Hot-Shot

Last night Ken and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary!

We wanted to do something fun and different than what we typically do on a Wednesday night (Fall asleep on the couch watching TV), so we decided to go to Gun World in Lombard. When you go their you can bring your own gun or rent a gun and shoot targets. The only experience I have had with guns is a semi-auto 12 gauge Remington 1187 (shotgun), but last night I got to play with two different ones. I started out with a Henry Golden Boy lever action .22 (riffle) and then a Glock 19 9mm (hand gun).

I am not going to lie, it was unbelievably terrifying to shoot the hand gun. I have never even held one before. Once I got the first shot out of the way, the nervousness slowly went away. The kick back on it was a little bit stronger than I am, so it really didn't matter how well I aimed, once my finger pulled the trigger my wrist would jolt so bad that I missed the target every time. That being said many bulls eyes were hit with the .22! Ha ha. For those of you who don't know why I laugh, a .22 is basically a glorified Beebe gun.

Ken has taken me to shoot clay pidgins before, and it was a great time. But we would always drive out to Davis Junction, IL and unfortunately we were not able to make it out their as much as we would have liked. Now since we can go hit targets 10 minutes away from our house, I can defiantly see this becoming a great hobby.

My goal: Out shoot Ken!

As much as I like shooting clays and targets at night or on weekends - I like to spend the rest of my time setting up HOTSHOTS! K&L does domestic expedited ground and air freight. We have our own fleet of cargo vans, sprinters, straight trucks and tractor trailers, and are open 24/7 so if you need a quote or have a question feel free to contact me at any time!

Analyzing Future Rising Fuel Costs

Came across this very informative article by Scott McCollister at TransCore Freight Solutions and felt it was definitely worth sharing!  It's easy for us in the freight industry to see just how much the cost of fuel can effect the economy because transportation companies are forced to pass the increasing cost of fuel on to our customers - businesses and manufacturers, causing a chain reaction. When the cost of fuel goes up, the cost of everything people buy at retail stores goes up. It's important we keep a close eye on this impactful economic issue.

2011 in the Rear View Mirror: Fuel Costs Rise 28%

The national average price for diesel in 2011 was $3.84 per gallon, up 28% from the 2010 average of $2.99. Even the low price for 2011 was not all that low compared to the previous year. In the first week of January 2011, the national average price was “only” $3.33 per gallon at the pump. By early May, fuel prices hit a high of $4.12, bringing the average for the second quarter to $4.01.

The Road Ahead: U.S. Energy Dept. Predicts Price Stability, Others See Increases in 2012

Not much change is expected in the next two years, according to the Short-Term Energy Outlook published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The agency’s 2012 prediction is almost unchanged, and a 2% increase is forecast for 2013.

Other observers expect prices to increase in 2012. According to the Oil Price Information Service, fuel prices have increased in 11 of the past 12 years, and 2012 already appears to be following that pattern. The average price for diesel was up by $0.50 at the start of this year, to $3.83, compared to $3.33 for the same week in 2011 (see graph, below.) Equally discouraging, OPIS shows wholesale diesel prices on an upward trend since late December, so a retail price increase seems imminent.

While the U.S. is developing new energy sources, questions about refinery capacity may limit domestic supply. Also on the supply side, uncertainty about the Middle East could drive up prices even if the Straits of Hormuz remain open. Demand, on the other hand, can be affected by economic growth or stagnation, politics and regulations, fuel efficient engines, changes in the weather, and any number of factors in addition to price.

For more predictions and analyses of the many factors affecting fuel prices, I looked at the OPIS Transportation Fuel Index, which offers some solid information in four pages of text and charts. For macroeconomic trends, look at Offshore Magazine for an analysis of global trends in supply and demand of petroleum. Spoiler: that writer predicts that oil prices will stabilize at $98/bbl for the first half of 2012.

Diesel prices were up $0.50 at the pump during the first week of January 2012, compared to the same week in 2011.

Harder Better Faster Stronger

K&L Freight is an expediter, and a darn good one at that!

To quote Daft Punk - We are "Harder Better Faster and Stronger"

We always work hard for our customers 24/7! From 24 hour monitoring, to thinking outside the box to make sure that we make each pickup and delivery on time. Everyone at K&L has one goal in mind, exceed our customers expectations.

