Union Dues date back to the old mafia of the 50s and aside for paying for management expenses, it is a way for you to open the door and enter. Don't take "book" too literally.
I am ok with paying dues as long as the service or protection I get is equal the fees.
Can anyone talk turkey with me on this ? Have Unions turned into rip-off machines ?
BTW the union rule book guidelines the work process step by step to protect Your rights
vs. Employers, used to be ok till floor sweepers were getting $20/hr. and 2 hr. breaks.

As far as mileage pay, IF the union can guarantee I get 3000mi. average per week,
I think it would work great for the drivers and the Union, however we all know that is not the case. No matter what company you work for, here are the reasons for hourly pay:

1) Load/Unload in the anal states at least - 2-8hrs. depending who and where.
2) Constant storing of merchandise in the trailer for delivery over weekend, 2 days after you
arrived at destination. Most companies will not pay layover, hope the book includes this.
3) Getting stuck with no freight is partially planners fault, but will change if driver is paid layover.

Eventually I want to move near Dallas TX and do local work, pay is the only consideration.
Thank you all for the information.

Sounds like you work or worked for the wrong outfit, kinda like Swift when I started out years ago.

Yeah, if you didn't see my other posts, I did start with Swift, best school around for top dollar. I did about 8mon. with Swift, 2mon. with USX and 2mon. JBH. so I did see the bad but not the worst like CRST and USA Trucking.
Paying planners/managers a percent of what the drivers get is an insurance not to be screwed up again, I saw it in another post, excellent idea.
Knight I heard good things about but I am sure as a SWIFT subsidiary or affiliate it conforms to the top 20 abusers. Who do you work for ?

It is a union only rule book. From what I seen on the docks in Houston it was a way to get out of working FOR SOME NOT ALL.

Let's reel in the thread and return a little closer to the topic at hand folks -

Wages for the common carrier - (truth)...


For you OTR guys (non union) Who do you feel has the best package out there for new hires? Which carrier is least likely to screw you?

__________________
TEAMSTERS LOCAL 100


Faster than a 60 MPH bullet....

I looked at your bio. You did not state where you live, how long as a driver or even if you are a truck driver. At least have the decency to show the rest of us that you are somewhat for real.

I was warned to clean my photos up because there were a lot of young kids on here.Now I know why.

Hi

As far as non-union companies not screwing the employees -
Why do YOU think they are NON-Union ? It's the whole purpose of ousting unions.

I really do think that Originally unions protected workers rights, but they
gone to the point all corporations want to avoid them for exagerations made.

Today it seems I have to go through some secret ritual in a mason's building
to even come close to joining the union, either that or pay dues high enough to
join the rich man club in which case I don't need the union for a job.

What's the deal ? What gives ? this is the forum for [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.

How come I don't get any information ? No specifics ? You ask non-union questions instead ? Let me put it clear and short - ALL non-union and non-independents are SLAVES to the Lowest Bidder, especially so if they have
families who depend on their income.

Now tell me, as a truck driver, what can a union do for me ? I only started trucking for the money and I seen none of it. I have an Associate in Computer Science.

Anybody ?

You must be new here then, I drive for Crete .42 cpm and love driving for them. I live in Oregon, and drove up and down I-5 mostly (Seattle -LA) for about 5 years then joined Crete to drive 48 states again.

If you love Seattle to Los Angeles runs, you are a professional tourist, we have nothing in
common. How come you "joined Crete" if you were driving for them already ?

Applied for Crete before USX and JBH in Phoenix, they were pussyfooting around and asking
for stupid things, like the latest - "proof of unemployment" for a one year period before I even
started trucking or W4 statements if I was a Freelancer. They don't need more drivers.