Retailers want 16-hour trucker workday (Walmart)

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/03/08/trucker.rules.ap/index.html ^ | 3-9-05

[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."

[hoosierham]

We have the best politicians money can buy;just who is buying changes.

[EagleMamaMT]

"We have the best politicians money can buy;just who is buying changes."

Yep, you're right. Looks like the credit card companies and banks bought them this time around. I wonder how much it costs to buy one of the whore...er, politicians....for a couple of years?

[Smartaleck]

"This is a terrible idea! How many wrecks are already being caused by tired truckers?"

Something like 75% of crashes involving Semi's are caused by automobiles.

[Smartaleck]

"my two hour break is going to be bought and paid for"

You want to be paid for not working?

[Smartaleck]

"No-Doz? Ha. That's the G-rated version."

There's a shortage of qualified drivers right now. Random drug tests have weeded out many former drivers. But you knew that right?

[Smartaleck]

"I've worked the trucking industry and driving isn't as easy as it looks"

Do you favor the new hours of service that were struck down or the old, reinstated, regs?

[tutstar]

ping

[Smartaleck]

"The reason there are DOT safety rules on how long truck drivers can drive is safety."

Is that not the reason for almost all "rules"? Perhaps you would favor the same for automobile drivers in the "interst of safety"?

[Smartaleck]

"Why the other people should be exposed to your recklessness?"

Same reason professional drivers are exposed to dumba$$ amateurs in automobiles?

[balch3]

umm, maybe because of all the other people that will be sharing the road with all those zombied out Wal Mart truck drivers?

[Smartaleck]

"The actual shift length was irrelevant - just how far they went."

You are correct. If the rig ain't moving there isn't money being made regardless of whether it's an Independent or common carrier.

The way around it is keeping two sets of drive time logs to extend drive time. Some condone it and do it, others break the law. ;-)

[peter the great]

Every morning when I wake up, WABC's Curtis Sliwa is on the radio at 5 am. At that hour of the morning you can almost predict where the accidents are going to be and how many. Every morning you will here , a car went off the road, a car ran into a house, personally I feel that this is not a good idea, safety is the reason and I wish they would tell Wal-Mart to hire more drivers.

[Smartaleck]

"They are not independents, so they are on hourly pay."

WalMart uses their own trucks, common carriers and independents.

[Proud_texan]

It was my understanding that the reason for the current drive time limits, which were enacted in 1939, were a direct result of the efforts of the Teamsters and assorted "progressives" (World Workers Party, et al) and predate the DOT.

Is this incorrect?

[Smartaleck]

"If the delivery is to WalMart the price goes up at least 20% take it or leave it, due to the crap they pull when he goes to their warehouse"

Perhaps not 20% but most carriers do make allowences for delivery to the "big box" stores like Wally, HomeDepot, Lowes etc where the trucker has to have a delivery appt. and will probably end up with wait time just the same.

[Smartaleck]

"Wally World is beginning to apply its extortionate techniqes to its employees...
They've been doing that for quite some time."

Does the gov't know people are being "forced" to work there?

[Smartaleck]

"All this will do is drive more Americans out of the trucking industry"

Think you could pass a CDL test....with Hazmat endorsement?

[Centurion2000]

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?

He becomes an 80,000 pound missile flying down the road. Trucker rules are not employee relation rules. they are for road safety.

Of course when truckers are keeping 2-3 log books for their trucks, you can be certain they are driving as much as they want.

[cripplecreek]

You clearly don't know what you're talking about so don't bother with the "I'm a truckdriver" line because I won't believe it.

[Smartaleck]

"I have no problem with 11 hours allowable driving, just so long as there's the mandatory rest period immediately before it!"

There is. He just posted a condensed version of the regs.