Posted on 03/22/2020 8:31:56 PM PDT by Salvavida
Folks, in response to the well-written piece by John Nolte over at Breitbart commenting on the worthlessness of Hollywood elites verses the people who actually make this country move: TRUCKERS and STOCKERS. The former offers nothing of value other than mindless entertainment, the latter will in the coming months, subject themselves to the inherent risks of the virus so that this country continues to thrive.
Some facts you probably are unaware of:
Truckers have no champion. Business likes cheap freight. Consumers like cheap freight. Guess who gets the short end? Yep. It has been my experience that as soon as unionization is mentioned......you get canned. Immediately. The only company I know of that has unionized is YRC, and they are employee owned.
So be our champion. Write or call your Congresscritter. Pass this to your family and friends. Ask for some commonsense changes that are FEDERALLY REGULATED (yes, truckers are the most heavily regulated and least compensated job on planet earth--- and it isn't even particularly close).
1. END THE USE OF PRACTICAL MILES. Truckers should get the mileage they are driving, not post office to post office mileage that is absent of reality. We should get paid for what we drive.
2. A WEEKEND NEEDS TO BE DEFINED AS 48 HOURS INSTEAD OF 34. We already spend too much time away from home, more than the average military serviceman does. A 34 hour reset is the industry standard by federal regulation. Tell Congress to stop caving into the big trucking company lobbyists.
3. ALL TRUCKING COMPANIES NEED TO GIVE 2 WEEKS VACATION PER YEAR. This is for the health of the driver to relieve stress and to be with family. This isn't asking a lot. Truckers do NOT get all federal holidays and if you are lucky, you'll spend a few hours at home for Christmas.
4. DEMAND CONGRESS REVIEW REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES. That would require staffers meeting with truckers. Is is common sense that if it is needed to perform the job by federal regulation or industry safety standards, it should be provided by the company? Gloves? Hard hat? Reflective vests? CB radio? Astonishingly, it comes out of our pockets.
Do this, get the President's attention, and you will have done a massive favor for an industry you depend on.....and probably didn't know it.
That is all. And thanks. It would be swell if the conservatives stood up and spoke for the most screwed-over workforce in our society. Thanks to Whinecountry who inspired me to communicate this to the whole group.
Bookmark for morning.
Thank you FRiend.
**The dam dispatchers are the biggest liars ever in any industry.**
No. The politician industry has laid claim to that honor /s
But, I drove for a company that had as their main dispatcher, a guy whose last name was Hockenberry. His nickname among us drivers was “Bullhocky”.
Dude, you just told on yourself. You know NOTHING of the industry because EVERYONE knows that truckers hop from one company to the next in the hopes of finding ethical behavior and better pay.
Congress can and should fix because they regulate us. If they don't.......more immigrants are necessary because more of us are leaving.
I have no problem with what you said. I merely wanted to raise a separate side issue that IS raising its ugly face; driverless trucks that WILL KILL PEOPLE.
Every day there are dozens of ads for all manner of CDLs. It was suggested and I considered enrolling in school, love of road trips and road movies etc. But after spending a few hours reading trucker forums you get a idea of what the average driver’s week is like. It makes that grill job at McDonalds look pretty good.
By your own admission, Congress has screwed you over with regulations. How did they couch those regulations? Did they say, "With these regulations, we will really and truly screw truckers over"? Or did they say, "With these regulations, we will make life more bearable for truckers and stockers"?
Think Affordable Health Care Act.
Truckers are on the front line as much as nurses and doctors are. We can do without actors and singers and social warriors. But we cannot do without nurse and doctors...and truckers
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Amen!
God bless the truckers, first responders and HC workers.
I don’t agree. We are moving manufacturing back here in a Manhattan project level way. POTUS is livid with China. I can’t describe the level... Have this on good authority (someone who works for him). He is done with them. China is done as a significant trade partner once we onshore which will be fast tracked. There will be a golden era for truckers in the next years.
What’s wrong with Russians? Russians are wonderful people.
I do appreciate truckers and appreciate what you all are going through at this difficult time.
I had some close trucker friends back in my teenage years in the 80’s and, even then, they put up with a lot of crap.
Be safe!
The shortage of Truck Drivers was predicted at least 25 years ago. Further back I think, but my memory is not perfect.
The Rats solved the problem by opening our borders to Mexican and Canadian Drivers not subject to the federal CDL regulations. This was to avoid Businesses having to compensate American Drivers fairly. In fact it is ‘The Example.’
The worst friend that Truckers ever had was Government.
Ah, that explains why my steel supply company shudders at the idea of YRC delivering my Cro-Mo tube.
They informed me that YRC damages too much material, so I should not use them.
I thought “How do you mangle steel tube so often as to be black-balled” by the distributor?
Now that I know they are Unionized the question is answered.
The larger point I was trying to get across is: American truckers that are born here and have American values tend to CARE about their countrymen, and do things on the job to keep them safe.
Most people are blissfully unaware of the moves we make as professionals to keep them from harm because they did something really stupid while driving or stopping on the side of road.
You will not get that from a first generation driver from another country. Thanks for your post.
Most of these assholes making comments have never had to shut down on Elk Mountain to chain up or tried to pull Donor pass in the winter. Let them wipe their butt with leaves or their junk mail. There Ain’t No Easy Run.
FRruckers. I like that.
When I don't know something about a subject, I usually remain silent or do some research.
I’ve seen trucks blown off Elk Mountain and Dad had a truck do a 180 in Texas. Unk is a retired teamster, Dad and mom wore out a KW Airdyne and I have a nephew driving now. I guess, I the missed the fun cause dad convinced me it sucked. Dispatchers would deadhead him (losing money) to his next load.
I didn’t know who dad even was until I was about 6 or 7. Anybody wants to try it have a cup of Shut the eff up, and do ELK Mountain in January.
1. DEAL WITH THE DETENTION ISSUE BY FORCING SHIPPERS/RECEIVERS TO PAY FOR EXCESS LOADING/UNLOADING TIME. Since drivers are paid by the mile and not by the hour, they aren’t compensated for the time they spend sitting at a loading dock. Every haul should include a maximum window of time to unload a truck at the loading dock, and the shipper/receiver should be forced to pay a penalty to the trucking firm if it takes longer than that. The trucking firm should also pay the driver for this extra unproductive time.
2. ADD FLEXIBILITY TO THE HOURS OF SERVICE RULES. This is one area that has gotten much worse since the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has mandated electronic logging devices for commercial vehicles. There ought to be a whole bunch of exceptions to these rules. Driving to find a place to park your truck for your mandatory 10-hour rest period shouldn’t be considered a violation, for example. And you should not be tagged with a violation if you run out of hours at a loading dock and the shipper/receiver won’t let you stay on the property after your truck has been unloaded.
Absolutely.
Pull in At noon, back up to the dock. Union dock help gone to lunch. You can’t unload or Union raises hell. They show up you offer to help to get to your next load. They tell you to eff off. Finally unloaded and miss your load home. Wait a day, dead head 300 miles (your fuel) and you get a load 350 miles from your home.
You want to be a truck driver? Put on your big boy pants pussies. Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves. Wussies.
I understand your point. You are correct; American born truckers are superior.
I had to jokingly mention the Russians because I’m part Russian. And, you are right, Russians aren’t the best drivers. Youtube proves that, LOL.
Stay safe!
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