striking for fuel costs is just one of many

[jsreidtransco]

To all owner operators and drivers working on commission.Fuel costs are one thing but the worst thing i've seen is brokers with no assets comeing in and cutting rates to the point they no you can't haul the load for that price. For example C H Robinson has gone on a mission in the machinery world to take it all.They went out of business as a trucking co.but can go to case new holland , john deere ,cat ,any one who will listen to them and sign up for there unrealistic rates. We as independent truckers have only one way to hurt these people and stop this insanity. I beg all of you don't haul another load for C H Robinson. They are the worst!

[jsreidtransco]

We need a major leader to aproach the White House in our behalf and let them know that they need us more than we need them.I suggest that the President of O O I D A take on that role. We as truckers have no clout, nor do we have a single voice that can be herd.Untill we have some one that can organize us and speak for us I'm afraid any strike is doomed. I've spent 35 years in this business and I've never seen it this bad.I was in Florida the other day and saw wreakers hook onto 2 tractors and tow them away to a repo yard. These were custom sleeper trucks that the drivers lived in. One lady had to be forced out by the cops. Put their stuff out on the parking lot.It broke my heart to see this.Then one ### hole driver said they were probably to picky about the loads they pulled. Thats the mentality of the drivers who will cross a picket line. There are to many willing to step over there brothers to get ahead they think.Look at the greedy ######## in Congress, The White House,Wall Street, they don,t care as long as they get their's. sleep walker out

[lindasands]

I often hear of trucking boycotts, but how many of you have gone on strike?

[3408]

I'm not to sure this is the best place for my first post on this forum, but here goes anyway.

In answer to lindasands question, the answer is yes. Independent truckers did go on strike back in the late 1970's.
Haven't heard of anything since.

[ChromeDome]

Strikeing for fuel?
Strikeing for Higher rates?

We have drivers constantly complaining about government involvement in trucking. With regulations etc.
Now drivers are once again bringing up an issue where they want more government involvement in trucking?

The large company's that are lowering the rates to the point of no money in them are hurting right now. They are going to eventually lowball themselves into non-existence.
The brokers on the other hand are making the same money now as ever, if not more.
I can see maybe some oversight on brokers, but I really do not want the government involved in rates or fuel.
Accept maybe where a fuel surcharge is involved, which now 100% FSC charged on all government loads now legally must be passed to the truck. That is some help for haulers of government loads.

[Tazz]

OK here's a plan!If the load doesn't pay you enough don't haul it.Now you can feel all warm and fuzzy about your "strike against fuel cost and rates".

What do they put in that truck stop coffee that keeps drivers from having the first bit on common sense about this issue?Must be a good drug that is undetectable by common testing because most drivers are afflicted with a severe lack of reason and logic!


Who precisely are you gonna strike against?

What precisely are your demands?

What manner of enforcement are you willing to use on those that have achieved a prospering business despite your inept attempts at rabble rousing?

[Chainsaw]

My involvement in the transportation industry began in 1995 and ended in 2009. One theme was recurrent during that period. Talk of a strike. Shutting things down. It never happened and it never will. The majority of freight is hauled by corporations with contracts. The CEO's of the trucking companies pal around with the CEO's of their big customers. They are friends. Companies don't pay pump prices for fuel. Their price is negotiated based on fleet purchases. The same for equipment and tires.

Now it is popular for trucking companies to pass off the equipment costs to the drivers in the form of lease purchase plans. This is really a travesty because it is done under the guise of convincing a driver that he can share in an ownership dream. In reality the driver gives up the benefits he enjoyed as an employee to become what amounts to a modern day share cropper. Now instead of the equipment risk falling on the company it is carried by the driver. One only needs to read the lease purchase forums to see that these plans overwhelmingly favor the companies over the leasors.

I hate it that this is the way things have evolved. Drivers deserve better for the job they do.

[Chainsaw]

I should have added this to the last post. Sorry for the omission.

A strike will work but first there must be organization. That is the one thing corporate America fears the most and attempts to stop at any cost. The time has come for a new drivers union. The new union should represent all drivers involved in the OTR industry, both owner operators and company drivers. Each group should have a separate contract because needs are different for each group.

Once the union is formed with all legalities completed so that it is recognized under labor laws pertaining to collective bargaining, a company would have to be selected as a test case for organization. This would require a driver to approach the company with lawyers at his or her side and a plan for launching the membership drive and voting by all drivers in the affected bargaining unit.

I would recommend a smaller company with about 1500 drivers that has a good mix of o/o and company drivers. Once a union is in place, then talk of a strike can take on real significance. The logistics of making all this work would be difficult, but not impossible. Organization is the key to getting your demands met.