Am I missing something?

Ya know... only here we can pick a mess about people in general inside a theater of a truckstop. This is a social area where 50 of your friends hang out and tear movies apart. Even if I sat there a few hours yelling BS at the various implausable movie scense.

As far as the miles.... If the driver is working a west coast to KC Mileage, he is on a gravy train. Run in, kick it turn and burn for more stuff west. Run out...

 

You think they might have a sense of humor?

 

first problem is hangin out in a drivers lounge, 2nd problem is in my opinion the biggest problem in this world, and that is giving a crap what "everyone else is doing". ya see i just wasted 2 minutes giving a crap what u think. see how that works?

 

I would be interesting to have the People come out of the darkness and into the light when it comes to rates. No more 75 cent cut rate loads, those make everyone dirty. Let's show some class.. 3.00 loads... is my theory.

 

Markets don't work that way. There's no reason for a load out of Miami going to Chicago to pay more than 75 cents a mile right now. The produce is gone and it's a consumption market 9 or 10 months out of the year. But, if Chicago to Miami was paying $3.25 then what is the problem with that 75 cent return trip? So deadhead to Georgia for a $1.30 if you dont like .75. You can refuse to haul it for 75 cents a mile but it isn't going to have an impact. Quit accepting cheap rates into consumption markets and look for other areas with more balance. Then everything won't be so stressful. The markets will always find a balance.

 

Markets are very powerful. I used a simplistic path to understanding same by deciding that there is always someone hungry enough and desperate enough to take a figurative .25 cent haul to get to home usually motivated by a life event with family etc.

Company Drivers do not have the option of using Markets as a source of freight that gets them home. The extra freedom to choose freight at .75 or 3.25 is I think a MAJOR attraction to those who wish to be free from the really bad company dispatcher by buying his or her truck and becoming self employed.

Dispatchers have a lot of pressure from the drivers kicking them from below and pressure from either Shareholders (The worst kind... Ive run for companies that did not make good decisions because they are worried about the cost to stock holders one of which is usually me with a couple of shares here and there...) from Above.

Brokers, the people with loads from whom all others try to get are the ones with the power and in most cases little to none of the downsides such as owning 15,000 tractors and 30,000 trailers with like 25,000 people working for you.

Ive wondered sometimes if somehow there is a way to break the sweat shop (I cannot find a better word choice because several other words if used will cause me to lose my freedom here on this forum...) conditions faced by a Company driver who has by now missed at least ONE IMPORTANT life altering appointment ranging from Medical tests to children through the gamut of possibilities all the way to the Court House.

There has to be a way to provide the freedom for Company Drivers to take loads that will motivate them to run 3000 miles and be productive and good valuable truckers to the company rather than consiously making a decision to put out the least effort possible and still stay employed at will.

Markets are very strong, when I buy and sell metals now and then, I bought low and sell high. Industrial metals usually now and then. If Im not careful at doing this right, I can screw up and stand to be liable for say... 50,000 dollars payable in 7 days rather than 5.

 

You seem to be assuming that the mega fleet owners give a rip about company drivers home life. If they did care, they would/could figure out how to make it work for everyone most of the time. Morals and ethics are really lacking in some people. Change that and change the world.

 

For sake of a decent conversation, I will accept your thought that perhaps I do expect Fleet Carrier and Owners to actually give a Rip.

This was cemented in the ice storm of 1998 when Ronnie Dowdy's entire system was bricked. And there were were 225 People all over the USA. Some with school events pending. Others with ordinary events like doctors etc. There was a real sense of fear for about a hour that infected us. IF you walk away from the drivers and sit home hoisting shots until the power company gets it back on in three weeks. (This was my first intro to AR and my Second STorm that required power for two weeks. Gennie did a good job but inadequate.

I cannot imagine the stress that swept McKesson, MaryKay and tons of very high dollar (Almost... Snottie.... if I can be excused for such a word. Accents are hard to write in words..) ALL of them had to be kept in a near state of satisfaction. I rather be a kindergarden teacher thank you very much.

I show up... ambling into his office Before he could say something Boss man says tie those wires quickly, look at this driver sitting on his Paraphrased ### *Sweeps arm around the computer area... it's a shame people like HIM *Points at random??? Who ME?! sit on his ### because a ice storm kills MY BUILDING.

AT that time I knew two more things in life.

Daddies CARE very much. Money First, family second.

And if you stop the money to a ice storm or whateer else and Daddy aint got family other than whom he has managed to hire and tie to his Orbit these last few years... God help us all.

 

Might be able to add another pickup along the way. Bingo more money. If I travel long distance. I always try and get me something extra.