The Price of progress?
I came across a situation yesterday that made me feel older than I should. In the village of Baltimore there was a works crew consisting of 1 heavy truck and trailer, 2 light trucks and a water tanker, all manned by workers and two flag people all watching a backhoe fitted with a sweeper take gravel out of the gutters. The total cost per hour would be immense. Now for the flashback. 30 years ago there would be one man and a wheelbarrow and a stiff broom. The pace of work would be the same as the sweeper tractor but the overall cost would be about $30.00 per hour at todays rates. Just made me think that's all.
4 comments:
Hey Ben ... How much was a tow thirty years ago? Before the time when the operator got to sit at home with the company vehicle in his driveway ... Just a thought!!
I don't know I wasn't towing 30 years ago but I bet it didn't take 6 crew and four trucks to sweep a street back then.
But back to the question, all I know is that in the seven years I have been towing the price of a tow has gone up $5.00 and all other costs (fuel, insurance and maintenance) have doubled) and the number of other trucks sharing a diminishing business (due to more reliable vehicles and less accidents) has gone up in town.
BTW when the truck sits in the driveway do you really think it makes money and the operator still gets paid???
What about last Friday when you left early? I needed a tow and had to settle for a very good looking young guy with dark hair and a cute moustache instead!
When he asked me how I knew you I told him we were co-conspirators in the war against the establishment and he didn't understand a word I'd said.
Had to re-phrase and say we liked to talk politics. That he understood.
So youthful good looks don't compensate for knowledge and experience, not on any day.
Keep truckin' old guy.
DJO
That would have been Dave - really nice guy but 17 years on the farm, but he understands computers really well so no stereotypes here!
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