Most of us book a vacation flight to Jamaica with thoughts of lounging in a beachside cabana, listening to the sound of steels drums playing in the background, feeling the warm sun and ocean breezes brushing our face, gazing out at the clear blue Caribbean waters...  In summary, we think about lots of relaxation and pampering for a solid week.

 

When Angie Taylor (Cornerstone IT department) books a flight to Jamaica, she thinks about painting, hammering, and sanding...sometimes in the blazing sun and sometimes in the pouring rain.  For three years in a row, Angie has traveled to Jamaica spending her vacation time to help those in need.      Read Full Story 

With record breaking highs that seem to hit us every day, you might be interested to know that the U.S. is still on the lower end of the gas food chain than most countries. Hard to believe but true.  Government policy (aka taxes and subsidies) are the main reasons for the global differences, along with limited oil refining capacity and hard-to-reach geographical areas that help push prices up. High taxes in Europe and Japan have long accustomed consumers to staggering pump prices.  The U.S., with our relatively low taxes, is considered to have retail prices closer to what energy data charts call the "real cost" of gasoline - which is closely linked to the price of oil.  

 

Many protests are being seen around the world in Indonesia, France, England, Bulgaria, Portugal, and more. It is not only the truckers that are affected, it is the fisherman and farmers who need fuel for their trawlers and tractors.      

 

Venezuela, on the other hand, is paying 12 cents per gallon and gobbling up SUV's due to their ample supply of oil and government subsidies.  Compare that to Turkey at $11.29 per gallon due to their limited refining and high cost of gasoline transport. 

 

The EIA (Energy Information Administration), releases information comparing Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, UK  and the United States.  The comparison shows gas and diesel prices from January/1996 to the present time.  If you are interested in viewing, click on the links listed below and scroll down to see current pricing.   As much as it hurts to fill up here, we are still paying about half of what the others are. 

 

 

 

Industry analysts are now predicting large rate increases from truckload carriers because shrinking capacity is bringing supply more in line with demand.  Expected as early as next quarter, increases could range from 3% (excluding fuel surcharges) to possibly 10%.  This scale of increase would far exceed recent and historic increases.  Some experts argue that dry van business will not see increases until early 2009.  Higher fuel and insurance costs have forced many carriers to close their doors or file bankruptcy.  Thousands of U.S. truckers have also sold their rigs, unable to make money.  America's Commercial Transportation Research Company, based in Columbus Indiana states that more than 45,000  vehicles, about 3% of the U.S. trucking fleet - have been taken out of service since early last year.  This includes small operators (hit the hardest) and also larger trucking businesses.   

 

Based on a report released late in May, commercial warehousing in the U.S. is a $37.5 billion dollar business that grew 7.7 percent in 2007.  This report, released by the third-party logistics research and consulting firm, Armstrong & Associates, estimates there are 8,000 commercial warehouses in the nation, totaling 1.3 billion square feet of space.  Glad to know Cornerstone is keeping up with the trend.  In 2006 we added a warehouse in Chesapeake, VA, in 2007 a warehouse in Comstock Park, MI (Grand Rapids area), and in 2008 we opened a second warehouse location in Chesapeake, VA.   Cornerstone Warehouses 

 

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has launched an investigation into U.S. oil/market trading by expanding surveillance into the energy markets.  The investigation of oil markets, now in progress, has come as a result of pressure put on Congress to probe into high rising crude prices and all-time high profits for oil companies. The ATA supports these steps and believes the move will help to ensure that petroleum prices are once again driven by true supply and demand.

 

Negotiations continue to remain on track between the ILWU and PMA.  With a month left to go, both sides are still expecting an agreement before the current labor pact expires on July 1.  Word is that early on both sides agreed that whatever happens at the table, stays at the table until an agreement is reached.  The current contract expiring July 1 covers 26,000 ILWU longshore workers (at 29 ports in California, Oregon and Washington).  The PMA represents cargo carriers, terminal operators and stevedores operating on the West Coast.

 

"Roadcheck 2008" started on Tuesday (June 3) and will end Thursday (June 5)) as officials in the United States, Canada and Mexico inspect and cite trucks for safety violations.  This three-day event spanning 3 countries began in 1988 as an effort to increase motor vehicle safety and reduce truck crash-related fatalities and injuries.  Over 10,000 federal, state and local law enforcement officers will be conducting commercial vehicle inspections in approximately 1,500 sites throughout North America.  Coordinated by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, this years program will focus on seatbelt use, safety equipment, driver logbooks, and be on the lookout for possible alcohol and drug use by the drivers.