CRST needs a federal probe

You would think a company like CRE, which consistently has a safety stat around 99, would get checked out thoroughly by someone in the government!
I think any company that has a stat over 95 for more than, say, six months running should be checked out. A poor safety program is often an indicator of something else wrong... and I would bet they would find horrible logs, inspections, etc. After all, they are finding these things at weigh stations and other places the trucks and drivers get checked, and that is only a small percentage of any given company.

 

Exactly the thing, lilbit. Every company, trucking and non, is in it to make money. Most trucking companies today, according to industry pubs, are running at a 95-98% operating ratio. In other words, they are only making $0.02 on the dollar. Some are negative and we may see many more go away after the first of the year.

So how does someone solve the problem of being treated poorly by a company? They go somewhere else. Or, better yet, they get their own authority, broker's license, truck and trailer. Start their own company. Then they should have nothing to complain about, unless they find they are a lousy employer who is just trying to make a profit and only look out for the company and not the driver.

 

So you want the trucking industry regulated like the airline industry was from 1937 to the 80s? That just wont work. For those who dont know, the federal government regulated the airline industry like it was public transportation, like your city busses, etc. It wasnt till the mid 80s when it was deregulated, and allowed to operate in the open market. Fares today are lower than they were in the 70s under regulation.

Or better yet, why doesnt the trucking industry step up and start crying for a bailout, like everybody else seems to have been doing. Its worked for them....

 

I dont think regulation is the way to go, yet some form of monitoring should be observed. Seems to me with out supervision the companies are basically getting away with murder. They dont care, so why should we?

 

Actually companies are doing there best with limited operating ratios to keep as many drivers employed as possible. Unfortunately, much of the problem in this industry is not with the companies but with drivers who would rather complain than work. I know I will take flack for that comment but as a company driver a person is an employee. Go to any other industry and see the employees demanding things the way they do in this industry and those employees would be out the door.

 

Last year I would have said GM/Ford etc.. was about the only company, but I dont think so now. Public opinion seems to be trumping employee expectations. Will see if any concessions are made in the next few months.

 

They all need to be regulated. Fair minium wage a week. Heat and AC provided.
DOT and concerned EPA nuts r all up in our business, wheres are protection from crooked companies just wanting to make shareholders and company excutives rich?
Why cant we file for partial unemployment? Why cant we have climate controled living quarters? Where is the labor board?

 

Yeah that would be grand. Now to get Obama to take note of this thread. Maybe he might do some change!

 

Cool, I get to play devil's advocate again....
I think that it's past the time that a large percentage of "drivers" out here need to own up for helping to create the problems that they spend so much time whining about. No miles? We're in a recession dummy, ain't nobody moving any freight to speak of. Shoddy / unsafe equipment? Who got in and turned the key? Nobody held a gun to your head and made you run down the road.
DM's and the like that don't know what they're doing? Are they really dumb, or are they not doing what you want them to, thereby making them stupid? I agree, the college grad turned dispatcher is a challenge, but sometimes you need to look at why the company is doing what they're doing....just maybe there's a reason for it.
And my all time favorite....my dispatcher made me. Oh really? So he sat there in the jump seat and held a gun to your head while you did whatever illegal/unsafe act it was?
Come on now, the trucking industry is the way it is, that's just a fact of life. Sometimes you don't get the miles, or you don't get to run where you want. Does that make a company evil? Granted, on the other hand, there are companies that will bend you over continuously, if you let them. Then again, if you let them, I suppose you deserve it. But the indutry is what it is, and that's not going to change anytime soo. You wouldn't walk out into a pasture, and then scream about how the farmer needs to clean up all the cow patties would you?

 

But if it wasnt for those jewish carpenter trucking outfits with shaddy equip and gov funding training they offer, dumb drivers wouldnt be at the wheel . Two can play Devils Advocate!