Trucks- John Oliver

Every sales pitch by EVERY trucking company given to CDL school students sounds great. It sounded great to me also. It sounds great because the only thing the students know about trucking is "if I become a truck driver, I will need a job." With YouTube and message boards so widely available it is possible for anyone wanting to know more about trucking to get that info. Most newbies still do no research, unless you call putting "how can I drive a truck" into Google and pressing enter. CR England is not the biggest advertiser online because they have the best program for newbies, pay new drivers good money, or their training is top-notch. CR England pays the most to have their company name pop-up in search results. Showing up at the top of the list gets them the most newbies, even if the company was putting students into a wood chipper. The newbies don't know and they don't want to know what trucking companies are like.

 

What about those of us who have no problems currently getting detention pay? If the government mandates $90 an hour or whatever to the truck then what will happen to those that currently get over $90 now? If you’re an employee driver and don’t get detention pay then leave and go someplace that pays it. Half the problem these days is everyone is so willing to drag people down to their level if it benefits them instead of figuring out how to change their own position in life. If I want my life to be better I’ve always figured out how to go after what I want, I can’t imagine trying to change someone else so my life appears better without making any changes.

 

The govt doesn't give half a fig about industry efficiency. Not one govt program anywhere is focused on efficiency. Govt listen to the donors and the most influential actors in an industry when those people/groups start complaining to the govt. This is natural and normal. Your dentists doesn't care what you do with your teeth if you never come to his office. The voters and non-voters plus the non-donors wait for their wants and needs to seep into the govt's big computers. The big donors and the big companies pay to put their issues into the govt's schedules and talking points. 99% of what the Feds know about trucking comes from the ATA with a pinch from Teamsters. Companies in an industry form trade associations, like the ATA, precisely to lobby in DC to have policies created to help them. In fact, most legislation is nothing but a cut-and-paste document formed by having staffers of politicians ask the big trade associations to send over their model legislation on a certain topic. The lobbyists literally write the legislation that the elected officials vote on. Even assuming no corruption, no partisan bias, the govt only hears those people and groups that break through and make their opinions and policies know to the govt. The govt doesn't get everyone's opinion and then build some program to make as many people happy as possible. The govt pays attention to the loudest voices and the biggest donors and industry leaders. The ATA's opinion will always be considered because they make sure their ideas are known in DC. In a democratic Republic it is every voter and interest's job to make their views known to the govt.

The video make a big point about the lease drivers at the ports. The ports were revolutionized in the late 1990s & early 2000s when the CA and EPA regs required a big reduction in emissions from commercial vehicles. The only way the companies and drivers serving the ports could meet those smog targets was with new trucks. The drivers and companies serving the ports could not finance new trucks so bigger companies and others bought the new trucks and got the small players to "lease-to-own" the new trucks with no credit checks, no down-payment, and working 27 hours per day. Many of the problems the govt gets invited to fix are problems the govt created. Many of those problems were known to be a consequences of the policies groups were advocating be adopted. There is a whole segment of society that pushes for govt "solutions" precisely because those solutions will cause other problems which will require more govt "solutions". Some people are n the business of selling technology to be used fixing those "solutions". Some people are in the business of controlling other people's lives and govt requirements just helps them keep the focus off of them self and on the govt.

 

That is the point I'm making about the power of trucking companies versus the power of customers. No trucking company, not even the very biggest, has the market power to dictate to the worst customer how they will run their business. The trucking company needs their business more than the customer needs that trucking company. Customers can replace even the biggest trucking company much, much easier than the biggest trucking companies can replace big customers. Trucking companies and customers do fire each other, but does Walmart dictate what happens or does the big trucking company dictate to Walmart?

 

1. That is why I base the loads I accept on where I will park, if I am delivering and then shutting down.
That is a number one priority for me, where I will park for the night.

2. And many truck drivers need some education on safe driving as well - and the desire to put those practices into effect.
For the most part, from what I have seen out here, it is everyone for themselves.

4. SafeTravelUSA
All the web sites on one page.
Standardizing the sites would depend on each state having the same resources and data. Not something that is practical at this point, or even needed in many states.

5. Not sure what to say about that.

 

Joe Biden really needs to watch this. After the dog and pony show in DC earlier! After almost 40 years I am tired of a once great industry. I’m hoping things will change but am very doubtful! Y’all be safe out there!

 

I have never had a problem with Walmart on either end.

But those Amazon loads, and some of the grocery places. I will turn down those loads in a heartbeat.
I'll find a reason why I can't/won't do it in that time frame.