"General Public" and a strike. HELP!!!

Yoda, your precious OOIDA on March 14, submitted this comment to Landline Magazine, "As a trade association, it is not possible for OOIDA to organize a shutdown because it would be a violation of federal anti-trust laws. Criminal penalties could be imposed, those businesses and individuals who claim to be adversely affected by a strike action could initiate civil lawsuits, and the existence of the Association could be jeopardized". What I don't understand is if OOIDA is working for the truckers, why aren't they supporting the truckers? So, I hope you can explain that. I also wondered last night; Yoda, Are you an owner-operator and do you drive across the country or you just local? Same question for iowabmw. The reason I ask this is last night I heard the plight of an o/o that lives around Richmond, Va. He got a call from Wal-Mart to bring a load about 4 hours away to our area. It cost him $$$$ to fill up and then he found out that they did not have a load for him to bring back anywhere around close to home. His truck is now sitting. Another driver I talked to last week as had to park his truck because he cannot afford the fuel. He has a wife and three kids.
You and iowabmw keep stating that we live in one of the richest countries in the world. Check you latest statistics. Our Dollar means nothing anymore. Compare it to other countries now. Our government (except Bush) has publicly stated we are now in a recession. That also means our dollar means nothing. You also have stated you are making money and have families. Again I have to question that statement due to the increase in not only fuel/maintenance/tires, etc... for your trucks, but the price of fuel and food increase to your families. Food has tripled in our local stores in the past 6 months and tripled again in the last month. Even the general public is standing behind a truckers strike/convoy, yet you 2 seem to go the opposite way from everyone else on this site.
I firmly believe in everyone having a voice to speak out and that includes an injustice, it's called Freedom. However, big companies did not make our country; we the people made the country with our blood, sweat, and tears. We also made the companies big the same way. As "We the people", we need to take our country back from the politicians and the corrupt government that has brought us to this point. The big oil companies need to belly up on the billions of "net profit they made" so far on the people of this country. I suggest again you wake up and see what is happening around America. As far as other countries paying more for fuel, like I stated before there are just as many countries that are paying way less. Check your figures, O yea and while your at it, check the U.S dollar against the other world currencies. I keep close tabs on both!
A strike is a desperate call to action and we are in desperate times. There is an old expression if you are not for us, then your against us.

 

First of all I am a regional guy, I am home everynight for the most part.

second, since you watch the statistics so closely I am sure who would have noticed the fuel prices in other contries.

The facts I copied were from the last cenus, and our currency indeed is dropping. We are in a recession, but its not the end of the world.

You know why we are in a recession?

Its not because of gas prices, far from it.

So many people buy cars they can't afford,

So many people buy houses on ARM loans that they can't afford when the rates go up

So many people over extend themselves on credit card debts

which translates into nobody is buying stuff because they simply can't afford it.

People always want the cheapest things and the cheapest prices and the FORCE compaines to start making their product overseas to keep us Americans happy by providing cheap prices. You don't want them to go overseas, but you dont' want to pay the price to keep it here.

There are WAY more factors, and I don't have the time, nor the will to write it down.

And on the o/o not being able to afford fuel, is a bunch of crap.

The one who is sitting because he can't afford fuel is OBVIOULSY doing something wrong.

Is he charging enough to cover fuel?

Is he managing his money correctly?

Here is simple trucking business rules (well any business),

If it costs you $1.50 a mile to operate your equipment, then NEVER, EVER, EVER haul a load for less than your operating cost, even if it is a back haul!

Now, on the driver who booked a walmart load and went down there to find out there was none. There is probally more to the story than you have heard.

Did he get there by his appt time?

He should go back to whoever he booked that load through and figure out why it wasn't there. There are way to many reasons why that load wasn't there.

 

To the original poster:

First, thank you for your support. It really nice to see that anyone within the general public is concerned with what is happening within our industry.

Now....taking the gloves off.

Fuel cost are NOT the issue here. It's only a symptom of a larger problem.

Fuel cost for the general public can be a problem. But, I sat down and done the math over the past few months. Anyone who can not afford a $1.00 increase in a gallon of fuel. Has other problems.

Fixed income households...need help here. I understand and sympathize with them.

My total needed fuel expenses have only risen by 50% in the past year. Or about $40 a month. If I can't make my house payment, or feed my kids because of it. That $40 isn't my problem. It's my standard of living that's the problem.

My daughter, who is in school with NO JOB (at the moment) uses about $100 a week in gas. To what purpose?? To see her friends and boy friend, nothing else.

I must admit, her boyfriend pays a large chunk of this. He has a good job and is a very responsible guy for his age.

My arguement, people don't need to drive 400 or more miles a week. When they live less than 20 from work. Sell the SUV aka status symbol, and buy a more economical car.

 

I applaude you sir, I couldn't have worded it better myself!

 

My turn My turn.

OOIDA can not will not support a call to shut down.. They would be closed up by the government for doing so...wasted effort of the last 30 years.They are not a union, and owner operators are not employees of the government or the shippers..

That however does not mean OOIDA does not as a trade organization VERY CAREFULLY support its' members in their calls.. OOIDA cannot lead or as an organization support but OOIDA members are free to exercise their own beliefs..

