Tampa2 I'm not talking truck sales. I'm talking where the money is really made in SERVICE, PARTS and RENTAL. Do you have any input or facts in that area?

I agree... It's not great but things have certainly been worse in the last 24 months. Thanks for the numbers. And before someone starts with the obligatory, "yeah but those numbers include Publix, Winn Dixie, etc)... Yes, they do. Just like ALL markets, there are some National Accounts that impact the numbers. Still much healthier than in the recent past.

The Florida market, through November, doesn't look too bad.

Class I - 792
Class II - 556
Class III - 1,691
Class IV - 741
Class V - 1,046

Absolutely... I'm in Tampa/Lakeland/Ocala/Sarasota areas. Numbers are definitely up from last year, not just "leveled off"... If I can easily put my hands to an ITA report, I'll post some numbers. It's a tough market to be sure G8trlift, but we're still both here, our companies are still open (versus Kelly/Nissan Orlando, Mid Florida Orlando Nissan, North Florida Jax Nissan and RVL Nissan) and the market is coming back slowly but surely. Hang in there, we'll have some small growth again through 2012 and begin ramping back up in 13/14. The worst is over...
If you don't mind me asking G8tor, what part of Florida are you in where the outlook is so gloomy?

leveled off????? ours continues to drop.

I think Florida markets have certainly leveled off to some extent. Activity levels are not extraordinary but certainly reasonable. I think we'll see good things for Class 4 and 5 as we begin to stabilize our housing/construction starts/building materials businesses... Grocery (5141) and General Warehousing (to a lesser extent) remain strong, just need manufacturing levels to increase.

I m not sure what to make of it anymore. Just when you think its picking up and new customers sign on then it dies off and you have to start chasing the payments for the work done. Maybe the new year will bring some much needed CHANGE!

I almost agree with bigGlitterstar, or at least have a very tough and -unexpected- and complete audit of their operations, if you think the Florida operations are pulling the same load as your other geographic area/locations, and that they living up to your expectations and their potential.
I don't usually suggest that the baby be tossed with the bath water, and you may have some really hard workers that deserve and are not getting the thanks their effort is worth to your company.

All of the upper management in the FLA division needs to go.

Ya need to get florida cleaned up though. That's the killer state for BW.

Hi all,

You can see by my profile I am with Barloworld. I can tell you that our business is doing fine even though times remain tough. As we have just published corporate earnings in South Africa I am now free to say that we have had good and expanding overall profits in our US operations over the last 6 months. We are also looking to grow our technician base and have a lot of openings. Our rental business has been great and we have invested over $12 Million in our rental fleet this year (plan on over $8 million more in the next). Our equipment (new and used) business has also seen great growth over last year. To the BW folks that read this - thanks and keep on hustling!

Yeah their so fine they have no parts department employees, no service manager, no shop techs, if thats fine then they are fantastic.

BW in Orlando is fine,in fact looking for a tech!!

I can try to help with your relocation questions if you want and are serious. I have lived in Florida for nearly 10 years. I run my own Storage and M.H. Business here and have been in the Rack field nationally for over 30 years. Emigrated form the UK a few years before that from Dexion. I work with companies all over the USA and it's difficult to explain to outsiders, the level of recession we have had and are still having over here.Biz took a horrible nose dive several years ago and we are all clinging on hoping it will at least get better.We cut staff, facilities, anything we can think of just to keep the business going.Yes we are all sort of in business, but some days it feels like the day of the Zombies.We are all wandering around looking alive, doing nothing and waiting to come back to life. The very large distributors and usually non forklift have continued to do well. There are probably about 20 of them in the USA and they work with big clients on long range systems work. But the business that most dealers work with $50,000 and below has evaporated. Our political conditions give us no confidence that things will be workable until we get to the next election in 2012. This leaves everybody with no confidence to invest and a feeling of wait and see. It really is like a perfect storm.
Sorry to sound so bad but better the truth as in my opinion, is better than the streets are paved with gold.
The American attitude is far different than the UK one and in your job you will be very frustrated with that.If you could put yourself into a mindset of a pole coming to the UK. Not really understanding the language or the customs but willing to listen and learn without filtering it through prior knowledge you will do fine.
UK to America is also different like any country change. First year will be why don't they do it this way!! If you don't get over that and say different ways for different folks, you'll be on the next plane back.
Americans are loud, individualistic and aggressive. They are born that way, come mainly from stock that chose to come here and teach their kids to be individuals. That's why I'm here because I loved it the first time I visited. I said I have finally found my people!!!

If you want more e mail me at my profile biz address with sales and the at in front of it.

Spoke to BW tech this AM. Things are awful according to him. He said nobody out looking for new work. Mgt. just making calls on existng customers and one by one these customers are leaving. He said managements answer is to continually raise their labor rate in order to make more from the few customers they have.