ATA pushes for national speed limit policy
05/07/2008

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The Truckers Report Merchandise

Sounds like more of the same old bull!!!! more control,more taxes,more restrictions on our money. And this is from people who are supposed to help the industry?

most of us drivers are good law abidding citizens. we don't need any more laws ... all they need to do is enforce the ones they have and they could get rich, this would get rid of the cut-throats, and the rest of us could get a decent rate!!!!!!

Most truck drivers do not obey the speed limit. I Drive in PA and NJ everyday with a big truck going the speed limit, either 55 or 65. I am passed by countless trucks going 10+ over the limit.

Mark

I regret to say this, but it's truly a crying shame that some of America's truckers must resort into purchasing $1000 for Mexico permits in order to buy fuel at $2.32 per gallon in Mexico. As much as this country is pushing for tougher immigration laws, our own elected officials can't learn something from the Mexicans by regulating and controlling the price of fuel. Reducing speed limits are not the answer as we are already seen in the public eye as a nuissance by idiotic split speed limit laws, speed governors, etc. This Congress must be completely flushed out and place someone that will do something for the American people instead of lobbyists selling US out! Mess with the 4-wheelers and leave US alone!

Common Sense is the Number 1 rule, Which Most People Today LACK.

A word of reality is the safest speed is to drive along with the flow of traffic (Unless you're traveling in stupid states with truck speed differentials). Unfortunately, again, I regret to say this is that the DOT and the Government doesn't realize that this fuel gouging creates a serious safety issue as drivers are falsifying their logs more, sipping down Monster Energy drinks and other forms of "High Speed Chickenfeed" to compensate for time and monies lost as it is. Our government is living in their own imaginary world and it's no doubt that ATA's kissing up to them. I cannot respect ANY trucking organization that allows the government to constantly infringe on our rights. Most of us are legalized SLAVES in this industry as it is without any more rhetoric from idiots such as the ATA!

Werewolf, the trucking industry need to pay by the hour and stop the bullcrap of pay the mile. I started last week at a local company that pays me by the hour, by my logbook, line 3&4. I drive a non speed controlled truck, no need to speed to make up miles for the day.

You should not care about controlling the 4-Wheelers, you are the professional driver. You should be a few steps above the 4-wheelers.

ATA was never for truckers, it's for large trucking companies. OOIDA, is only out for themselves, the should be leading the pay by the hour.

Mark

When will this ever occur? When will shippers or receivers pay us for time lost waiting enormous hours to be loaded or unloaded? How about the extortionate illegal lumping practices occuring every day violating the Norris-LaGuardia Act? This once again shows how we ALREADY have laws in place that are NOT being enforced!

What about the drivers that are NOT local? Without an OTR driver bringing the freight to your local DC for you to have the luxuries of being home every night and weekends off? You are totally forgetting the concept!

STOP! The 4-Wheelers ARE the problem! Old Six Pack Couldn't have stated this any better by saying;

Quote:most of us drivers are good law abiding citizens. we don't need any more laws ... all they need to do is enforce the ones they have and they could get rich, this would get rid of the cut-throats, and the rest of us could get a decent rate!!!!!!

Yes, we ARE professionals. However due to the public ignorance, government interference, you fail to realize that to "them", WE are a public nuissance and forced to be by stupid regulations that see nothing else better to do by enacting laws that simply tell the PROFESSIONAL to stay out of their way. Thanks to the stupidity of trucking companies and insurance agencies requiring legalized road hazards by governing trucks below legal speed limits and enacting lane prohibitions on our highways, has only made things WORSE.

AGAIN, it's the 4-wheelers! Govern their cars, eliminate THEIR distractions (ie: DVD Players, Radar-Laser Detectors/Jammers) Why should a 4 wheeler or a motorcycle be allowed to travel 100+MPH on our roadways anyway?


OOIDA is NOT doing enough as they are afraid of going against our messed up government by kissing up to them. They don't even have enough courage to order a SHUTDOWN! A better trucking organization is NEEDED, and not money grubbling WHIMPS!

WEREWOLF.

Most of you truckers dont remember when President Carter dropped the speed limit to 55. It dropped our demand here tremendously, which supply and demand are the biggest factors of pricing. Truckers complain about fuel prices, but not sharp enough to see the benefits of dropping the demand of fuel. You are suffering from tunnel vision, cant or not able to see BIG picture. You are welcome for the lesson.

Normally, you would be correct with your assumption. However, the "supply vs. demand" concept is not what's at play, this time. What is driving the fuel prices are the future traders and speculators doing their daily deals on Wall Street. They are bidding the prices up, hoping the bubble don't burst, today. The politicians are pointing their collective fingers at "Big Oil" and accusing them of price gouging. That is a stupid position because the "Big Oil" companies don't even get to establish the pricing on their own products. Just like the farmers get happy when agricultural commodity futures inflate, "Big Oil" grins when oil futures spike every day of the week, but, they don't control the prices. But the politicians can lie, and get away with it, because their audience is a bit complacent.

Yes, there is a perceived "supply vs. demand" equation. If, for instance, the Saudis hiccuped too loudly the future traders, seeing an opportunity to cause fear of a supply disruption, would begin aggressively raising the bid on a barrel of oil. A frenzy would occur, the price of a barrel might jump a few bucks, the price for the fuel (already distilled and in the ground at the retailer) would jump a few cents. All the while, no disruption occurred leaving the "supply vs. demand" equation unchanged. It is poker at it's high stakes finest. If you blink, you loose.

Since such industries as electricity production, insurance, natural gas, and municipal water are all regulated as "public utilities" it would make a lot of sense, to me, to give petroleum the same degree of control, especially considering it's importance and impact on our lives. As much as I detest government intrusions, I'm not getting that warm fuzzy feeling with the likes of Enron executives establishing petroleum trade deals.