Crudola. I am already awake. Lots of stuff running through my brain.

I thought my Monday was going to be the last day of "babysitting" truck drivers. We have had two weeks of it, trying to find something for them to do to make a paycheck. The guys had been talking to the dispatchers who were going to use them, and both said yesterday should be the day to get things going.

I am beginning to think these men want it to happen so bad, they are trying to will to happen. It is very odd that we completed our seasonal work right before Christmas. I will grant to you that is a very poor time to be trying to find something for drivers and equipment to do. Scheduled shutdowns, businesses trying to work inventory down for year end tax purposes, there are numerous reasons. It does seem however that a mid-week holiday kills an extra week.

What these men have to realize is I have no control over it. Their seasonal work was short, my seasonal work was short, the company's seasonal work was short. They are short on cash, I am short on cash, the company is short on cash. It is not like I am withholding work or pay. In fact I have been more than fair with these guys, trying to pad their hours and paying overtime if it is anywhere close. In fact, I have been called on the carpet about no income and too much outgo.

The whole key is to survive until things pick back up. And it will.

It would seem that ours is not the only facet of the economy hurting. I have had several calls from former workers wanting to know what is going on, looking for work. One man called asking for a reference. He had wanted to go to the seasonal jobsite, but when I gave him a call he had changed his mind. He has had four different jobs since October 1. He has been in construction, manufacturing, oil field, and trucking. He says he is hungry for work.

One of my drivers was talking with me yesterday. He has a car loan with a finance company located out of state. He had been hinting about an upcoming payment, but I had not taken the bait.

Last week I had witnesses him making extended personal calls on his cell phone. He told me he was negotiating for an extension, or possibly to roll the upcoming payment to the end of the loan. He didn't have any good thing to say about the lady he was talking with. In fact, he ended up arguing with her. I told him that is not how you get extensions or concessions. He told me the lady made him mad. She told him no extension was available because he had been late on his payment twice. He asked how that could be when they draft his payment from his bank account.

I can see his point, but sometimes you have to politic.

It just makes me relieved when I hear stories like this and I look at my little fourteen year old S-10. I probably should go in there and give Krl a hug, because she is driving an eleven year old SUV. I have looked at other vehicles, many of them very good deals, but she is content and says she will drive her vehicle until the wheels fall off. I hope that is later rather than sooner.

I had been told last summer to find an upgrade to my company pickup. I looked, I even talked to several, but I just couldn't convince myself to push the issue. As ops manager/coordinator I am responsible for whatever that bottom line is. Black ink or red ink.

I understand the old adage that you have to spend money to make money. I just believe you have to spend the right money.

I just can't wait until the Wall Street bail out gets to my street.

Have you got yours?

Have a day!

FATHER, I pray that the decisions I make are good ones. Things are tough and getting tougher, but I am thankful to be blessed. Help me to caring and benevolent to others. Praise be to YOU, our benefactor.