today][2]
According to the [U.S. Truck Driver Shortage: Analysis and Forecast][3], done a few years ago (2004 to be specific), “the truck transportation industry in the U.S. is experiencing a national shortage of truck drivers that has become a limiting factor in the operations of many companies. This study takes a systematic look at the long-term structural problem of the availability of truck drivers relative to the future requirements for drivers that will be created by retirements of an aging driver workforce and by economic growth”. The principal findings of the analysis of the potential future supply of long-haul heavy duty truck drivers were:
• Although that there have been some positive developments in demographic trends affecting the growth of the truck driver workforce over the past ten years (1994 to 2004), the demographic trends will turn against the industry over the next 10 years. The size of the white male population of ages 35-54 – a demographic group that currently provides over half of all truck drivers – will decline by over 3 million persons between 2004 and 2014.
• A major problem for the trucking industry and the U.S. economy as a whole is that the annual rate of growth of the overall labor force will slow sharply, from 1.4% currently to only 0.5% by 2012.
• If the trucking industry is to attract the higher share of workers that it needs to achieve the growth projected over the next 10 years, earnings in the industry must, at a minimum, return to the relative position that prevailed during the 1990s. [U.S. Truck Driver Shortage: Analysis and Forecast][3].
According to Office of Publications & Special Studies [4], the employment in trucking generally follows the larger business cycle. Consequently when the demand for goods is stifled, the call for freight services is likewise sluggish.
A dramatic slowdown in consumer demand has been crippling the Nation's trucking firms, making job losses during the current recession worse than at any time since the series began in 1990. (Below Chart - Chart # 1)
According to a Bloomberg Report [5], U.S. trucking companies may face a 30 percent surge in wage bills by 2014 as rising demand for freight shipments threatens to push the industry’s driver shortage to the longest on record. The current shortfall will double in a year to about 300,000 full-time positions, or 10 percent of the workforce, said Noel Perry, managing director at consultant FTR Associates in Nashville, Indiana. A three-year deficiency would top the 300,000 vacancies lasting for about a year in 2004, he said. [5]
Increase in Spending
Saia Inc. (SAIA) said this month it would increase wages by 2.5 percent for drivers and many other employees. The added cost will be $10 million, according to the Johns Creek, Georgia-based company. That is about 1.1 percent of 2010 operating expenses. At Con-way’s truckload unit, some routes are being limited to only four to five states so drivers can be home once a week. A new “lifestyle” program allows drivers to alternate between two weeks of driving and time off.
Possible Solutions
What amazes me is that the cost to ship freight is higher not because of anything else, but in most cases it is the simple demand and supply rule. In other words, if a customer wants to move their freight to an area that does not have any other freight identified, they obviously raise the cost of shipping. Obviously, the trucking industry does not function like a taxi stand, as the overheads are very high. It includes fuel, driver wages, logbook time, and the time taken to transport a load and more. It is just that the operating costs are far more expensive. This is particular evident for independent owners and operators. They are the ones who have to worry about getting decent freight costs, cost of repairs, fuel costs, high insurance costs, taxes among other overheads. They work close to 10 hours a day and virtually live in a truck. It just is not a nine-to-five job as it is completely a different lifestyle.
Most of the independent operators are not surprised about the low pay rates. Besides, as the job gets more dangerous day by day, it's not surprising that they are not getting drivers to work under the salary/ pay that is being offered. How many would be prepared to be gone from their home for over four to six weeks on a stretch and living and sleeping in areas where they have no idea about. Besides, how can they manage to lead a happy family life.Given the current conditions, to become a trucker they must be prepared to sacrifice. Therefore, it is not shocking that the freight industry is faced with a shortage of drivers and it is fast losing even more.
Given the above reasons, the primary reasons that people still accept a driver’s job is money and thanks to the recession, it is the only commodity, which is in short supply. Perhaps with increase in pay and better terms, America can reverse this situation in a couple of years.
