Yes, 4millionmiler has a good point with what he says here. As mentioned before I am a union worker, and the turnover where I work is very minimal. The general rule of thumb where I work is if someone stays for 2 years, then the chances are almost 100% that they will stay until the end of their career. Seems that way when you see how long most guys have been there, with no hint of wanting to change.
Just yesterday I was talking to a union driver from our competitor, and he has been with them for 33 years and proud of it!

i believe in accurate info. the p/mi. union pay is .5496 cpm (actual miles from terminal to terminal) hourly is $22.21 with time and a half etc. after either 8 hrs. or 40 hrs. depending on local agreement. the non-union drivers at fedex and overnight, others do not get 1 1/2 because transportation and agriculture workers are exempt from the 1932 fair wage and standard act. so usually only union transportation workers get 1 1/2. the median annual wages for o-t-r drivers in 1983 was nearly $48,000 for 70hr 8 day weeks. i had top pay for the 8th largest carrier in the usa at my terminal in 1983, nearly $54,000 gross(took bid run next year and still made $50,000), bottom pay that yr was nearly $43,000. i ran the system, which means i could be back in the same day or at the most 3 days. p/mi pay 1983 was .3225 cpm and $13.15 p/hr. because union o-t-r drivers rarely ever do pick/delivery, all their hrs are driving. worked for interstate motor freight system for 15+ yrs. and never stood inside one of their trailers! made 1 delivery and 1 p/up in 15 yrs.(both no touch). some of reasons why no turnover on union driving jobs. next i'll talk about union o-o. also was one

According to the information I got, Fed ex freight and overnight (UPS)
both get time and a half after 8 hours in a day. It may be different where
you are at but here in the mid-atlantic thats what they pay to keep
the drivers from going union. Some UPS freight terminels are Union some
are not.

Ronnocomot - you must have had a bad experince - or been fired from a union company with your endless negative post regarding what works out well for many thousands of us...

on should not feed into all things negative regarding union jobs. my experiences have been very positive - sure membership has fallen - but on the inverse profits of non union companies has gone up

our productivity per ton # roadway is comparable with non union LTL's -

why let the rich keep on getting richer? there are some guys running non union freight for half of what I make - and why? so their company can sponser a damn nascar team???

jeez guys - if it is not for you - then fine - but do not generalize union drivers as lazy. (a klot of comparison has been made to union dock experiences that were bad) - well yeah - those guys (longshormen and warehousmen) look down on you because they see you guys fighting like rats for your next load and throwing piss bottles in their lots...

at least we are given enough time to take care of hygene and human needs (sit down dinners - not dashboard dining)


maybe if companies would increase your pay - even out your schedule (eliminate the hurry up and wait) - eliminate ILLEGAL runs - and treat you with some respect, I would be apt to hire on...

until then you keep thinking union companies are a bad idea while I type my messages from my den - and you from your sleepercab -


ohhhh and lest I forget - yeah you do a bunch of dumb crap and they fire you - but ummmm does that not apply to any job?


yeah we have some sorry ##### that we take care of - but the bell curve and majority of drivers I work with make me proud to be a teamster...


on average I can say the guys I work with are more professional than the jokers I see telling lies in the petro drivers room...

we have a life outside of trucking - hobbies - family - interest... AND if anyone would like to balance their lives out - and not be stuck as a road prisoner - they would be wise to look into a union driving job.


670 million invested in pensions - security in knowing that if I get killed my wife is pensioned too - awsome options in our 401k (funds that have been locked out for years to the general public are available to us) - insurance beyond any non U company (n o premiums) as opposed to the USA driver who said - "man we have good insurance for me and my 4 kids - and it only 'cost' me 133 a week..." JEEZ! that is not a benifit - you are buying A PLAN !


RANT RANT RANT...

work smart - not hard...



companies advertise that the key to financial sucess with them is
"more miles = more money"


when they are only giving their employees the tools needed to burn out and be dangerous on the road...

(yahn * rumble strip * yahn)

Question about Ronnocomot.

I didn't think management was allowed on this board.

He clearly prefers companies that can fire, harass, or abuse their workers in almost anyway.

As per crank.
Im sorry you weren't able to manage your finances making 26.50/hr.
Im even more sorry that you blame your union for costing you your job, when the failure of GM has been the crummy products, as well as its refusal to attempt to compete in the world market.
When your cars can only be sold in America due to lax fuel economy regulations, then your have chosen to ignore roughly 3 billion other customers.
When your company kills its own "alternative fuel" car and ignores offers to get into the new markets, you will not profit.

haa similliar chat with an estes driver last night...


I finnaly asked him the base of the matter...
"After 20 years with estes - what do you get?"

- he replied ummmm ... I do not know any 20 year guys...

"OK - imagine - what a gold watch and a wal mart gift certificate"

- he did not know -

"maybe they buy you a pete with your name on the door...."

- dunno

"I explained the pension draw"

- yeah but we have a 401K (his only defense)

"so do we - they do not match any on it - BUT we have access to some kick ### funds that have been closed for years to outside investers"

(matching dollar for dollar is still less than employee only input when your dollar for dollar match is going into a low yeild wobbly capital fund - and my employee only is in a 5 vstar or lipper+++ fund)

- ummmmmmm he said

"if you broke down right now for 2 days - what would that do to your paycheck?"

-ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm wow that would suck -

*blank stare*

I will ride this wave for as long as it will have me....

I have a union job at a food service company,and I WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR ANYTHING!! Where I used to work,the pay scale topped at 18 dollars an hour.My union job STARTS at that rate,plus all my medical,dental ,etc is FREE,whereas at the other place I had to pay.The people I work with now are more dedicated and professional.The last non union place was a bunch of clowns.
Every trucker that comes into our place is treated fairly and respectfully,no B.S.
Most of them always ask if we are hiring.Usually we are,it is just that most folks don't pass muster to be hired,because they do not possess the work ethic and professionalism required to BE UNION!!!!

What does my job have to do with my dislike of Unions?

I dislike Unions for all the reasons I have posted several times. I also do not think I am alone in my view.

Tell me this though, if Unions are so great, why has their membership plummeted?