OOIDA is not a union. I keep getting the feeling that there are a lot of drivers looking to OOIDA to do something about rates.

OOIDA can't do anything whatsoever about rates

Remember "It's the Economy Stupid"? Well now for O/Os and drivers the issue is "It's the Rates Stupid". I hear everybody saying don't haul cheap freight. Well what is cheap freight? Nobody sets a standard as to what is cheap. I am sure there are guys who think that 1.50 a mile is good. And lots of other guys who won't turn the key unless it pays 3 a mile.

You can't look to OOIDA to change this problem. There isn't an organization in place that can change the problem. The only thing I can see raising the rates is if every company driver joined The Teamsters. Then the Snyders, JB Hunts, Werners, Covenents, and Swifts of the world would have to stop being rate cutting scabs.

There is no legal way for the O/Os to come up with a minimum rate. Untill the laws change, the only way to r aise rates is to go after all the major freight companies with an organizing campain.

But from what I can see after being on this board a couple of days, The big freight companies have done a good job on all you new drivers with the anti-union propaganda.

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A red is any son-of-a-##### that wants thirty cents an hour when we’re payin’ twenty-five!’"
--John Steinbeck

Please tell me what a union can do these days.... I am not saying they where a waste of time but from being in the construction field etc. I think they are useless. As a basic principal (now I am talking about unions like steel workers, pipe fitters etc.) all they have done is to drive the value of the dollar down as of late. They pay guys way too much for what the job is worth because they are union, overinflated the cost of the product to the point that people are going overseas for those products and services.

Now I do know teamsters was originally a truckers union and I believe they still are BUT what can really be done? The biggest battle lost was NAFTA and now there is no leverage, with that stupid Mary Peters (pardon my French but I think the oxygen she is breathing could be better used for someone else...) opening the borders who's to say we try to flex our muscle with an organized strike etc. and we don't see the fed answer by keeping the borders open because the big shippers don't want to pay anymore and the borders are currently open???? I do agree the drivers today need to band together, I am just not convinced that union is the best way.... then again I could be wrong.

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work hard, PLAY HARDER!!!

what can the Teamsters do nowadays?

Well, they landed me a pretty sweet contract for another 5 years.

and the previous contract gave me enough cash flow to pay my home off in 4 years and provided me 100% paid insurance and there has been close to 53K$ put into my retirement account - all of which was not "taken" out of my check every week - but part of a package or as it is a "contract". (not to mention my 401K which was MY choice and amount out of my earned pay)

as for my wages ruining the economy or devaluating the dollar - a simple high school econ book would explain to you that the economy is "raised" and not devaluated base on union wages - what has hurt the econ is the fact that 180 million americans work for 10 bucks an hour or less...

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TEAMSTERS LOCAL 100


Faster than a 60 MPH bullet....

So whats wrong with people workin for $10 an hour?People have to try and put food on the table right?Not everyone can affford to have their famliy go without food while they sit around tryin to convince a company to be union.Sorry not everyone has a union job like you.Not every union job is a good one either.Nick Strimbu trucking is union..While i was there,their average pay was about $400 a week.Still had to pay bennies,and the retirement plan was a joke..I guess you on still in you superriority trip about unions?It takes a real man to do what he has to do..Not everyone has union oppurtunities..Most of the jobs in my town are $10 an hour or under..Not everyone can afford to just pack up and move to a town/state with higher paying jobs..Peoples jobs are not whats hurting the economy,its the people who own the oil companies,and the wal marts that are hurting the economy.People who are tryin to kick the american public when they are down.I just dont know how you expect everyone to have union jobs?I hope you are not that ill minded..Do you think the military should be union as well?They are not,and I can tell you that first hand!Are all of us in the military pieces of crap??Nice way to support you red white and blue.As far as the dude who started the thread,show proof where the big companies are usin anti union propaganda!!!If anything,they get most of their drivers by sayin"if you drive with us for a few years and pay your dues,you will be able to get those nice local union gigs"...Why do you think these guys are not unoin??They know there is gonna be so many guys who are gonna try to get their time and expirience in with them so they can try and get the ltl jobs,that they dont have to worry about bein union themselves...The one thing that probably turns most people off about unions,is seein how you guys portray people who are not union..There is only a few union guys on this board who are no where near as hard headed as letanea and a few others..Maybe people just see you and they dont wanna becomes ***holes themselves,so they stay away from the union jobs.

wow - once again you prove that you have no idea what the Teamsters do.. and once again you put words into my mouth


once again you pull the "working class hero" speech out of your butt
and ....

once again you spread you HUGE wealth of misinformation and novice knowledge around with a bunch of hatred and sourness...


dude - if you would chill out maybe I would help you get a better job than running a ##### wagon for Schneider.

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TEAMSTERS LOCAL 100


Faster than a 60 MPH bullet....

I dont work for schnieder lol..And who said anything about hatred?You are the one with the hatred towards people who do not have union jobs...So why would you send me a private message callin me a dumb***,when I said nothing wrong to you?You obviously have little respct for people outside your "union"..As far as me getting a job,right now I am about to get preccesed in for a civillian contracting job over sea's makin $8,550 a month.If I get it,good,then I will have other plans for when I come home as far as work..If I dont get it,i am just gonna get off reserve status and go active duty...What misinformation did I give?and why are trying to provake me into sayin stuff to you so i can get in trouble lol.Sorry,you can play your silly games here,but i am not...Please grow up.You shouldnt segregate men who are union from ones who are not..Even though you are union,I am sure you bleed like everyone else..

WARNING!!!!
Lets keep this thread civil towards each other. Insults will NOT be tolerated.

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"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -- WOW-- What a Ride!"

That will be easy on my end.How do you report some one about a private message they send to you?

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Proud Supporter Of: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Cause i do not like ignorant people.This guy dosnt know me,yet said i had a desk job in the military,when i drove over 62,000 miles across the roads of Iraq for a year strait with 88 Mike as my MOS.And I dont care for the fact he has to come on here and belittle people who are not workin for a union.He says people who are makin $10 an hour are makin the econmy weak..What about all the guys who go on unenployment on and off for the years on end til they can make at bid on full time position at their ltl barn?If he cant treat people with respect,then it will be brought to some ones attention.