References :
[1] - Transportation Statistics Annual Report
[http://www.bts.gov/publications/transportation_statistics_annual_report/2008/pdf/entire.pdf]
[2] - USA Today
[http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2010-09-09-truckshortage09_ST_N.htm]
[3] - U.S. Truck Driver Shortage: Analysis and Forecast
[http://www.cdlschool.com/_pdf/ATADriverShortageStudy05.pdf]
[4] - Office of Publications & Special Studies
[http://www.bls.gov/opub/ils/trucking.htm]
[5] - Bloomberg Report
[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-25/driver-shortage-shows-gain-in-u-s-truck-cargo-freight-markets.html]
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Tips To Sell Your Car
One of the many reasons that you would want to sell your car is to probably get its newer model. However, most of you may be clueless in going about it and would often find yourself asking the question "What is the best way to sell my car?".
You can sell your car using some of the tips mentioned below.
Always ensure that your car is in good condition. Should your car be in bad shape, you would often find buyers highlighting the things that are in bad shape and would obviously ask for a lower price. To avoid this, always keep your car in good shape.
When advertising in newspaper classifieds, do not limit yourself to the "I want to sell my Car" page or location. You may put a heading "I want to sell my Audi" or "I want to sell my car" and post it on several popular websites or magazines where it may get sufficient exposure. You could also pass it through the word of mouth and tell your colleagues about it.
Next is pricing. You can value your Audi and then do a small market research on the web to get the best estimate. This is because overpricing or under-pricing your car is one the biggest evils while selling your car.
You could also put a “for sale" on the hood of your car and park it in a busy street corner where it gets lots of exposure.
You may be aware that the value of your car largely depends on the market and its demand could vary according to location. You must also understand that most people buy cars based on emotion and hence buying prices will vary from person to person.
Before you decide to sell your car, do your homework and find out it's exact worth. If your vehicle has any extras, it could get a better valuation.
If your car has a good mileage you can definitely expect a higher price given the current fuel costs.
Should your odometer display lower readings, it will definitely boost your car’s resale value. Furthermore if the vehicle is still covered by the vehicle manufacturer’s warranty, it will give a whole new aspect to the trade-in, as the warranty can be transferred to the new owner.
If your vehicle does not have add-on features such as power windows, ABS braking system, sun-roof, alloy wheels, air-conditioning, then it is likely that your car could get a rather low valuation.
Colour also lends an aspect to the value, as cars with colours such as coral pink don’t have many buyers. The popular colours are still black, white and silver.
Lastly, extreme modifications to the body of the car could also be a negative factor.
Ultimately, the most important aspect is the model, the year it was made, its popularity and ofcourse its condition of the car.
Like any other financial transaction, it is of paramount importance to weigh the pros and cons prior to selling your car.
You can sell your car using some of the tips mentioned below.
Always ensure that your car is in good condition. Should your car be in bad shape, you would often find buyers highlighting the things that are in bad shape and would obviously ask for a lower price. To avoid this, always keep your car in good shape.
When advertising in newspaper classifieds, do not limit yourself to the "I want to sell my Car" page or location. You may put a heading "I want to sell my Audi" or "I want to sell my car" and post it on several popular websites or magazines where it may get sufficient exposure. You could also pass it through the word of mouth and tell your colleagues about it.
Next is pricing. You can value your Audi and then do a small market research on the web to get the best estimate. This is because overpricing or under-pricing your car is one the biggest evils while selling your car.
You could also put a “for sale" on the hood of your car and park it in a busy street corner where it gets lots of exposure.
You may be aware that the value of your car largely depends on the market and its demand could vary according to location. You must also understand that most people buy cars based on emotion and hence buying prices will vary from person to person.
Before you decide to sell your car, do your homework and find out it's exact worth. If your vehicle has any extras, it could get a better valuation.
If your car has a good mileage you can definitely expect a higher price given the current fuel costs.
Should your odometer display lower readings, it will definitely boost your car’s resale value. Furthermore if the vehicle is still covered by the vehicle manufacturer’s warranty, it will give a whole new aspect to the trade-in, as the warranty can be transferred to the new owner.
If your vehicle does not have add-on features such as power windows, ABS braking system, sun-roof, alloy wheels, air-conditioning, then it is likely that your car could get a rather low valuation.
Colour also lends an aspect to the value, as cars with colours such as coral pink don’t have many buyers. The popular colours are still black, white and silver.
Lastly, extreme modifications to the body of the car could also be a negative factor.
Ultimately, the most important aspect is the model, the year it was made, its popularity and ofcourse its condition of the car.
Like any other financial transaction, it is of paramount importance to weigh the pros and cons prior to selling your car.
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