Updates for Truckers shutdown

[Cybergal]

8/5/08
OpEdNews, PA
By Chris Rice

The reason for this shutdown is not to hurt this country in any way shape or form. But is in fact a peaceful method of sending a message to Washington, D.C. That we do indeed need help & our industry is the backbone of life in America as we know it.
The why of it covers issues that you & I as truckers, both O/Os & Co. drivers face on a daily basis. These problems range from excessivly long hours, separation from family, substandard pay, inadequate benefits, increased living costs and the failure of any one to address those issues.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Upd...80805-731.html

[knighton5]

How many will stop driving this time? Lets make it real, otherwise, its just another thorn in someones side.

[Peanut Butter]

knighton5 your are right, and as said before does anyone really think the big top 5 companies are going to let theyr drivers park and strike?? not many companies wirh 30 or more trucks are going to let theyr drivers do that.

[pt trucks]

regarding the strike... same as last same as next. reality check. im an owner op. I am leased, If you didnt show, as some of our drivers did last time.. your contract was cancelled. we pull food. people still eat no matter what. I watched a lot of news crews hang out at truck stops with no one to talk to.. we even saw them on the news trying to interview drivers as our trailers rolled past in the background. Our fuel surcharges are keeping up . I am not making more this year take home.. but I am makiing the same as last year and the year before.. I cant afford to not show.. yet

[knighton5]

I'm sure truckers will see the light (stop driving) but it hasnt been bad enough yet.... Companies are still providing over 1800 miles, wait until its below 1000 a week.. That will hurt.

[RickG]

In my opinion the ones crying the loudest are the ones that hauled too cheap , too long . Why should truckers that provide reliable service to good paying customers put that business at risk to park to support truckers for whatever the reason can't demand and get a reasonable rate for their service ? Tell me what a shut down will accomplish . Oil prices are set on a world market . The prices won't come down because of a shut down .

[doubledragon5]

I think you will see mostly O/O shut down their rigs.. Any company driver that does that will be shown the door...

[Peanut Butter]

They would if ALL TRUCKS and theyr drivers could shut down even big company trucks, but we all know that aint going to happen, swift jb hunt werner may, central schnieder theyr not gonna let theyr drivers park and strike, why should they, after all they can afford the high fuel prices even tho companies like swift haul the cheapest freight there is, so what can we really do?? any ideas?

[doubledragon5]

Stop complaining and just face it, the people in Washington don't give a rats aers what happens, only in an election yr.. When the election is over the will go back to not given a rats aers...

[knighton5]

If all truckers were paid the same, it might be a different story. But you have companies paying .25 cpm and companies paying .35 cpm and then you have owner operators just barely making ends meet.