Exposing log book tricks

Interesting discussion. How is it that heavy equipment operators that apply their skills to moving freight on long hauls are classified as unskilled laborers and not entitled to hourly pay for all their work and for overtime? The injustice reeks to high heaven. If the costs to consumers went up a bit perhaps some of the consumer piggies I see at Walmart with carts loaded to the brim w/ high calory garbage would have to curtail their gluttony and the cost of health care might come down a bit as well. It's no wonder many of the drivers I talk to are cynical and depressed from time to time w/ this state of affairs.

 

If you watched bottom feeder trainees you'd know why they are classified as unskilled labor .
Many experienced professionals get paid for all work done and have no complaints .

 

Don't forget if you over do it you'll end with rules llike we got.

 

should not be limited to certain amount of hours. i use to work a day driving job i got up at 4:30 am to be at work at 6:30 am work driving til 6 - 8 pm then 1hour home, eat, shower, see family watch tv. go to bed at 11 -12. back up at 4:30

work day 4:30 til say 11 pm = 18.5 hours a day and driving truck!!
because the 11 and 14 hour rules apply from the time your feet hit the floor til the time you go to sleep 11 14 hours.

if limits need to apply they need to move them up 14 - 16 then 10 hours off. as grown adults we dont need our crappy gov telling us how long to work or drive. there is no limit to the non professional driver. we can decide for ourselfs when we get tired and need to stop for the day.

 

should not be limited to certain amount of hours. i use to work a day driving job i got up at 4:30 am to be at work at 6:30 am work driving til 6 - 8 pm then 1hour home, eat, shower, see family watch tv. go to bed at 11 -12. back up at 4:30

work day 4:30 til say 11 pm = 18.5 hours a day and driving truck!!
because the 11 and 14 hour rules apply from the time your feet hit the floor til the time you go to sleep 11 14 hours.

if limits need to apply they need to move them up 14 - 16 then 10 hours off. as grown adults we dont need our crappy gov telling us how long to work or drive. there is no limit to the non professional driver. we can decide for ourselfs when we get tired and need to stop for the day.

 

not just bottom feeder trainees classified that way. Truck drivers period are considered unskilled labor by the industry.

In some rare examples ( in my career ) was I considered skilled by the company only because I was trained to blend, site survey and repair my delivery site and the support equipment. It still didn't keep them from eventually taking my overtime because I was a truck driver.

Something is wrong when you start with a co. and you make "X" in year one...... 6 years later you make less. ( annual gross ) And they wondered why I left.

 

I realize that I'm new here...and I'm certainly not trying to stir up a hornet's nest...

In trucking the DOT is quite bit like the the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is in aviation. They set all kinds of rules for how long we can work in a day and a month. Once our hours are done for the month, we are done. There is no reset. There is also zero opportunity for us to fudge logbooks and work more.

Why should they get to be the judge? Because when safety is on the line and people can earn more money by being potentially less safe...they will take risks.

From what I can tell, many trucking companies would be (and are) glad to cut corners on maintenance because they make more money that way. Without oversight, they are happy to compromise safety for profit.
And unfortunately, many of us (whether we fly a plane or drive a truck) would be willing to do that same.

Please note that none of this precludes the fact that I am paid hourly for my work. And that YOU should be paid hourly for your work too!!