If you don`t like shipping rates now ...

As a small fleet owner (trash trucks) I would hazard a guess that some or most this is due to truck costs. I know for us over the last 10 years since the new EPA emissions mandates a new truck has gone up 70-80 percent in price. A new trash truck 10 years ago was 140-150K now they are 235-270K which is bearable and partly inevitable. The killer is the repair bills for these new trucks and the emissions systems and all the new senors to monitor the system and the engine which never seem to work correctly. Our pre the new emissions trucks (pre 2008) go back to the dealer for repairs that we can`t do in house about every 2-5 years, our new trucks (2008 and on) with the new emission systems are back to the dealer 2-5 times a year for repair bills that avg 5K. The best part is when the trucks are at the dealer they have almost no clue whats wrong and just have to keep throwing parts at it till the problem stops, repairs on the emission systems range from 2K to 20K. Even better is the trucks are usually at the dealer for 2-3 weeks each time (which means we need to buy more spare trucks, more costs) to try and guess whats wrong with them. Even better is most times they think the problems fixed after they install a lot parts (and reset the computer and all the fault codes) and it stops they give the truck back to you only to have the same problem a day or 2 later so you get to bring it back and re start another 2-3 weeks with out the truck. They new trucks are costing a small fortune to run, but I guess we are saving the planet?

As for CNG trucks that don`t need these emission systems, well trash trucks catch fire a lot. Because we are putting a lot stuff in that we cant see in side bags and containers and you get some fires from cigarettes or hot ash from stoves and a lot of chemical fires from thrown away pool chemicals. Diesel won`t explode in a fire but CNG will https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyn3_mqHeic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpmWPEhIaiU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjBmzqMuQgw
 
Amazon Prime could go up as well. Amazon has been using USPS a lot and has multiple stocking locations in the US so not just shipping out of one location to get quick delivery times.

The better deal to me is the USPS priority mail and flat rate boxes if what you have will fit in the box. Some sellers seem to avoid priority mail or even first class as an option.

The company I worked for previously had a corporate account with UPS. The rates paid were very substantial discounts from the official rate so not everyone pays the same.
 
Yeah I have already noticed some of the shipping on items seems higher. Hence why I have been using my Amazon Prime account a lot the past couple months. It saves me a lot.
 
.... trash trucks catch fire a lot. Because we are putting a lot stuff in that we cant see in side bags and containers and you get some fires from cigarettes or hot ash from stoves and a lot of chemical fires from thrown away pool chemicals...

Dang. I never even though about that. Scary!
 
and a lot of chemical fires from thrown away pool chemicals.

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Its not usually the pool guy he doesnt waste chemicals, its homeowners tossing old chemicals (especially from defunct above ground pools). We did have one our trucks have a chemical reaction mostly steam with some heat but not enough to catch fire luckily also contained in the hopper area where you load the trash. Fire department came down and foamed it and pulled out the containers they were from a water treatment plant we pick up and the fire department went down there and chewed them a now hole. They should have known better they deal with large quantities of those chemicals and should be familiar with how volatile they can be.
 
Shipping in general has gotten more expensive, which is curious as fuel prices have gone down considerably since their peak in 2013.

It may be due to more and more things being shipped instead of people going to the store to purchase products. I have a co-worker that will order nothing but a bag of dog food on Amazon because he doesn`t feel like going to the store on his way home from work. Having your groceries delivered by FedEx/UPS just seems dumb and a waste to me.

I bet a typical FedEx/UPS drivers` route involves more and more stops than in the past and probably steadily increasing.
 
I have a co-worker that will order nothing but a bag of dog food on Amazon because he doesn`t feel like going to the store on his way home from work.

Heck, I Amazon Prime all sorts of little (And big) stuff. Cat food, cat litter, soap, fabric softener sheets, batteries, cases of bottled water. I`m sure my UPS guy hates me although I`m starting to get more deliveries via subcontracted delivery people using their own vehicles.

Amazon could use a little more supervision wirh their packing though, below are 2 of the more inefficient deliveries I recd:
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As a small fleet owner (trash trucks) I would hazard a guess that some or most this is due to truck costs.

That`s definitely a good thought, but unlike UPS, FedEx contracts out companies for OTR trucks/drivers as well as delivery vehicles and their drivers. IIRC they own the trailers, but everything else is contracted. They even contract out building maintenance (besides hubs and autostats which have their own crews). Fact that`s what I do for a living; the company I work for is maintenance contractors for their conveyors and buildings. They are building and expanding at a high rate, but that`s all I can divulge. I can tell ya, I`ve seen some stuff over these past almost 3 years...
 
Amazon and others can offer free shipping b/c the rest of the world is getting their rates raised to compensate.. I had a customer complain about a $29 shipping charge. I told him he got a great deal and sent him a screen shot of my actual cost to ship the product to him which was $33.. I keep seeing my rates go up and up and I cringe every time I make an invoice...:angry:

ks
 
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