WHY CAN'T WE DRIVERS STICK TOGETHER

Hey, I think the strip clubs are union. Don't wanna go there, Ha, Ha, Ha.

 

Jail, Prison, Life over.

 

And more regulation for the rest of us. More background checks and hips to jump through. The strikes in the 70s and early 80s by multiple unions in multiple industries did one thing. They solidified the public against them. Those strikes by the teamsters showed how important it was to open the industry up. It sealed the deal on deregulation.

 

So much opposition...an honorable effort, Mr Finch.

You see a problem. You state the problem to your fellow driver and they tell you of problems with your plan. Are they wrong? No. Time to think outside the box.

Now, to be clear...some of us are paid well. Some of us are treated well. Some of us are paid for what we know, as well as what we do. Theres a huge chasm between the guys on top and the guys on the bottom. How do you get them all on the same page?

Who are the ones on the bottom? Slackers. All they know, every fiber in their being is inclined to slack. How many times have you read someobe curious about trucking just to have a place to live? Yeah, they were living for free in grandma's basement, and grandma passed away, now they are scrambling to find something. Do I blame them? No. But they hurt your business because you don't have to pay them. You know them... when they make a post, its all about the video games.

So, its a losing endeavor. What do you do now since the slackers will never help you? Get yourself to the top of the industry. The people around you now, will just hold you back.

Luck in battle.

 

That's my thoughts exactly. If somehow a trucker strike did happen and I had one of my good paying loads to haul, I'd be inclined to haul it, unless the threat of violence was too great.

During the strike at the aircraft company I mentioned in my other post, They haul loads of aircraft wings out of there paying great money. The company that had the contract to haul the wings wouldn't cross the picket line so they subbed it out to another company that was willing to cross until the strike was over. When the strike was over, they stayed with the other company and canceled the contract with the one that was unwilling to cross. The company that had the contract has since went out of business, the other company is thriving. Not saying it's right or wrong, it's just the reality of that situation.

 

Mr Finch is a decent hand. But last I remember (haven't kept up with his employment), he was working for a bottomfeeder pulling a box, driving one of their trucks. I started out that way too. I didn't agree with the whole grocery warehouse fiasco and refuse to do it. Now, I didn't talk to the other guys sitting in the other docks, after all some of them may be content with doorslamming. If the person is content, leave them be.

I make the money I want to make, and drive the truck I want to drive, and stay home when I want to stay home. If I agree to pull a load, and everyone suddenly goes on strike, as a Man, I am obligated to deliver the load. Do what you say you're going to do. Unless the road is closed, I have to keep truckin.

 

I know we all like to think truck drivers are just one big happy family but when it comes to negotiating rates and picking up customers, it's every man for himself.

Trucking is just a very small portion of our business. We do 99% local oversize. If it ever gets to where I can't make decent money, I'll just pull the plug on the trucking end and never miss it. I probably turn down half the loads offered to me now because I'm not willing to match the rate somebody else will haul it for. I won't reveal my business strategies but we do ok.

 

That's called the free market. And there is nothing more right than that.

 

You are correct, sir. I was wondering if you could possibly repeat this for the people who may be a little slow.

Some parts of the industry is performance based. That's actually hard for the Beancounting crowd to fathom. Allow me to explain, beancounters:

There's an NFL football team looking at 2 running backs. One of them averages 400 rushing yards a game and never drops the ball but wants stupid money. The other is actually quite economical, but fumbles often and averages 1/4 the yards rushing. Which one do you want on your team if you want to go deep into the post season?

 

One way we could stick together is to boycott the worst trucking companies. But some people decide to work for the crappy companies and that undercuts wages for others. What would the OP have said had someone asked him to stay unemployed after CDL school until a really good company hired him?

We all make our individual choices based on our individual circumstances. It's the fairest way possible. Choose wisely.