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Post by towguy76 on Apr 2, 2008 12:18:31 GMT -5
The consenses seems to be, the drivers want a strike, they just want the other drivers to do it.
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78KW
Regional OTR Driver
Hard Time don't last...Trucker's do!
Posts: 2,467
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Post by 78KW on Apr 2, 2008 17:52:45 GMT -5
I saw only 2 trucks parked, but there were as many owner operators as company drivers on the highway yesterday. I didn't see the price come down. Some disruptions in Chicago, Atlanta, Tampa, and on the NJ TPK, but as I said in the beginning, it would be the small group of drivers, not 50, 60, or 80% of the drivers shutting down. I believe we as an industry need to speak up, even I seem like I'm being a bit cynical.
Rates need to go up. Unfortunately, though, you have drivers that think every load should pay POWERBALL winnings. As nice as that would be, this is a cutthroat and competitive business, and we have to adapt. Besides, it shouldn't cost anyone more to ship their product than it did to produce it. Some freight pays better, and it's time that Owner Operators become more selective in the freight they haul. I've read more than once that after inflation is factored in, the industry hasn't had a raise in pay since the 1970's. It's been awhile since I read that fact, but I believe it's still true. Now that's sad.
Not to say that high fuel prices don't matter, because they do. It's just that low freight rates are not going to reimburse the operating expenses. Raising the rates is easier said then done, but turning down cheap freight where possible is always a good start.
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78KW
Regional OTR Driver
Hard Time don't last...Trucker's do!
Posts: 2,467
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Post by 78KW on Apr 2, 2008 21:28:33 GMT -5
I heard a little about a 1 day slow down,also heard a White House spokes person say that if you cannot afford the cost of driving....make a new career choice. I'm over 50,been doing this a good part of my life, have 3 trucks...none are new.I now haul and recover antique trucks and equipment.(Now I'm also doing salvage)I pay $4.60 for fuel, I cannot leave or return to L.I. with out paying at least 3 tolls (which just went up again)and for those who run through Suffolk county we now deal with daily "inspection stops by NY State police, NY DOT, Suffok County P.D. and Suffolk Sheriffs dept. Every body has their hand out. A strike or slow down ? probbly wouldn't help and I for one could NOT afford it. Sorry for the rant butI'm just worn down . Paul The tolls went up AGAIN??? Wow. I heard on Tuesday on WABC that the city gov't just passed some sort of congestion pricing tax. It's basically a fee to drive into Manhattan. It was being sent to Albany to be passed or rejected by the state legislature. I wonder if they will try to spread this to the other boros. I was loading in Green Brook, NJ yesterday morning, so I tuned in the New York station. I was born and spent my childhood in NYC, and I missed it at first when I left. Seeing the cost of living, I would never move back. I don't know how anyone survives in the City or out on the Island financially. It's just too expensive. I know the bridges crossing the Delaware River from NJ to PA on I 78 and I 80 went up yet again. It's $16.25 now, up from $12.75. I don't mind driving in the Northeast, but it's definately getting worse. I really feel for you guys up that way.
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41chevy
CDL Student Driver
MY B-61
Posts: 743
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Post by 41chevy on Apr 2, 2008 22:50:48 GMT -5
The tolls went up AGAIN??? Wow. I heard on Tuesday on WABC that the city gov't just passed some sort of congestion pricing tax. It's basically a fee to drive into Manhattan. It was being sent to Albany to be passed or rejected by the state legislature. I wonder if they will try to spread this to the other boros. I was loading in Green Brook, NJ yesterday morning, so I tuned in the New York station. I was born and spent my childhood in NYC, and I missed it at first when I left. Seeing the cost of living, I would never move back. I don't know how anyone survives in the City or out on the Island financially. It's just too expensive. I know the bridges crossing the Delaware River from NJ to PA on I 78 and I 80 went up yet again. It's $16.25 now, up from $12.75. I don't mind driving in the Northeast, but it's definately getting worse. I really feel for you guys up that way. Now there is a proposed toll on the LIE and worse.....Statehood for L.I. My wife and I combined make $65K + and we're considered lower middle class on L.I. unfortunatly because of family obligations we are here for at least 10 more years. Paul
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78KW
Regional OTR Driver
Hard Time don't last...Trucker's do!
