Trans Am Still

Ha! They obviously chose a selective polling audience. If the general public had such a favorable impression of truck drivers then there wouldn't be such a push for more regulation, two White House petitions - one trying to make it illegal for trucks to drive on the interstates and one trying to make it illegal for them to ever use anything other than the right hand lane and there wouldn't be a myriad of public comments crucifying truck drivers after each and every accident. If public opinion did believe that drivers were doing such a great job then they would be in favor of higher insurance rates for the 75 to 85% that cause most accidents involving a semi instead of regulation trying to double the amount that carriers must have. They would be in favor of less regulation on the trucks and their drivers and semi's would be welcome to park at any facility that was large enough to accommodate them. You would not have cities turning down the opportunity to have a truck stop built along their interstate because they were afraid of the increase in crime that comes along with big trucks and their drivers. I can cite many studies, news articles, and comments made on public forums but feel free to believe a poll on the radio.

 

In Columbia, Sc. Now on pre-plan #3 this one is very doable though. Get to run the hours I like. Pick up in Mt. Airy then to Marrietta so overall better run for me works with my hours. Sometimes feel like I am playing poker these loads. I didn't refuse any.

George I would run that weight, it is about 8lbs per gallon of fuel. Not exactly but a decent guide line to go by. More weight on your drives makes for a better ride and usually better MPGs. Plus when tandems are all the way forward gives you much better manuevarability around tight turns, just have to be careful backing with the over hang.

Be safe out there

 

Whoa!!!!! See I hit the full on mad button there. Most of the stuff is being pushed by the safety bozo's, who have a warped opinion of us, for what ever reason, and they are very vocal. Instead of taking it out on me..... start your own organization, and see if you can be as vocal as them, and energize the american people!!!!

 

HTQ there is not much we can do to change the perception of this industry. We can only try to do good and hopefully the few that we affect tell the many. I believe that the Mega carriers are making a big time push to really take over this industry. Just in the last 10 years the numbers are moving more and more in their direction. They continue to use their money to influence D.C. This is why the raise in insurance minimums is coming and the new HOS regs have gone through. Until we unite and have one voice things for us drivers will not get better. The Megas will be controlling everything with in the next 20 years, from Brokering to having the most trucks on the road. Just my 2 cents. I have way more thoughts on this but not such a good writer

 

Actually I have been doing some work in that direction and have made contacts in many areas including a member of the media that produces investigative documentaries.
The poll that they were citing was commissioned by the American Trucking Associations ....with trucking being the operative word, not trucker. It was a full 800 people out of 316 million Americans. Of those 800 people 304 of them knew or had someone that was a driver.....so I would say they most probably had a favorable opinion of their friend or loved one. Some of the final questions on that survey were about regulation for trucks and their drivers......well over 80% favored MORE regulation for the driver .....even though 65% of them had a favorable opinion of the driver.....Kind of an odd contradiction, doncha think? Also, well over half of the survey questions were political in nature and had absolutely nothing to do with truck drivers or their concerns.....but a lot to do with how the industry should proceed politically.
I gather the facts and do way too much research to be fooled by a "happy" survey designed to placate people. I have been looking for a long time for an organization that truly represents the interests of the driver, I have yet to find one.
jaso, you are right.....and you are wrong. There isn't much that we can do to change the perception of the industry when the drivers are just too worn down to participate in changing it. In today's world with so many back room deals it takes a considerable amount of time to find the truth, you all don't have that time to devote to it. That's why there needs to be an organization to promote the issues confronting truckers.

And Panhandle ....yeah, you hit the mad button.... because I truly believe that drivers are entitled to respect and fair treatment.

 

You wrote in the past about how if truckers united and staged a 4 day shut down, it would open a lot of eyes and change things. I nominate you as the reluctant leader of our revolution.

 

I think your work in social media can also change things. You are getting more social media savvy. As more truckers get more "new school" and start to have a voice online, it can unite. New truckers are more social media savvy. I site social media as it has been the source of great change, even changing whole governments, The Arab Spring as an example. Maybe it can lead to change in our industry.

 

Am at Milanese, in Nicholasville, KY. Anybody been here before? Lumper service has a sign up stating something along the lines of...... we don't know when we'll get to you, don't know how long it will take, no.... we won't write times in and out. That right there, kind of tells me that it's going to be a loooooooong night!!!

 

I survived NYC. Making my final in NJ now. Preplan has me picking up in NJ, delivering in Zanesville, OH. Hopefully can keep it going west, go by the clubhouse and all the way out to Cheyenne.

 

If people would just realize that I am in charge, my life would be so much easier! !!!!!!!