Those who pass on fuel cost can keep going indefinitely. Those who eat their own fuel cost will not be driving much longer. Strike = nothing except possible calling out the troops
I operate a small trucking company. This morning two competitors announced they will opt out of trucking. As the competition falls that leaves me to be able to raise my prices to make a profit. (That along with the railroad’s new policy of not providing the markets I service) The oil futures are at $140 through 2012, so there’s no relief in sight. What will the market bear at this time? Business have to charge today for what prices will be tomorrow.
I may be the ‘last man standing’ (or not if Congress passes any type of tax ‘surcharge’, that’d be a killer. 4% off the top of gross revenues would be impossible to absorb in my profit margin)