Originally Posted by Mooney

And as far as the forty hour week, you can thank Henry Ford, not any union.

Originally Posted by ziggystyles

Although I didn't quote the entire quote from him...my comment was in reply to one of the standard union defense lines: "If it wasn't for unions, you wouldn't have the lifestyle you've got"

I understand. However, my company provides close to union wages and benefits. I guess I can thank them for that. I work for a good company (Airgas). So maybe my lifestyle is better because of them.

Yeah Im not sure what i meant there. I think I had a brain fart of two thoughts at the same time.
Trucking is not slave labor...it only is for the people that allow it to be.

I agree.

Some union backers want a truck driver to get paid for all the time they are away from home...etc. I personally think thats silly.

Are you sure about that? I don't think that any driver should be paid for all of the time they are away from home. I do think that they should be paid for all of their on duty time. There is a difference.

I myself don't punch in at all.

I do both in and out.

I get paid to do my job

So do I and everyone else.

...if it takes me longer...I don't get paid MORE money to do the SAME job. If it takes me less, I don't get paid less because it took me less time. I simply get paid to do my job. Not hourly, salary

If it takes me longer, I get paid more. If it takes me less, I get paid less. Paid by the hour.

Why does 40 have to be some sort of magical limit?

It isn't. You just stated that you were paid well and worked less than 40 hours. I don't think that there are too many otr drivers out there working less than 40 hours. More likely, they are working 70 hours and only getting paid for 40.

As far pay...I don't blame it on the trucking companies...I put that on the drivers that continue to work for free.

Don't most otr drivers work for free at times? It looks like if the wheels aren't turning, your not earning. So any other on duty time is free time is it not? Not to mention that again, you don't even get paid the actual miles you have driven. Sounds like working for free to me again.

As far as the driver mill...all big companies have high turnover. Is that the company or the drivers fault? Lots of drivers quit for all sorts of reasons. Look all around at truck stops, magazines...trailers...etc. Everywhere is advertised that you can work less and get paid more and be home more. Every company offers that. So if Bob isn't liking being away from 3 days a month with Crete, he can go with Schneider. And if he got 'screwed over' on pay, he can go to Martin...and if he doesnt like them making him put on theft deterrent devices on the steering wheel when he leaves the truck, he can go to Gordon. All sorts of stupid excuses for a company that has high turnover.

I believe it is the both the companies and the drivers fault. You can fault the company for lying to new drivers and many issues that don't turn out as they said they would. You can fault the drivers for continually going to these same companies despite what others have said.

There is no reason for a company to change their work environment so long as there are drivers willing to apply there. I can't blame them. "We still have suckers applying, don't change anything".

I very well could be one of those people if I let my attitude get in the way. My job has recently changed and Im not too happy about it...but what can I do? No local job is goin to pay me over 20 an hour which is what I need to make in order to equal what Im getting with SNI. I know I won't get any big company to hire me because Im out in Gods country and there is no local stuff out here for any of those companies, unless I did OTR; but I dont want to do OTR because I like being home every day.
Instead of jumping ship and continuing the driver mill aspect of SNI...Im simply staying because I know already that I can't find anything out there that pays better.

Originally Posted by ziggystyles

And so the argument continues.

Originally Posted by ziggystyles

And so the argument continues.

Originally Posted by walleye

Thank Henry Ford??,.....That's laughable,.......During the 1930's many workers at Fords plants were beaten and killed for union involvement,.......If not for the unity of the UAW in their fight for better wages and conditions,....None of us would live the lives we live,..........

Live better,.....VOTE UNION YES!!!!!

Originally Posted by Mooney

Study up on a little history before posting again.