I talked to a USA Truck driver about a week ago. The stories that he was telling me how he was treated. Not only he had not been home just a couple of times for the past six months, he had not been netting over $300 a week. He also told me that when his truck broke down, USA did not pay for a motel room and he had to sleep in a cot that was in the office of the shop for three days while his truck was being worked on.

Man, I'm an engineer, we're supposed to be smart, but I just don't get it.

Why, in the Name of every God that ever was, is, or will ever be, do you always, ########## always, continue to allow yourselves to be treated like this?

Alright, look:

I'm sure we all remember this from primary school: When you give the bully what he wants, he doesn't all of a sudden become your buddy. No, he just goes after you all the more, and harder, because now he knows he can get it.

He knows this because he sees that you have surrendered to your fear of him, and allowed it to rule your reason. And bullies will always go after those they know are afraid of them...Believe me, this is a lesson I learnt well, and early.

Are you going to keep letting them bully and use you?

In the name of God, why? What's in it for you?

Nothing, that I've ever seen in 10 years as a commercial driver.

Yes I agree Mid, but we have no power, no money so how can you fight? I want to I just don't know how.
When you need a job to pay rent,food child support etc... you have to tow the line to a point anyway. It sucks. A union would work, but how do you band together a bunch of "independant minded" people? No one can really afford just to quit.

If more drivers would see themselves as a commodity with a product to sell and take a long term career view to their driving occupation they would find they have more power than they think. During your first year or two you have no experience, so you have no power over your career. This is called paying your dues and you will get treated like ####. If you are living paycheck to paycheck you don't have the financial resources to make the necessary life changes to put yourself in the driver's seat of your life. However, these things are all within your control. You can't change the industry, but you can do things to make yourself stand out as a driver. Here are some things that in time will pay big dividends.

• Get every endorsement you can, especially hazmat.
• Get your passport or passport card and be Canada qualified.
• Gain a reputation for getting the job done, especially on time delivery.
• Keep your nose clean, no tickets, preventable accidents and run legal.
• Choose a company carefully since you need to stay there a minimum of two years.
• Figure out what makes you happy and then develop your driving career in a direction that will allow you to do what makes you happy.
• Know how to do some basic repairs such as change a fuel filter or adjust brakes.
• Work on keeping your fuel mileage up at least above average even though you don't have a lot of control over your truck's mechanics.
• Reduce your personal debt and live within your means.

My daughter has watched the Pixar movie "A Bugs Life." until it is almost worn out. Watch this movie and learn the lesson. When the ants figured out that the Grasshoppers needed them to survive because they couldn't take care of themselves life changed. The grasshoppers used fear and intimidation to keep the ants in line because they were greatly outnumbered by the ants. The same is true for drivers, the companies need us more than we need them and on some level (maybe subconsciously) they know it. If you have the business savy you can get your own truck and trailer, find your own customers and eliminate the company entirely. On the other hand there isn't one trucking company that can move one truck without drivers. You have the power, you just don't realize it.

I worked for USA Truck for over three years.They are a lousy company to work
for but i know they dont keep drivers on the road more then 30 days unless they
want to stay out longer.I also know if your truck is in a shop for three days that
they will put you in a hotel.I cant say anything about $300 a week but its possible.
I talked to a USA driver yesterday who said he averages 1600 miles a week.He said
things started going down hill last November.But then looks to me like almost all of
the trucking companies are suffering because of this economic downturn.I see a lot
less trucks on the road and its much easier to find parking in truckstops now.

seems to me being a trucker,that the checks and balences arent working between the driver and the companys,we the trucker constantly get screwed and the compmanys hold the all mighty fist(dac) over our heads ,so wheres the fairness,there should be a dac report for the trucking companys,this is part of the checks and balences,but then again it will come down to a pissing contest of you screwed me so im screweing you back kind of thing!!!!!

Around here it is never easy to find parking.

Trucking sucks! If you're going to do it. You should at least find a company that gets you home. Puts you in a motel. Pays well and ontime. Don't charge the driver for anything, 100% drop and hook, friendy atmosphere, and gives plenty of saftey awards throughout the year..... I worked for a company called Munson (I think they were bought by Heartland) 20 years ago for 5 months. I was fired and upset at 1st and later I realized that was a good thing. I worked for Knight 6 or 7 months ago for 12 days. I found out that nuth'n has changed in 20 years. I'm back with my old company now after being laid off for a couple months. If I ever get laid off again-- I will never drive for another truckload outfit again. I would rather pick up cigarette butts at a T/A truck stop for a $1 an hour.

See you at the T/A.

You're gonna go broke trying that too. TA lets the transits pick them up, for free.

__________________
Even the founding fathers were
labeled traitors in their time. Their
goal was to cast off a
tyrannical Government. -- SU 83
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