Posts: 2,467
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Post by 78KW on Apr 4, 2008 9:21:56 GMT -5
Amazing. Simply amazing.
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Post by plastictrucker on Apr 4, 2008 12:38:25 GMT -5
I'm not a trucker,but come from a trucking family.I feel for all the independents ,as there is not a lot of money left over after expenses.The price of fuel has an impact on every one.The only way a strike will change anything is if most trucks stay at home.Blocking or slowing traffic is not the way to go,it will just piss cops off.The whole North American economy depends on trucking.If no trucks are on the road for a few days and the store shelves are empty,maybe some thing will be done about fuel pricing.
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78KW
Regional OTR Driver
Hard Time don't last...Trucker's do!
Posts: 2,467
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Post by 78KW on Apr 4, 2008 14:14:04 GMT -5
Blocking or slowing traffic is not the way to go,it will just piss cops off. I agree with you on this. 3 drivers were ticketed for diving well below the speed limit on I 55 in Chicago, driving 3 abreast while going so slow so that no one could pass during the latest protest. I understand the anger, but this only makes it worse. I bet the ticket wasn't cheap either.
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longhaul
Local Delivery Truck Driver
Posts: 129
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Post by longhaul on Apr 4, 2008 16:47:27 GMT -5
I agree with you guys that those tickets in Chicago were not cheap. Written by Illinois State Troopers in Cook County, You know everybody, State, County and City are all going to get a piece of the pie on that one. I am surprised that any O/O has enough money left over these days to pay any fines, what with the high cost of operating anymore. I also agree with Mr. FlatbedKW that something has to be done about the freight rates being so low. But thats a hard row to hoe. The shippers wont pay higher rates unless they go up across the board. The brokers wont raise the rates, as long as they can find truckers to haul the freight. Seems they always do. They give a damn if that O/O goes broke because another one will be a long tommorrow. The brokers tell the drivers take it or leave it, thats all I got. If trucker # 1 leaves it, Trucker # 2 comes along and takes it. If all this is going to change, the O/O's have to unite and stand together, something that hasnt happened since the begining of time. You ask a question of 7 truckers and your going to get 9 different opinions and one undecided. I am not cutting down truckers, as I was one myself for over 40 years, and have all the respect in the world for those guys, but that is just the way it is and always has been and probley always will be. Hey Mr. FlatbedKW, let me ask you a question. Where is the ATA, several years ago they had a big push to get the O/O's signed up to be represented by them and pay dues to them for this service. A lot of them joined up. Where is the ATA now that they are needed. Doing nothing but still collecting dues I bet. Jeff
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bootleg
Local Delivery Truck Driver
Posts: 51
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Post by bootleg on Apr 4, 2008 16:54:30 GMT -5
It's sad to say but I believe that this will hurt them more. What I mean is that they will not stick together. It can be 25 truckers all decide to do this and when the day comes only 20 show up the other 5 are out hauling the best freight of the 25 just cut their throats. In my option that's how we have got to where we are now. I do understand people got to eat and take care of their families. I was lucky I was able to get out last June and now running a brokerage company. Before you call me the a-hole that keeps all the money it has been hard on me to begging the customer to give me the freight because my rates are so high to begging the truck to take the load. Sometimes we make good money sometimes put every penny in it just to get load covered. Only my bad days don't cost as much as a truckers. My hat's off to you guys that pound the ground out there. I do miss it, but it's for damn sure not as enjoyable as it used to be. An unorganized strike will make you weaker as a whole. People will say he just couldn't manage his money or he was fixin to lose his truck anyway he's just crying about it. Most people don't realize what it takes to get it there. Hell I'd bet people in shaky think chickens grow there don't realize how for that bird road to get there are the man that got it there before it ruined. I'll shut up now sorry for venting.
