Werner compared to C.R. England

I know what you are saying and I respect it.....SkyDriver...I hear you.......the changes need to come from us in 2012-2013...(In the post WWII era, our USA population had a sense of camaraderie.....our USA social mentality and labor ethics after WWII were different....there were more private industries and more centralized investments; globalization had not yet began). I loved driving near the old RT66 when I was on the road. We learn from history.....thank you. I hear you, I know what you mean. In 2012, truck drivers need to be paid by the loads they deliver and need to receive annual salaries. It must change. I would have never recognized the way drivers are pushed by dispatchers, if I had not gone to school to get my CDL-A. The 14, 11 and 10 hour federal rules are really not the problem....some drivers said they are rushed to try and meet their federal 14, 11 and 10 hour rule requirements and it causes accidents. The truth is, your trucking employer is supposed to respect the fact these federal rules exist and the dispatchers should be trained to adjust and modify ETA's based on the conditions each individual truck driver reports. When dispatchers don't respect ETA adjustments and push drivers; it further coerces accidents that can easily occur because the driver is pressured. Ethically, the trucking employers and dispatchers should be blamed when accidents occur under these circumstances..(and it usually is the real reason for accidents). Legally, the drivers are held 100% responsible when dispatchers don't modify ETA's...as a result, the driver doesn't get paid their .25 cents per mile. What? Really? No more discussions about .25 cents. Annual salaries for drivers and additional percentage pay for every single delivered load (that Werner gains income) should be paid to the driver.

 

As long as we (truck drivers) are arguing about "how many" cents we are paid per mile; we (truck drivers) won't be considering the fact we should be paid an annual salary with additional percentage pay of each load we deliver. Forget about "how many" cents per mile....and start thinking about a base salary + percentage pay of each load we deliver....and than let's form a union.

 

Military vets tend to have a strong sense of responsibility to themselves and others....some of the best drivers I ever met.

 

If Werner drivers consider regional meetings, discuss mutual concerns about their jobs and vote for a Union Representative; the first option of negotiations with Werner owners and investors is called "Collective Bargaining." In "Collective Bargaining," Union Reps present the truck drivers concerns before a "strike" is scheduled to begin and would allow Werner to consider the changes that drivers are requesting before a strike. Union Reps should not give Werner investors more than a week to think about it (after their initial meeting). Union Reps need to be aggressive and say "make your decision no later than next Wednesday, drivers want an agreed annual salary and percentage pay of every single delivered load. Also, anytime a dispatcher provides wrong information or does not agree to truck repairs....the dispatcher and their direct supervisor need to be immediately fired from their job positions." Union Reps need to be direct and very specific about what the drivers want (i.e. how much annual salary and what percentage pay of delivered loads should be discussed at regional meetings.) I don't know what happened at Werner. It's like Daddy gave the company keys to his brat teenage kids. Never in my life, have I witnessed, organized crime to the extent that is openly practiced at Werner Enterprises. It's really bad. Safety Managers and other Administrative staff brag about it....they call it "house money" or "family money" when they cheat their drivers. They will want to protect their jobs; generally speaking, they will not support a Truck Drivers Union. Really, I can't even understand how Werner will stay in business much longer....I can't believe with the anticipated 2013 cut-backs of federal spending, that the feds will continue to provide tax breaks and federal stipends to Werner........

 

...and, if truck drivers do start a union.....send a copy of your union agenda to Joe Biden and kindly invite him to attend......(if JFK Jr. was still alive, I know he would support a Truck Drivers Union.)

 

The objectives in regional meetings and the development of a union cannot override the safety of individuals. Werner has hurt enough people. Don't force any driver to join a union or strike. However, when it happens; there must be agreement between people who want a union and regarding union agendas that would be presented to Werner. The process needs to be planned and it needs to move quickly. Everyone's safety should be the most important priority. Turn off the T.V. and start communicating.