Dissing OOIDA for not committing organizational suicide to do something in YOUR way regardless of the laws they are forced to operate under just as complaining that a labor union is not leading is foolishness caused either by misunderstanding of what OOIDA and a labor union are, (or simply sour grapes). In any political action there are BY RIGHT many sides and opinions allowed, the fact that mine is different from YOURS does not make me BAD just as you are not bad.. We simply have differing ideas on how to solve the problem. You seem to think you know more than I do about OOIDA and trucking. I disagree. 5 million miles of accident free driving and still running at a profit is a pretty good resume` I feel.

I own and operate my truck and trailer as does my wife hers.. hauling in 48 contiguous states.. I do not cross international borders.

You can see a lot about me from the pictures I have uploaded.

I do support the convoy to Washington D C Monday, a friend of mine is on the phone in my ear at this very moment, he is going for me in his van because he cannot afford the fuel to take his truck after dead heading home twice this week refusing to haul CHEAP FREIGHT. I will be flying a flag all day in support of him and the others who do go.

I refuse to support a shut down or strike because they have as yet made no clear presentation of what is to be accomplished by one that will SOLVE any of the problems.

 

As one of the 162,000 members, I thought about this comment as I finished my drive today to this mall in Chicago.

Yes in fact OOIDA is precious to me and all the other members even if they won't back a shut down in violation of law.

They are precious because they represent me in Washington even when housewives, secretaries, and bartenders are oblivious to my needs. They ask members well stocked with FACTS to testify all over the country when ever any regulatory or legislative office is contemplating any course of action that might affect my ability to pursue the livelihood I chose above all others.

They are precious to me because they using the power of numbers each donating small amounts to hire law firms and seek redress in the courts where possible, when small business men are subjected to unlawful abuse by those corporate entities that feel they have POWER of size of wallet to ignore the laws. ( I tend to donate to their legal fund when I have money to spare).

They are precious to me because they have staff who watch out for anything anywhere that might signal in some way that government is contemplating increasing the onerous burden of TAXATION or REGULATION I have to bear.

Because I am not a resident in many of the locations I practice my trade, I depend on OOIDA and the diverse membership to notice and take action in locations where my voice would be dismissed because I am not a constituent or resident.

I do not confuse OOIDA with a labor UNION, nor do I think OOIDA is in the business of ORGANIZING unlawful rate fixing schemes.

To me this ONE ORGANIZATION has the knowledge of what is legal action to take, and the collective will of all the members to make effort where effort will accomplish RESULTS for independent ( non labor organized) drivers and truck owners.

Just because someone does not understand WHY OOIDA cannot do something that is in fact exactly proscribed for them to do is no reason to lower the value of all that OOIDA does do for me and those of my community of drivers.

So your description of "your precious OOIDA" is in fact exactly right Thank you for noticing the value of our organization in the name of 162,000 free thinking often disagreeing members....LOL

I just couldn't let that one pass.

 

Point one, How do you KNOW they are not supporting the small group of truckers you feel need supporting? ( it is just a small fraction you know).

You definition of support being apparently supporting calls for strike and shut down.

You may have noticed that OOIDA has posted news about each call and each action on their web site carefully pointing out that these calls were BY OOIDA MEMBERS where it was true.

You might wonder how so many news organizations became so enamored by small protests of a few or even in a few cases a couple hundred people. Could it be that OOIDA public relations was able to convince people who were local to carry a news story, and then with OOIDA publicity people prodding news wires carried the stories and other localities then picked up on it?

A protest that the pictures plainly show as 5 trucks parked warrants several 1/2 page stories in local and regional press with pictures at 10 on several T V STATIONS just how often? In perfect journalistic hyperbole 40 becomes Dozens and later almost a hundred?

Just because the LAWS prevent the entire organization from placing the ORGANIZATIONS stature inside a call for protest does not mean many of the members and possibly many of the staff and leadership do not support calls for lower TAXES ( OOIDA was founded on calls for lower taxes after all) The calls however that include work stoppage and the word "shut Down" or "strike" are in fact impossible for the organization to support no matter what the personal feelings of any of the leadership or members.

The organization can support the decisions of the members, but cannot possibly LEAD a shut down or strike.. This has been clear all the history of the organization and is a result of LEGAL constraints that they made perfectly clear in the article you quoted.

Point 2

Just because the IDEA of a shut down seems right to YOU does not make it right. OOIDA which represents 162, 000 members also represents me and a large group of other owner drivers who think a shut down is exactly the WRONG tactic at the WRONG time for the WRONG reason.

I as always invite anyone to point out the way a shut down will work to SOLVE the problems we face.

REALISTIC WORKABLE solutions that do not involve revolution nor violence against fellow Americans who disagree with me.... or you.

 

The flames kindled on the Fourth of July, 1776, have spread
over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engines of despotism;
on the contrary, they will consume these engines and all who work them.

 

Yoda I am also one of the 160,000 members of OOIDA and I completely aggree with you. Just becasue a small amount of o/o's feel the need to strike, does not make it right.

1. They have no "leader"

2. They have no solution

3. They have no plan!

Until they have all of the above, count me out for the strike.

However, I will still continue to strike towards NO CHEAP FREIGHT, which btw OOIDA started!

 

Posterity, you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you make good use of it! John Q Adams 6th president ( This appears under FREEDOM IS NOT FREE on both sides of my trailer.)

As to good quotes try this one...

“The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence.
"It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men.”
- Samuel Adams