Teamster/ Union owner operator?

Tell that to a BA these days, I guarantee him or her will look at you as if you are speaking a language unknown to earthlings.

 

Both of the BA's in my local are well versed in the history of the Teamsters, they'll definitely be aware of O/O's. I'm more curious if they still exist in my part of the world, I'll see if if can find something out tomorrow.

 

Good luck

 

My book is on withdraw now but for years I worked union pipeline work though I wasn't a teamster . Mechanics hire out with operators. I trucked when on a layoff. As posted call the hall and talk to them. There is a way to have an active book but not be on the dispatch wheel.

 

Rea Buick, then in the 90's they added a Yugo franchise. They are also gone, another one lost due to the bailout. The family still owns a Ford franchise in Monticello NY, the old Buick dealer is now a car wash, Napa auto parts store and some retail shops. Ed Smith Chevy had added a Chrysler franchise around 1990ish, they are now exclusively CJDR, and under new owners. Mr. Smith passed on and his son owns a hot air balloon tour company. Little side note, Kenny Smith (the son) is the brother in law to Art Trovei, the big scrap metal and used truck dealer/exporter in the area.

Here is the only pic of my dad's shop I have that survived my house fire. maybe it will look familiar. He was the second owner, the founder had a bad reputation for gouging/screwing drivers, then he left town and my dad took it over because he couldn't stand working for Pocono Tire, they were just as bad as Debris was when my dad bought the truck stop. This is from 1982, he had just repainted the fleet and was proud of his work.

 

I'll ramble some more,yes teamster auto and truck transport guys always did real well.I was jealous of the Union new truck drive away guys,KAT and others.What they made a year,without ownership headaches, equaled what a lot of guys did that owned their own rigs.Sadly,that's all non union and cheaper now from what I see.
There was some shady stuff with the teamsters,but the advantages back then made it worthwhile.I moved a lot of tradeshow freight back then for one very enterprising agent.Just say he had connections all the way to the top of the teamsters,if you know what I mean,was based out of Chicago.We would move trade show freight out of McCormick place,and other convention centers,back when it was ALL Teamster run.I can't discuss the rates,because very few would believe how we were compensated,some of the very best paying freight ever on my trailer.Don't really want to post details on the internet,either.And if you weren't union back then,and didn't know the right agents,you'd never see freight like this.There were lots of good moneymaking gigs back then,you'd just have to use your head and sniff them out.And we did it all without cell phones and computers,lol.
There are still some strong Union sites,esp. in the Northeast.Having a Teamster decal on each vent window of your truck goes a long way into getting things done up there,worked for me.
Oh,and good post about the Ho Chi Minh trail,was the greatest trucking shortcut in the east,best fuel and time saver ever.Remember when they finally built a scale there,and then a bunch of truckers burned and tore it down.Ah,the good old days.But Pa. had the last laugh when they finally banned trucks,except for Roadway I believe.

 

I worked for a lady years ago. When I got on with her it was one of drivers who got me in. She was leased to Maslin Gateway. Our division was called the Kangaroo division, all O/O trucks running ltl mainly from Youngstown up too the Twin Cities.
Great gig. Then deregulation hit big time
Then they folded. 2 check system, full benefits.
Yes I remember when Scheinder was Transport. Not National matter of fact I saw 2 Transport trucks about 3 months ago.. ask the new guys about joining a union there and they run away..
When they opened National it was based in the Dallas area. Local teamsters got them to join the union.
Donnie closed Dallas and opened W. Memphis. Told all drivers to report there and anyone who still had a Tx adress would be out of a job. Ar.is a right to work state. Better known as a non union friendly state

 

they may give you an offer that you can't refuse!

 

Talk about side deals. When International had their plant in Ft. Wayne,In. The union knew the plant might close as they opened the new plant in Springfield,Oh.
So the president of the local teamsters put a clause in the contract if Ft. Wayne closed, all the guys from there could bump in at Springfield with senority
Well nobody caught it. International closed the plant. Drivers reported to Springfield talk about crap hitting the fan. I Knew him personally as I worked for one of his brothers in the restaurant job I had at the time

 

The old Ho Chi Min is now officially closed to all trucks, even the locals although some still run it because the Park Service doesn't have enough manpower to patrol it regularly. I am based halfway up it, off Route 739 and used to be able to come down 739 and head south on it to get to Stroudsburg, Allentown, etc, but as on Jan 1 this year we were no longer granted the local exemption. This adds almost 90 miles out of route for me to go to some of my customers, or I have to take a local road, SR 2001 which isn't much better than a goat trail in some spots. My dad fought the creation of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area very hard in the 80;s but the locals in Milford wanted the big trucks gone and got the state on board to support the National Park ultimately turning a 23 mile stretch of US 209 over to the Department of Interior and cutting off most truck traffic in 1984.