Posted on 03/09/2005 7:44:05 AM PST by TXBSAFH
Critics: 'Sweatshop-on-wheels amendment' Tuesday, March 8, 2005 Posted: 7:35 PM EST (0035 GMT) What's this? MyCashNow - $100 - $1,000 Overnight Payday Loan Cash goes in your account overnight. Very low fees. Fast decisions.... www.mycashnow.com Mortgage Rates Hit Record Lows Get $150,000 loan for $625 per month. Refinance while rates are low. www.lowermybills.com Compare Mortgage Offers Up to four free mortgage, refinance or home equity offers - one easy form. www.nextag.com LendingTree.com - Official Site Lendingtree - Find a mortgage, refinance, home equity or auto loan now. Receive... www.lendingtree.com YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Wal-Mart Stores Incorporated Retail Transportation or Create your own Manage alerts | What is this? WASHINGTON (AP) -- Wal-Mart and other retailers are lobbying Congress to extend the workday for truckers to 16 hours, something labor unions and safety advocates say would make roadways more dangerous for all drivers. Rep. John Boozman, an Arkansas Republican whose district includes Wal-Mart's headquarters in Bentonville, is sponsoring a bill that would allow a 16-hour workday as long as the trucker took an unpaid two-hour break. The proposal is expected to be offered as an amendment during debate over the highway spending bill on Wednesday. "Truckers are pushing harder than ever to make their runs within the mandated timeframe," Boozman said. "Optional rest breaks will reduce driver layovers and improve both safety and efficiency."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Get $150,000 loan for $625 per month.
Freaking WalMart.
16 hour days- big whoop. I did that in college and I'm certainly capable of it now.
And a whole box of No-Doze
"unpaid" two hour break? I'm not a union guy, but if someone wants me to work 16 hours a day, my two hour break is going to be bought and paid for by the customer who's made this necessary...
This is a terrible idea! How many wrecks are already being caused by tired truckers?
If you're on the road, what else are you going to do but drive? My wife and I did 16 hour days easily in an RV - you roll out of bed, and hit the road.
I have a radical idea. Why don't we allow two individuals to voluntarily contract with each other without governmental interference.
If a trucker is willing to work 16 hours and Wall-Mart is willing to pay them for it, then what is the problem?
If a trucker is willing to work 36 hours and Wall-Mart is willing to pay them for it, then what is the problem?
No-Doz? Ha. That's the G-rated version.
>>>labor unions and safety advocates say would make roadways more dangerous<<<
I agree 100 percent, I've worked the trucking industry and driving isn't as easy as it looks, breaks or no breaks, drivers should not be forced to work 16 hours, apparently Wal-Mart and others suggesting this idiotic idea have never driven a big rig cross country.
Don't fault Wal-Mart. They're so used to riding the backs of Chinese slave labor they just don't know any different.
Truckers have worked 16+ hour days for as long as I can remember.
"White Line Fever."
What's the big deal?
I have a radical idea, too. Let's let airline pilots have the same untethered leeway. That whole "falling asleep in the cockpit" thing was soooooo 80's...
The reason there are DOT safety rules on how long truck drivers can drive is safety. In the past drivers were falling asleep at the wheel and running over people. That is the reason for the rules. This change if inacted will put people in the ground.
Why the other people should be exposed to your recklessness?
No problem at all. Until your family gets flattened by a big rig because the driver fell asleep at the wheel.
You're telling me 16 hours is too much?
YES!!!!
Voluntarily.
Not with WalMart requiring them to.
Most independent truckers would tell Wal-Mart to "shove-it!"
Unless of course, the price was right.
So long as they get the other drivers on the highway to sign this contract, I see no problem. Or let them use their own private road!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.