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bootleg
Local Delivery Truck Driver
Posts: 51
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Post by bootleg on Apr 4, 2008 17:02:47 GMT -5
longhaul I think there is so rule or law that prohibits them from organizing a strike because it's federal. Not positive on that but I think I read it somewhere. Mighty convenent for them pay your dues and will fight for your rights "only the ones WE choose"
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41chevy
CDL Student Driver
MY B-61
Posts: 743
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Post by 41chevy on Apr 5, 2008 10:11:26 GMT -5
The ATA has come up with there ideas..aside from the normal spiel on fuel taxes.. a National speed limit of 65 mph and ALL trucks governed to 68 mph.... AHH our dues at work!! Paul
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longhaul
Local Delivery Truck Driver
Posts: 129
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Post by longhaul on Apr 5, 2008 10:32:20 GMT -5
Bootleg Yes it is a federal law, but not against the O/Os striking, as it would not be an organized strike. There is a federal law against OOIDA, the organization that represents a lot of the O/O's, calling for an organized strike. Why, I don't know, seems that the union drivers represented by the Teamsters Union go on strike when ever they want. Or go out and shut down a union barn because the company broke a union rule. The feds cant do a damn thing if all the O/O's decided to all go home and park there trucks, just happens that they all they all did it at the same time. Oh well You would think that the finance companies and the banks that go the loans on these trucks would step in pretty soon. Theres over 500 O/O's that have gone out this year, thats a lot of trucks turned in. What are these finanical companies going to do with them. They cant resell them all, anybody buying a 100,00.00 truck in this day and time would be a damn fool. Jeff
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78KW
Regional OTR Driver
Hard Time don't last...Trucker's do!
Posts: 2,467
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Post by 78KW on Apr 7, 2008 5:12:01 GMT -5
Regarding OOIDA, they are a trade organization, which is why they are prohibited from organizing a strike. They would have to actually be a union to call one. I don't trust ATA. I've heard the story from credible sources that they were the ones who were opposed to truck drivers being classified as skilled labor. This would've been years ago, but if it's true, the reason would be pretty clear. Workers in any profession classified as skilled labor are paid more and trained better. So of course ATA doesn't like it. ATA is looking out for the carriers, and not the small fleets with 20 trucks either. The carriers with 1,000's of trucks are the ones ATA cares about. The only time ATA stands up to the government on the driver's behalf is when management is going to suffer, too.
As to rates, longhaul hit the nail on the head. What you won't haul, is the load the next 2 guys fight over. And by the way longhaul, you had me laugh myself to tears when you said ask 7 drivers, get 9 answers. It's actually sad, but it's so true. That is the best way I ever heard it put. It's a shame it's that way, but it is. We all have our opinions, but the spirit of working together has left the industry.
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78KW
Regional OTR Driver
Hard Time don't last...Trucker's do!
Posts: 2,467
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Post by 78KW on Apr 7, 2008 5:14:05 GMT -5
It's sad to say but I believe that this will hurt them more. What I mean is that they will not stick together. It can be 25 truckers all decide to do this and when the day comes only 20 show up the other 5 are out hauling the best freight of the 25 just cut their throats. In my option that's how we have got to where we are now. I do understand people got to eat and take care of their families. I was lucky I was able to get out last June and now running a brokerage company. Before you call me the a-hole that keeps all the money it has been hard on me to begging the customer to give me the freight because my rates are so high to begging the truck to take the load. Sometimes we make good money sometimes put every penny in it just to get load covered. Only my bad days don't cost as much as a truckers. My hat's off to you guys that pound the ground out there. I do miss it, but it's for damn sure not as enjoyable as it used to be. An unorganized strike will make you weaker as a whole. People will say he just couldn't manage his money or he was fixin to lose his truck anyway he's just crying about it. Most people don't realize what it takes to get it there. Hell I'd bet people in shaky think chickens grow there don't realize how for that bird road to get there are the man that got it there before it ruined. I'll shut up now sorry for venting. Don't be sorry man, we all need to vent.
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41chevy
CDL Student Driver
MY B-61
Posts: 743
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Post by 41chevy on Apr 7, 2008 10:29:24 GMT -5
It is amazing how nothing has changed!! My wife found all of my 'OVERDRIVE' mags from the late 70's.The first one I picked up was October 1978. Had a nice Superliner on the cover, but the editorial was about a national truckers strike to protest high fuel costs. 30 years later and it is still the same. Paul
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