Drivers Representation - We are no longer VOICELESS

Discussion in 'Truckers Strike Forum' started by Matthews, Apr 5, 2008.

  1. Cynical Driver

    Cynical Driver <strong>"Eternal Cynic"</strong>

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    Why limit yourself so much? In the upper right of each post you make it says you have 14 years as a trucker. By that standard, you wouldn't be qualified to organize this.

    If you want a true representative voice, you need to understand that we can benefit from all walks of the industry.

    Get people who are company drivers, so their concerns are heard as well. Get people who are new to being an owner, new to being a leaser, new to being in the industry in general.

    I said it in another post, and it bears saying here as well..

    "The new guy can teach the veteran just as much as the veteran can teach the new guy."

    Open up, and start thinking industry, not independants. The reason company drivers don't want to support a strike is because all we get from the average owner opperator is a bunch of crap on the CB for slowing them down, not knowing how to back, etc...

    Show support to us, and you shall recieve it back in return. Never forget where you came from my friend. We all have something we can add to this, so silence nobody.
     
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  3. Matthews

    Matthews Medium Load Member

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    Our MAIN GOAL is " DRIVERS " in General!
    PEOPLE that Understand our Industry inside and out. At this point and time we are aggressively seeking DRIVERS. WHY? Drivers know what DRIVERS go through. We understand one another. "FROM TIME TO TIME" lol....

    We need to start with Drivers WITH EXP At this point we REALLY dont CARE who they are!!!!
    I SET THAT LIMIT!!!!!!! And I'll Change that limit "IF" you are DEDICATED to help your FELLO driver's and American people also!
    ITS NOT just about US!
    We NEED DIE, HARD dedicated people and people who CARE about other PEOPLE. END of STORY!
     
  4. Cynical Driver

    Cynical Driver <strong>"Eternal Cynic"</strong>

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    That is what I was picking at.

    If you want to represent the drivers, have the DRIVERS represent it. Not just a select few. Representation needs to be across the board. I was saying that you need to get people with different experience levels, and situations to get a true voice. The needs of the company driver differ from the needs of the Lease Owner, which differ from the Lease Opperator, which differ from the Independant Owner with his/her own authority. See what I'm saying?

    If everybody had the same needs, then we wouldn't need more than one person would we?

    If you want true change, it needs to be done on all levels, not just one. Company drivers need more fair pay and treatment... Wait... So do O/O's... Go figure!
     
  5. Matthews

    Matthews Medium Load Member

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    STEP up to the plate and PM me...
    I'll discuss EVERY THING with you... tomorrow..

    I AGREE with you there I cant say I dont...

    -Matt
     
  6. JJ7

    JJ7 Bobtail Member

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    Every year I hear rumors of a strike. Some years drivers were upset with slow or split speed limits, other years it was timely loading or unloading at warehouses. Now it's fuel prices.

    A strike is unlikely to happen because drivers can't agree on anything. Ask 3 truck drivers the time, and you will get 3 different answers.

    But let's pretend that drivers did get together and strike over fuel prices. What is the best possible outcome? It's a trick question because absolutely nothing would change.

    Contacting elected representatives about fuel prices is useless because the government doesn't control prices - nor should it.

    Fuel prices are set by the free market. Supply and demand will determine what the market will bear. Therefore, even if your elected representatives and President Bush agreed with your protest, nothing can be done.

    Let's say you own a jewlery store. With the current price of gold, you would be selling gold watches and chains for much more than you were 2 years ago. Now let's say a group of people get together and complain to the government that watches cost too much. They would say the average guy can't afford a watch anymore. It's not fair, something must be done!

    Should the government step in and set the price of gold at $350 an ounce? Of course not. Well, it's the same for oil.
     
  7. Drifter1948

    Drifter1948 Light Load Member

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    jj7, Shutdown, or organising drivers and O/O is about a lot more than cost of fuel. Cost of fuel is simply the most prominent part of the issues being brought forward to be addressed.

    Transparency and "full" payment of FSC to O/O or lease ops is a large one.
     
  8. Matthews

    Matthews Medium Load Member

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    Myself and Mr Dan Little from MO spoke to Todd Spencer directly over this issue and more. Transparency and "full" payment of FSC is one HOT ISSUE taking place under the OOIDA rooftop. They have the power to take those issues we as drivers are facing to a White house/congress level. We do not. "YET".

    I cant stress enough, that any further Protests at this time would be pointless. We've made a public announcment on TUES that was a wakeup call to the nation. And NONE of you can say differently.

    The drivers, O/Os and Co alike made a stand on Tues and it DID make an impact. In fact, their is freight on the road NOW that should have been delivered last THURS or FRI that will not see it's Receiver till the MIDDLE of next week!

    That's NO lie and that is how the drivers impacted the Industry. The Protests where #1, to diverse to make a REAL threat to anyone or anything. And actually I am relieved of that.

    BEHIND the scenes is what really matters at this point and time. There was more power and justice gained on the foundation level than there was on the Protest level, If you understand what I mean.

    Again, I'll say the protests where NOT in vein and the drivers around the states "MADE A VOICE". Thats the KEY right there. They helped to create there OWN voice.

    OOIDA is working on there issues as well.
    But us Drivers in Mutli STATES are working on ours also.

    We STILL need alot of people to STEP up to the plate and help Represent more States. Thats why, this thread.

    PM me for more information, or to tell me you want to elp in this issue for everyones sake.

    -Matt :biggrin_25514:
     
  9. MommaKay

    MommaKay Light Load Member

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    In point of fact, the government DOES set the price for any number of commodities in the United States. Do you think there is actually a free-market in sugar? Peanuts? Cotton? Corn? Soybeans? Milk and dairy products? The government artificially supports high prices with crop subsidies, paying farmers the difference between the "free market" value and what their crops are "supposed" to bring. In the case of at least sugar and peanuts, their prices are kept high by forbidding imports of competing crops.

    As long as the US was on the gold standard, the price of gold was, indeed, set at a particular fixed rate. This provided relative stability to our currency. Our government was also highly protectionist. If a company wanted to import products into the US which would compete with US manufacturing, a tariff was added to the price of the imported goods which brought their price up to par with the domestic goods, eliminating the massive profits otherwise available to the importer and protecting domestic employment. This policy existed well past the middle of the 20th century.

    Petroleum is vital to all US industry and our society. Corporations enjoying massive windfall profits by price gouging, during time of war, should rightfully be brought up on charges of war profiteering. But then, "War is a Racket." Always has been, always will be. It exists for the profit of the few. And those few are profiting massively by the war in Iraq and the instability it has wreaked upon the middle east and the world oil markets.
     
  10. Ronnocomot

    Ronnocomot Road Train Member

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    I don't know where to begin to respond to all the mis-information contained in this post.
     
  11. Matthews

    Matthews Medium Load Member

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    Petroleum is NOT a commodity! It's a Necessity!

    Not just to the US, but the WORLD.
    -Matt
     
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