Well, I feel that if you want something done right you have to do it yourself. Problem is, that attitude is politically incorrect in the eyes of the Union.

For example, I often have the issue of shoddy routing in the mornings. This is due to one of 2 things. 1 possibility is the router slipping in his duties, and that's not likely. My route is so spread out you can work it off of a state map.

The other is the morning clerk, who seems to have difficulty with printing a loading manifest without screwing up the routing. I have seen manifests so screwed up where ran in that order would mean about double my usual mileage for the day. No router is that incompetent. What then happens is the router gets blamed for the clerk's stupidity.

That said, while we don't normally load our own trucks, I usually take the initiative and do so, because like I said before if you want something done right you have to do it yourself.

I simply do not have the patience to do a whole lot of backtracking due to stupid people loading my truck in the wrong order, even though the Union guys would take great offense to me loading my truck myself.

__________________
Z-Lady's devoted hubby.

((((( Well, to keep those up to speed who are convinced we do not "run" miles
just got home from an overnight in atlanta - cincy to atlanta via nashville - then back home via greenville s.c.

Going back out in a few hours.... )))))


I still am looking for input from drivers out there that are non union as to their take on management and supervision and their role in getting you loaded on time etc etc...

On a side note some of my contemporaries look at non union drivers the same way "you all" look at mexican drivers...

(something to consider)

I am a former member of Teamsters Local 991. Not only a member but a shop steward.

They are without a doubt the most crookedest, most corrupt bunch of people I have ever seen.

All previous National Leaders have been imprisoned for graft and corruption. It's a matter of record. Three Business agents at Local 991 were sent to Federal Prison for stealing the members funds.

The way we were sold out I would never consider union membership again.

I would not be surprised if the majority of long haul OTR drivers never consider membership in the Teamsters - been a few years since I dealt with a Teamster dock or warehouse, but based upon their treatment of drivers and schedules, left a bad taste in many an OTR driver's mouth. LTL is a different animal, but don't be surprised by the indifference to the union cause. The vast majority of us are paid by the mile, and that ain't changing any time soon. Instead of assisting us with quicker unloads, we get the line about how great the union life is, while we get 14 hour unload times from the same bunch talking about labor fairness. Different story with union drivers, but the Teamster warehousing has pretty much blown it as far as OTR goes.

When I was doing truck to truck refueling in Raleigh at Yellow Freight .... I talked to the yard guy running around moving trailers .... kept telling me about openings that they had coming up .... told him if it wasnt for it being a union no less Teamsters I would think about it

Im not one that is interested in having money taken from my check every week so that I can barely live and giving it to someone that has their million dollar homes just to have someone there in case there is a problem

I dont agree with some of their tactics (strikes) and work ethics .... the last time I heard they pay $75 / day when you are on a strike .... that wouldnt even cover the cost of food to feed a family .... I would rather work than walk around with a stick in my hand and make the money that I am supposed to

Ive worked for unions before but I wont again .... I have turned down jobs because they were a union shop .... there are some places that you are better off in a non-union workplace

Many many years ago unions were good .... but now there is no real need for them other than to take your money .... you now OSHA .... FMSCA .... and all the others out there making the rules to keep workers safe .... I dont peersonally see the point of a union anymore other than to take YOUR money and put it into a political campaign that you might not even agree with

this post was a prime example of outdated and or bad info that guys repeat regarding teamsters...


why we are at it lets also say that southern truckers are 5 times more likely to be inbred and dropouts...


same type of stereotypes and #### that plague drivers...

I must address the comments written by Designors.

I pay $61.00 per month for Union dues. Those dues have provided my family and I the following benefits:

Seniority.

Daytime Monday thru Friday work week.

Hourly pay with O/T after 8 and double time after 12.

No cost health, vision, dental and prescription benefits. $5.00 for doctor visit.

Paid vacation at 1-52nd of yearly gross. up to 6 weeks for 25 years of service.

6 paid sick days per year.

12 paid holidays at my hourly rate.

20 days paid jury service at my hourly rate.

Company paid retirement. Almost $4.00 for all hours worked.

Last year gross - $78,432.24

Remember, as a right to work employee, you can be terminated at any time with or without cause!

As for tactics, the Union does not authorize a strike. It can only sanction one. The membership must vote to go on strike. In my opinion, no one wins in a strike. It is just a tool that is provided in the event that the workforce is unjustly treated and there is no other way to get the company to come to the negotiating table. There has been no strike at my company in the last 50+ years. I cannot speak for other locals or Unions.

As for safety, OSHA and FMCSA et al, they are there to provide the employer and the employee regulations regarding safety in the workplace, hours of service guidlines and other regulations. They do not protect you in the event that you are terminated. They also do not provide you with uniforms, laundry service and your voice on what occurs at your palce of employment.

As for political campaigns, the Union can make reccomendations as to who to vote for. Personally, I have a mind of my own and make my decisions based on the way I think the candidate will perform. Sure the Unions will contribute to the campaign that will most benefit them and their workers. In the last two decades or so, there has not been a very labor friendly group of people in the whitehouse. That is evident by the amount of posts in this forum that are not trucker friendly and paint a gloomy picture of this industry.

Designors, why don't you take the time to post where you work and what benefits you receive. While you are at it, please tell us how much those benefits cost you. What days do your work? How much did you gross/net last year? I am very curious.

Drive safe

Unions have their upside. I've worked both sides of the fence. I favor unions. There are advantages in unions. With them some supervisors at companies would fire you if they didn't like the way you looked. People should wake up to the realization of this issue. I'm going to bed now, but I shall be back with more rebutal. Good night

Companies do not care for their employees. In steps the unions. They're an in house legal entity that gives the individual employee some rights on the job. I could go forever pontificating the advantages of having a union contract, but I'll keep it short. I've seen it so many times, companies give benefits, (no matter what they are) and then take them back. Nothing can be done. Unions establish contracts with the employees and management of the company. It's called bargaining. Companies don't like it for one important reason, their books have to be open and exposed to the employees and the bargaining unit so a negotiation can be reached. Unions have never caused a company to go out of business. It was management, it's a proven fact. Consider the US Postal Service. It's government, yet it's employees have a union contract. Trucking companies with more than one hundred non-management employees should have a contract. We need some security in the work place. It's not an issue of employees against management and company, we need to work together so as to grow and provide excellent service to the customer.

What gives Unions, or employees the right to tell an employer how they should conduct their business?
There are labor laws in place to protect workers, other than that, nobody puts a gun to your head and makes you work at a place where you are treated unfairly.
The employer owes nothing to the employee, except a paycheck for their labor. The people who own the company are free to conduct their business as they see fit.

Unions have no vested interest in the companies other than keeping people working, they are not concerned with quality of the product, marketing of the product or the profit margin of the company. Union leaders do not sit on the boards of these companies, nor do they promotes sales of the company product, because they are out for themselves.

Companies where the employer insures the workers have a financial interest in the final product, through profit sharing etc., will ALWAYS outperform a company where the workers are adversarial with management.