K&L is always finding new, innovative ways to improve ourselves. No one is perfect, but we are always striving to be better in all aspects of business. We have added more TSA certified drivers and brand new trucks to our fleet so we can make sure that each customer's needs are met. Each day is a new day, but we always learn from yesterday.

Faster. We do expedite! We have multiple methods to getting freight from one end of the country to another. K&L is an indirect air carrier, so we are able to do; same day air, next day air, and next flight out. Our hotshot ground service provides our customers with direct delivery anywhere in the country (and Canada-eh!). We utilize cargo vans, sprinters, straight trucks, and tractor trailers (single driver or team drivers). Their is no stopping us from moving it fast, but the best part about it, we do it right!

And Finally, Stronger! K&L works as a team. Everyone here is knowledgeable of each aspect of the company. Our account managers are willing to fight for our customers to give them what they need. We have top notch dispatchers who are willing to work all day, every day for this company. Without us all working as a team, we would not be where we are today. Their are only two reasons we have grown into the company that we are today, knowledge and passion! K&L is a company that genuinely cares about our customers needs and wants. Our team is strong, motivated, smart, and passionate. That is what pieces the whole thing together.

All I ask is for the opportunity to prove it to you.

Lets have a day!

Justified

I have got very good news! I have finished the "Doubles" workouts for P90X! I have 3 days left in my last recovery week until I have completed the entire track.

I was hoping that since I have been so active after work that now I would have all the energy in the world and be able to stay awake later than 8pm. Once again, I was wrong.

Ken and I are trying to watch season 2 of Justified so we can watch season 3 that starts next week. The strange thing is once I take my last bite of dinner, their is an unwanted count down of how long I will be awake. Typically it lands somewhere between 10-15 minutes. When I fall asleep and Ken tries to wake me up, I guess I pretend to be awake and make up an entire story line that has nothing to do with the show. He just laughs at me and tells me to go to bed.

Tonight their will be no falling asleep before the show ends. 5 Hour Energy here I come!

Justified Season 3

- K&L is a TSA authorized indirect air carrier. We are capable of providing you with same day, next day, or next flight out service anywhere in the country.

Please do not hesitate to call with any questions or quotes that you may have.

Lets have a great day!

Here to Stay

It feels so good to be home!

I got to spend the last two weeks in Florida with my family, and it was a great time. Their were so many great moments that I don't even know where to start!

... Actually I am just saying that, I know exactly where I want to start!

MELTING POT! - Every year Ken and I go to the Melting Pot in Florida to celebrate our Anniversary. We had a great time and ate until we could barely move. It was fantastic. My favorite part of the meal was the cheese and the dessert. We had the "All American" special that they were serving and the cheese tasted exactly like a loaded baked potato; cheese, sour cream, bacon, and green onions. And the dessert was the "Peanut Butter and Jelly" but their was no peanut butter or jelly in it. It was just a chocolate mixture. I am not sure how they made chocolate taste like a PB&J but it was one of the best desserts I have ever had.


We also did some adventuring while we were out their. I went deep sea fishing for the first time, and I actually caught a lot of fish. Nothing that I caught was big enough to take home, but Ken did catch some Red Snapper fish that we filleted and grilled for dinner. While the boat was taking us out to the prime fishing hot spots we had 3 dolphins riding in our wake, they were seriously about 10 ft away from me. I could have reached out and grabbed them if the idea of leaning over the side of the boat was even an option for me. We also saw a dead Manatee floating on top of the water, it was very sad. Especially since they are an endangered species.

A few days later we went kayaking, in alligator infested waters (not my idea). We didn't actually see any while we were in the kayaks, but who knows if that was a good thing or a bad thing.



And finally we rested. And that was by far the best part of the vacation. We spent a lot of nights watching movies and playing games out on the porch.

It was a great time, I would do it all again, but I am glad to be home and have my puppy back! I really missed that little guy!

Even though I am a little late on this one - It is a new year, new projects are starting and sometimes changes need to be made to service your customer properly. I am always here to help (and I won't be taking any more vacations for a very long time ha ha). We handle the hotshots, air freight, full truck loads, heavy weight partials both locally and domestically. If you truly need fast and dependable service, call me! I'm here 24/7!

Hope everyone had a great holiday!