Gauges: Numbers that affect and reflect your business – March 2009

Updated Apr 21, 2011

Road conditions worse
The nation’s roads and bridges need repair more than they did 20 years ago, according to an American Society of Civil Engineers survey, which is done on an irregular basis. The watchdog group gave roads a D-, noting that “poor road conditions cost motorists $67 billion a year in repairs and operating costs.”

Diesel Prices

National average: $2.22
The national average price of diesel dropped $1.06 from a year ago.

Income

Revenue decreased and income increased across all segments, thanks to lower costs, from the third to the fourth quarter of 2008 for clients of Denver-based business services provider ATBS. Falling diesel prices contributed to overall lower costs.

Oil Prices
The price of crude oil rose to $40 per barrel Feb. 5, but it’s not expected to go much higher this year. According to the federal Energy Information Administration, “The global economic downturn points to declining oil consumption in 2009, while additional production capacity from both OPEC and non-OPEC nations should boost surplus production capacity, reducing the likelihood of a renewed strong upward pressure on prices.”

Revenues
Owner-operators in long line-haul applications get higher revenue, but have to cover higher variable costs, such as fuel and tires, than those in local and regional work. However, high-mileage operations have the lowest fixed cost per mile, which boosts net income.

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