Truck Owners ANGRY and Scared Over Fuel Costs

Sadly, many do not have the gray matter upstairs to understand that theory... they would rather get a handout than actually work smarter.

 

I wish it was that easy. Have you EVER called a broker to demand higher rates. Try it, they will laugh at you. Maybe say something like," We aren't making nothing off of it as it is." You guys call your company and they do the work for you. True O/O have do to everything. We can't call our dispatcher and tell them to fix something. We don't set home because our company doesn't have anything for us. We have to find it day in and day out.

 

It is EASY !!!! Don't rely on brokers for your fortune... Relying on brokers is a great way to go down the toilet....

Also I am a O/O too with my own authority.... I haul cars with my 10 car stinger, so tell me about " fixing something "....

 

Uh I do, and I am doing just fine.

 

I quit hauling cars. I know there's no money in that. Little duallies took over the need for you. You rely on a broker. You may use the same broker or you maybe in direct I don't know and really don't care. At some piont you will need a broker. There's no way around it.

 

THEN DON"T HAUL THEIR FREIGHT IF THEY TELL YOU NO!!!!!!!!!!!

You guys who take it up the rear when they say NO and you still haul that cheap freight for nothing are the PROBLEM with our freight rates! If one driver hauls something cheap, you have just showed them you will haul it because you "have no choice".

 

They won't pay it putz!!! We have jobs here sitting and waiting for the rates to go back down. They won't pay over 100$ an hour for dirt work and we don't have the hispanic competition a lot of places have to do it cheaper!! They just ARE NOT doing it!! I guess i could pay our guys Wal-Mart wages and make a few bucks but i refuse to do that!!! Simple fact is fuel has gotten high enough where shippers are willing to wait for rail shipment. Montana Rail Link, the local railroad company has all of there engineers on mandatory O/T! They are busier than #### and the trucks are sitting!!

 

With that attitude you can go belly up waiting for a load very quickly. believe me i am tempted to haul dirt for less than $100 an hour. At least i would be bringing a check home where now i have very little coming in. Last year we had 9 guys in our excavating company, this year 2 full time, 1 part time. Nobody around here is in enough of a bind to pay higher rates to get anything done at the moment.

 

Yesterday in Armstrong County PA, some truckers were pulling into a lot & shutting down. Those that couldn't afford to drive their trucks there, drove their p/u's and parked them. They said it's just the beginning of things.
Sad to say, but what can you expect when 2 oil men are put into the White House.....

 

I been sitting back lately and just observing here are a few of my conclusions,

1, it looks like everyone has settled at least on a week,the week of the first of april !

2. while every site I visit has at least a few people with the it will never happen or it can't be done attitude, by and large most of the negative posters against a strike have at the least been silent and a number have crossed from the darkside and joined the light!!

3. While I disagree, fuel prices is the No.1 issue, followed by fuel surcharge,then rates,and corruption by the brokers, I personally believe rates should be #1 followed corruption, then the FSC and lastly fuel price, I really could care less if the fuel reached 10 bucks a gallon IF the rates are high enough to make a DECENT profit!!!

4. This thing HAS gained National attention with the major news reporting agency's starting to report on it!!!!

5. We probably have the most backing of the general public that we have ever had!!!!!!

Those that have read my posts on here and elsewhere know I am very much in support of this action and no, I am not one of the desperate ones that is about to lose everything I have had what is my 3rd and LAST truck paid off for several years I own 3 rentals and my own home ALMOST free and clear, I have another business I run with my brother putting in ground source heat pumps, why am I telling everyone this, to show I have a solid business background and am not shutting down out of desperation but because I am smart enough to know that the downward spiral in trucking is not going to stop until WE stop it!!!!!

One last thing, to you company drivers, the companies have got you all thinking that you are making the BIG money well let me clue you in, 1996, my nephew started with a major company at .29 cents a mile now if you factor in inflation you should be able to start now with a major company somewhere ABOVE .50 cents a mile with cpm topping out above .70 cpm, Are you making that??

it has taken years but the trucking companies and broker,agents have sold us a bill of goods!!!!!!!!!