Our profession is doomed unless drivers organize

My 70 Chevelle.

 

Bought my first truck and trailer in 1974,stayed with it for 42 years as a O/O. Absolute best years for true bottom line money,mid 70's to the mid 80's. Couldn't believe how easy it was to make good money then,knew it wouldn't last.....and it didn't.
Still living in the house I built back then,paid off quickly,made other investments that worked out. Better money,more leisurely times,different world back then. And all done without computers,internet,cell phones,etc. etc. etc. Lease to a good teamster operation,learn their system,follow the money. Worked for me,been happily and comfortably retired for 4 years now.

 

Sadly, this occurs in all industries, all lines of work.

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!

 

Some companies lease purchase actually works well often those kinds of companies use it to guarantee profit in return driver has more say in his hometime as long as the company is paying well enough over weekly costs. But many use it as a predatory tactic. Often over changing nickel and diming and then having the driver make less than a company driver after expenses.

 

Even more sad, this occurs in all industries, all lines of work.

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!

 

SADLY & UNFORTUNATELY, too many people are NOT in a position to be able to stand up for themselves, or ask for a raise.
Many of these people may have some bad histories in their lives, as a criminal record, or may have been homeless and out in the streets for a long stretch of time.
Many companies are fully aware of this and really use it to their advantage.

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!

 

Western Express is living proof of that. I’ve seen drivers that LITERALLY live in the trucks-with NO HOME ADDRESS!

 

Oh, I doubt you learned all the tricks in just one day.

 

Johnson Motor Lines out of Charlotte, NC, years ago had the best "lease purchase program" that I have ever heard of or seen. $2000, you stepped into a brand new International, the $2000 was not a down payment, it was the start of your maintenance fund. Your payments were 10cpm, 5cpm went into your maintenance fund until it reached $4500, then the 5cpm quit coming out. We belonged to the Teamsters as the company drivers did at Johnson. We were on a two check pay system, one for the truck, the other for you. Non-forced dispatch. The harder you ran, the quicker you paid off the truck. You didn't run hard, it took longer to pay off the truck.

One driver broke his leg and was out for 6 months, his truck sit in his driveway the whole 6 months. When he came back to work, his payments started again.

I have often wondered why some trucking company has not offered a "lease purchase" similar to what Johnson had. Also, we had "yards" and offices scattered out for "special commodities" We were not allowed to go to a company terminal, but we would go to a "special commodity" property. Safe, showers, restrooms and a place to "hang out" waiting on the next load.

All this was before "De-Regulation" and then Riss bought Johnson and in 18 months the doors were shut. It was a sad day. Johnson gave all the owner-operators several options if they still owed on their trucks. All options were fair and above the table. Not one driver lost a cent.









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Yeah, let's all organize! That's the answer to all the problems experienced in this industry! Organize! <THUD> (smacks forehead) Why didn't I think of this?