Owner-Operators better WAKE UP!

ALL Americans, not just truckers, Must realize there is a problem before anything can be done because it will take ALL Americans to fix the problem. Get involved with the lawmaking process, tell your representatives what you think and tell them in a strong enough voice that convinces them that if they don't do something, their jobs will be on the line. There are many patriot groups on the internet. get involved with them. The stronger we become as one, the better the chances that we will achieve victory without the need for violence.

 

they've actually got more forms and manners then paperless companies.

i started a thread. so you think your safe with elogs. open the discussion with that very topic.

 

trolling another thread?

playing the victim? you call having a mandated nanny that tells you when to sleep and when to drive is "playing the victim"? you call CSA scores that are multiplied by 3 "playing the victim"? you call re-arranging the playing field so OO's are hogtied, while megas have unlimited resources, "playing the victim"?

i call an ex trucker who has a bone to pick with any truck driver and an overall hatred of trucking a troll, and his defense of trolling is to chock up any issues drivers have with the direction of this industry as "playing the victim" makes him and his baseless attacks unwanted and unnecessary criticism

 

Interesting read. The really interesting thing is about halfway through the article the writer points out that the American Trucking Association actually fought for higher emissions standards... Almost like they are paid by big mega fleets. http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/...not-only-one-in-recent-supreme-court-history/

 

They are bought and paid for by mid sized and mega carriers. The chairman and board members of ATA are always executives, usually CEO's COO's, from companies like USXpress, CRST, etc, etc. It's the "ooida" of the bigshots. They pay lobbyists to push for anti-competitive legislation/regulation.

 

Take it to Rants, crybaby. You're the type of driver who helped create and perpetuates this mess. You can drive like a nitwit and complain everyone wants a camera up your pass to heart's content, but no effect.

Good drivers understand, and they don't like it any more than you do, but they want drivers like yourself working on a dock, because you're making it worse, not better.

 

Don't worry about the future of owner operators.. There isn't a future. I visited the UK about 6 or 7 years ago and spent some time going to "travel plazas" and truck dealerships asking questions. Among the facts that emerged was there are almost no owner operators left in the European Union because of the aggressive regulatory stance. We are headed the same way. Owner-operators have been tolerated up to now because of the segments of the industry that utilizes them the most. Bedbuggers, flatbeds, power only, haven't figured out how own the equipment and pay the driver little enough. They will.

 

OOIDA lacks credibility. You can't go to Washington and tell legislators those are professional drivers at the wheels of those speeding and following too closely trucks that pass them every day, or to ignore the road stories of their families, friends and constituents.

That is not to say OOIDA does not do A LOT of great work on behalf of drivers, they just don't have much pull, in large part thanks to drivers.

Hm, their Home page used to have a "123,456 Strong" gif, don't see it now. IIRC they had ~150,000 members last I saw. Still a measly $45 when probably every driver ought to be a member, since that's all they got.

You can't feel the heat from there...?

If 10% of drivers were to strike for 24 hours the other 90% wouldn't pass up an extra nickel per mile, and would consider the 10% the suckers.

 

Yes, the Trucking Associations are in in favor of rules that will hurt small companies. No doubt about that. Just like the Ontario Trucking association proposed speed limiters to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation....yep, it was the OTA's idea. However I am not certain they proposed it to hurt the little guy. IMO they did it to keep the American fleets out of the Ontario - Quebec corridor. And it worked.

I'm curious. Does anyone drive for a mega and drop their freight at a terminal in Detroit, Champlain or Buffalo only to have it relayed into Canada by a Canadian carrier?

I have been hearing that "Independants" are dinosaurs for a long time and it ain't over yet. In fact, doing better than ever here. Why? Because customers and shippers are getting more demanding.....they expect perfection and the fleets cannot deliver perfection.

Not saying you're wrong because some days...like yesterday....I feel like packing it in.

 

Lacks credibility huh?? As if the ATA has credibility?