WHY CAN'T WE DRIVERS STICK TOGETHER

It doesn't even need to happen.

Trucking is like any other industry. You start at the bottom and work your way up.
Those with more ambition will make more money over time.
Those, like me, that have less ambition will stay where they are.

I'm not doing this for a lot of money. I do it because I enjoy it, and I am happy with my current situation.
But if I wanted more it would not be difficult to get it because I am a safe and efficient driver.

 

I don't know. I can't even figure out why fools fall in love.

 

So imagine there was a can of food at a top shelf. It's there and it's delicious.
But you don't go for it because youre comfortable with what they're serving you now.

Comes along another fella and says, I'm tired of this crap, I want that can.

You tell'em, well work hard for it and maybe you'll grow a few more inches so you can reach it.

The guy works tirelessly for decades and never grows any taller.

Years later, he's at the table and tells newer guys the same thing they told him.

Him, now comfortable with what they serve him, spreading the old work hard till you get it bs.

Comes another kind of man. Isn't tall enough but is smart enough to put two man under him to carry him. Gets the can and never has to eat the crap they serve him.

Not every trucker is an entrepreneur.

 

There were strikes in 79 and 83 I believe and the myth that all truckers stuck together is just a myth.

It was Teamsters not supporting the Independents and the Independents not supporting the Teamsters.

Trucks were shot at and drivers killed.

 

Just recently there was an article about the Teamsters sticking up for Lyft.

 

The biggest reason those guys at YRC and Holland are getting beat up is because membership has dwindled. And Jr. Hoffa is short on testes, plus he is probably getting paid off. If more companies would become organized. Membership would grow and once again we would have the clout to get peoples attention. Check out the ABF forum and see how many people you have complaining. Not many, because for whatever reason ABF pays all the benefits and wages. The companies are currently in drivers seat. People complain about $50/month dues, but overlook the co. paid health and welfare. Where you gonna get health ins. For you and your family for $50. And in turn as membership rises the pension funds would once again rise to solvency. We were once the largest union in this country. The Co's and our political representives have worked very diligently to weaken the labor force in our industry. Think about this. Isn't it strange that after years of government overseership some of the pensions are in trouble. The Italian Guyz had our backs because we had their backs. How many solvent operations does our govt. have? They (the govt.) can't seem to run a popcorn stand.

 

Exactly.

Except, that was one can of better food - not a lifetime supply - and he needed the help of two others to get it.
Or, is it a lifetime supply in that can?
Enough to feed all three?
Perhaps.

 

I wasn't killed, obviously, but I was shot at during the 1983 Strike... Not only that, I had to run during daylight hours only, because too many of my steel-hauling comrades lost their windshields and parts of their bodies to brick-tossing strikers.

Truckers today don't stick together, because there are too many "newer" drivers that are coming from the offspring of the Gen-X population.

 

American truckers will never unite and support each other because they are work force for sale. All of them. Just some more expensive then other. They have trade them self for the penny years ago. Gaining buck today from bad load will enslave you tomorrow. The government, the shipper, the receiver can bend us over and use in any hole because we are spineless silent creatures.
Disagree?
Ask yourself when last time did you drop your camera and come out to help to park rookie one?
When last time did you wait for tuck front of you to pass?
When last time did you come in receiver office with other drivers to ask why we are sitting here so long?
divide-and-conquer If we ready to drop divide we will have conquer.

 

Free insurance. The great calling card of the Teamster. What about the 15% give back yrc/holland? How much are they really paying for that insurance. And the pension...4 years of work counts as 1 for pension?

Ups and abf are good companies but unions for the most part have no spine. Is that because of lack of membership or has membership dwindled because of that? Me thinks the latter