2008 Strike Rumors

Discussion in 'Truckers Strike Forum' started by Matthews, Dec 8, 2007.

  1. 379 Peterbilt

    379 Peterbilt Medium Load Member

    523
    61
    Nov 12, 2005
    Wisconsin
    0
    Odds are far greater that one of the professional sports unions will actually strike in 2008, than the trucking industry, save a few rebels.

    Over the years, I've seen the NFL/NBA/NHL/MLB players strike, generaly over money in some way, but have yet to see us truckers pull it off.

    The difference is that multi million dollar pro players can easily afford to sit out a year. Truckers cannot......which is why there are always preconcieved "ending" dates to the strike, which are always within the same week the strike is supposed to start. The general public can easily wait out the 3-5 day strike duration needed for the goods to get moving again and be delivered....and yes even for food.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Burky

    Burky Road Train Member

    Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I could afford to sit one out. I have the farm and home paid off, the new car was bought with cash, nothing more than the monthly bills, the bank account has about 60,000 in it, and the retirement check would still be coming in each month.

    The point is not that I could survive it, but that I see no reason for having a strike in the first place. The purported reason is that fuel prices are too high. Well, the only way that someone is affected by fuel prices is if they are a pretty crappy businessman and don't get their fuel surcharge in to cover their fuel costs. And in that case, why should I shut down because someone else is a lousy businessman? If the truth be known, I would rather see the guy who's unable to collect an appropriate surcharge go under and get run out of the business. He's dragging the prices down for everyone else. He's probably no better at pricing his per mile fee and is the guy who takes loads for 1.35 per mile without an FSC, or leases on to companies for 85 cpm and an FSC. The sooner his truck is off the road and he is safely operating a french fry machine, the sooner the rest of the trucking world can get busy making money.

    There's no room for marginal operators to survive in this business, and the sooner they are gone, the better off we all will be.
     
  4. Ronnocomot

    Ronnocomot Road Train Member

    1,350
    230
    Sep 1, 2006
    IL
    0
    No, the problem is that a pro sports league has how many athletes?
    30 NFL Teams at 45 players
    30 NBA?
    30 NHL?
    ?? MLB
    A couple of thousand total at the most.

    There are hundreds of thousands of truckers, if not a million.

    Good luck getting them to agree on what day it is.
     
  5. scurvydog

    scurvydog Light Load Member

    198
    70
    Apr 24, 2007
    Northwest Indiana
    0
    What about the drivers moving freight that is sensitive to my Marine brothers' and sisters' well being? What about baby formula? What about dairy farmers? Medical supplies? And where are we going to park all of these trucks? Even for a few days, as the BACKBONE of this country's economy we have a responsibility to do our job. If we dont people suffer. I would rather me suffer than my fellow red blooded Americans which some of my closest friends died to make them feel secure in their own country. You cant tell me you arent making a good enough living when you are sitting here talking on an internet forum. Life is so hard yet you still have a compy and more than likely a broadband connection. It would be wonderful to have happier drivers, but happiness starts with you. As gay as that may sound its the truth. I know this and Im just a kid. Want another truth? How many skinny bulged boned starved truck drivers do you see out there? I cant tell you how many truly starved people Ive seen on deployment but certainly none from this country.
    -Crash
     
  6. d-man57

    d-man57 Light Load Member

    246
    33
    Nov 20, 2007
    Indiana
    0
    The fuel prices i figure I'll have to live with. The brokers are the ones i battle with one a daily basis. It's hard to bargain with these guys when company's are taking these loads and running for alittle bit of nothing. It's amazing how fast the rates and fuel surcharges jump when they are getting down to the wire to cover a load. I haul alot of automotive and typically the big 3 shut down from Christmas till after new years, the brokers have a heyday with this. For the most part my truck sits during this time, i save back for it and flat refuse to haul for nothing, it's a good time for me to catch up on the maintenance.
     
  7. scurvydog

    scurvydog Light Load Member

    198
    70
    Apr 24, 2007
    Northwest Indiana
    0
    I really do feel for the drivers out there having to fend for themselves. But I dont see a strike being beneficial to anyone. All it does is hurt the little man. The big man knows we arent going anywhere. Hopefully someday when Im older, wiser, and have a million or so miles under my belt I'll have the knowledge and resources to make a difference myself. Maybe some sort of non profit coalition for truckers rights or something.
     
  8. Burky

    Burky Road Train Member

    Well, I have a dial up connection, so maybe we do need to all go on strike....LOL!!!!

    Actually, that reason makes as much sense as any of the other reasons given for going on strike.
     
  9. scurvydog

    scurvydog Light Load Member

    198
    70
    Apr 24, 2007
    Northwest Indiana
    0
    LOL Yeah my connection here at my shack/house/thingy is still measured in bps



     
  10. Matthews

    Matthews Medium Load Member

    315
    14
    Apr 5, 2007
    Akron,OH
    0
    One would think. We are the nations back bone in the US.
    With out trucks ( RAIL CAR ) alone could not do our jobs.

    I read ones post saying the ones complaining about high fuel prices is do to poor management. Hows this?

    Not just talking for myself here. We only run 7 trucks 6 days per week. The fuel bill alone is around $5,000 dollars per week. Not including the drivers pay, or TAX on that fuel.

    I cant even fathom the fuel cost's for a priority carrier like TMC, or Swift, or JB, or Big Blue. Can YOU?

    The brokers themselves have helped to put us all into this deli ma. And as far as one not getting the medical supplies they need? It's time YOU, start thinking about YOU and mind your own business. I hate to say it that harsh but it's True.

    Thats another problem people have. They dont mind their own business. They always want to know what the other persons are doing. And they always want a piece of the PIE that does not belong to them. AKA: Brokers

    If anything we dont really need a strike we just need to stick together and put a stop to pulling cheap freight period. No cheap HEAD HAULS, BackHAULS, ect.

    Whe need to stick together and go directly to our customers and open their eyes to whats going on. I know from experience even the customers DONT CARE! They simply say your Rates to high, so I'll just call Mr Pencil AKA:THE BROKER.

    Enough is enough you all. And hell we are in the FLAT and DUMP side of the industry, And we are even having a hard time to be in fact. It's not poor management, it the dam brokers who are telling my customers ( I'LL ) take care of you. Dont worry.

    Its time drivers that ( WE ) tell our customers Mr Pencil has lied to you, lied to us just to pad his own pockets.

    You telling me that a broker knows our financial situations on the road and really care about you and me? It's BROTHERHOOD and WE need to look after our own. WE need to take care of each other. The brokers could care less!

    I really cant wait till the brokers start making phone call's to companies and Owners to move freight and we all say raise the rates and we'll move the freight. When WILL THAT HAPPEN!???!?!?!?!?!?!

    My 2 cents,
    Matt

    PS, I do care if someone gets hurt, or looses their loved ones. I really do.. But what about ME? What about my drivers families? YOUR families? The Brokers and the oil companies are trying no no, ARE running OUR companies. AND WE ARE LETTING them do it. And do it CHEAP!!!!!
    God this Topic Ticks me off. :biggrin_25510:
     
  11. Burky

    Burky Road Train Member

    I can imagine their fuel costs easily. They are paying somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.15 to 1.25 cents per gallon for their fuel, with the remaining cost being picked up by the fuel surcharges. We pay about the same where I work, sometimes a little bit less depending on how the surcharge is set up. As long as you have the FSC in place, and it adjust often enough, fuel costs have been stable for years. The big guys know this and have had their contracts written to cover fuel costs for years.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.