Some industries plea for money, others adapt and save.
As an example to what all transportation related companies should be initiating, UPS is demonstrating the type of forward thinking which will slowly remove itself from the swings in the world fuels market.
UPS will begin testing a small fleet of hydrualic hybrid delivery trucks in the United States. The new vehicles can achieve 50%-70% better fuel economy, a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emmissions, and pay for their extra expense in less than 3 years.
When it comes to high fuel prices, UPS could have representatives plead their desparate case in the news, beg the governement for releif, tell all who will listen that the Green Shift would destroy 10,000 jobs in New Brunswick, or they even could praise a decrease in excise taxes on fuel (which will no longer be on the table thanks to the economy); much like the current transportation union heads who we heard from during the time of high oil and Canadian elections.
All these tactics could be effective and even garner some aid, but they all accomplish NOTHING in dealing with the underlying issue involved in the transportion sector. Without new creative initiatives this sector will ever be a slave to fuel price fluctuations.
Without a doubt, a crafty union leader would point out UPS is a billion dollar company, a Union only represents the drivers, a group who cannot initiate projects or fund them like UPS. A crafty writer would point out it may be time for Unions to re define their roles and how or what they do to TRULY benefit the membership. Nothing would stop union officials from contacting companies developing fuel effecient transport trucks, in conjunction with the government, and offer to test vehicles.
Two types of business exist in this world; those complaining and trying to maintain the status quo and those adapting. Guess which ones win out in the long run?
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Kind of like when they told us they HAD to outsource to remain competitive....