Why a strike? The CSA 2010 will cripple trucking.

If you don't like this country, no one forces you to stay, I am sure you could live in mexico.

 

Actually...........I am sure you could die in Mexico.

They're killin white folks these days!

 

Well, I guess thats one for our side then.

 

Well, I just went through all 39 pages of this thread. Lots to say. Lots of good information, and thanks to those who took the time to provide it.

Being in Central Florida, and watching some of the antics of the idiot dump truck drivers that can barely read English (press 2 for stupid), I'm all for weeding out the chaff.

Unqualified, unprofessional drivers, people who bend over and gladly take it in the keester, unload a load of groceries, stack 5000 cases of stuff for your "insert greedy grocery chain" here, and then drive all night half asleep at the wheel are the problem.

You people who willingly run JUNK equipment are the problem. I don' t care whether you own it, or drive it for Joe Blow who doesn't maintain it, it's all about YOU when you push in the funny yellow knob and go.

I've been in this industry a long time. Lots of hard miles. I've done it wrong, and I've done it right - and continue to do it right. My former company that I just left, is pushing their people so hard, someone is going to get killed. What do you think it takes an old salt independent to actually walk into a Motor Carrier Compliance Office and say, "I need to talk to somebody".... ??

Some of you on here who whine about your freedoms being stripped fail to forget a Mom who is lowering her son into the ground who won't even get to enjoy his freedoms, because some UNPROFESSIONAL idiot mowed him over with his inattentiveness.

I'm sorry folks. The government isn't stepping in because they're bored or need more money. They're stepping in because people are dying foolishly. They're stepping up to the plate because some of YOU failed to.

Trucks are being poorly maintained and people get in behind the wheel and drive them. I owned my own truck for 13 years, back in the day. It never got written up in a Level 3 DOT inspection, and it came home on the hook once the whole time. I had a BigCamI pushing over 525 horse, I ran heavy, and didn't realize reusing the flywheel mounting bolts was a shortcut. I would have dumped the $20 for a fresh set, ya' think?

For the last 15 or so years of my driving career, I've been lucky enough to work for folks who take care of their equipment. And yeah, I've driven trucks that are governed, (anywhere from 65-72)and it just took the temptation out of the equation when someone jerked your chain at a loading dock to "make up the time".

My latest foodservice gig ( like I said, I got off the train before I crashed, and that my friends, is an 11 year sacrifice) - I get paid $20 an hour, and overtime. 55 hours a week, and if I'm not in my bed, I'm in a room with a shower. They did over 200 interviews for 20 guys, and I consider myself lucky to get a slot. The truck to the far right in my sig is my ride. Even the reefer unit pings a satellite every 15 minutes. Do I care? Nope, your family deserves safe temp controlled food.

My new outfit knows about CSA 2010. Big Brother may be a pain in the butt sometimes, but if you are doing the right thing, it may save you from an erroneous lawsuit.

Yes, the CSA stuff needs some tweaking. But let me tell you, if you're gonna wag your tonsils at legislators, you better bring some good professional history to the table. If you're one of the people who are sweating keeping your qualifications to drive when this rolls out, and just looking for a loophole so you can continue to operate unsafely...

Sorry.

I'm an advocate for the act of driving seriously. I usually aim my efforts at the 4 wheelers, but we are the best people out there to lead by example. YOU need to refuse a load if you're out of hours. YOU need to demand safe, maintained equipment. And shame on you if you own it and don't take care of it. Get off the road. People I love are sharing the highway with you.

Watch the video below sometime. It's mostly four wheelers but there's a couple of trucks in there too. It's graphic, but we all need to remember it's important.

I'll tell you firsthand, when I see one of you super-truckers running 80mph down I-75, tailgating, and weaving in and out of traffic, I'm one of the first people to dial *FHP. And if I happen to see you get pulled over, I'm gonna stop and have a chat with you too. I hold no shame in letting you know it was me who called.

We're all considered to be professionals. Act like one, and you've got nothing to worry about.

For those who get weeded out for legitimate reasons, I say good riddance.

["http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC2SBX2nnUw"]

 

Spoken as a true slave, you would take just about anything up your arse while waving flag and chanting freedom, wouldn't you? Geez, what American owning class did to the working American people, it's a crime against humanity what they did to us.

 

Oh yes, government desperately needs a lot of more money. I'm sure DOT will take full advantage of that.

CSA will penalize and remove many old and experienced drivers while encouraging increase of new inexperienced drivers... that will not make our roads safer but more dangerous...

I agree...

Disagree... if you get involved in an accident you WILL get points, even if you are NOT at fault. That's according to CSA.

Unfortunatelly there's no CSA version for 4 wheelers. There should be. That would make our roads safer. Many of those don't know how to share the roads with trucks and cause most of the accidents. But trucks are almost always the ones "at fault".

A lot of tweaking....

Not sure...

Problem will be to fight CSA when reasons were ilegitimate... a lot of time and money for those who have it...

 

Well, I will definitely make it known to legislators that I adamantly disagree with that theory. We should NOT get pointed for a non-preventable. It would be like hitting a deer and them calling it our fault.

Yes, 4-wheelers need to be held to a higher standard. Legislation needs to be enacted for multi-tasking while driving. All states need to go hands free with regard to phones. Florida is not a hands free state, NY (where I'm from) is. I see 80% of the drivers down here in cars puttering along in the left lane yakking on the phone. It's absurd.

I always point to the Germans and how they address it. The Autobahn is safer statistically then our highways, and they do 200mph+. They actually "keep right except to pass..." It cost the equivalent of $1200 to get a drivers license. They use a car as a quick way to get from point A to point B.

If you tried that here in this idiot fest that is our highway system, you couldn't build enough tow trucks and ambulances to keep up with the demand.

Good rebuttals. I'm still leaning about CSA, so bear with me.

 

ACtually, I agree that this country treats some eployees like shat, I dont 'take it up the arse' from anything, though, my boyfriend seems to like taking it As for being a slave to this country? Hardly, I am free to choose to stay or go, for a while I chose to go, lived in canada for a few years, it was nice enough, tried japan for a year, nice to visit, wont live there again. Atleast here your free to badmouth it, and im free to tell you to leave if you dont like it. -shrugs- We have restrictions, but not like some other places do.

So flame on little man, your words don't bother me.

 

Okay. But will you say anything to them about that "habit/pattern of speeding" you'll develop over the next few months/years?

FMSCA considers ALL roadside inspections (not at scale) occurred because the officer suspected the driver of speeding.

While this won't be an issue for most drivers, it will for some. Especially those who spend much of their time on state highways that are targeted by the DOT that don't have permanent scales.

The ATA lobbied to have "at the very least" a check box on the inspection form. Allowing the officer to designate whether the stop occurred as a result of speeding. They were denied.

While you'll get no points. What you will have, is a document admissible in court. Proving you are a dangerous driver and habitual offender of the speed regulations, after an accident.

 

Dear Smooth Shifter
I agree with your point of view. You know, since this CSA 2010 thing happened--I don't hear the guy that bragged he got 9 out of service last year. I hear he doesn't think it's right that they are going to hold it against him. HE WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO DO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE!! Then a few have learned the word seminar, and they go, and I think its the same dum 888 that gave ours. They are called consultants. He drove the Ice Roads but didn't seem to know which side of a dry van opened up first. You are right, once a driver losses his worth (CDL +POINTS), us old dogs are in like FLYNN.