Stealing Cargo?

I think it's because states have gotten away from running prisons anymore. They "farm" it out (pun intended) to private companies. Why implement a program to cut costs when you're getting reimbursed by the state for everything anyway. Way back in the day when I was in F&B, I ran 2 restaurants at a boutique hotel. One was breakfast and lunch, the other was strictly dinner. We also did a ton of weddings receptions because we had 3 large ballrooms and 2 smaller event rooms. Had a guy come in and apply for a job and he had a certificate of achievement in culinary arts from a local community college and had experience in cooking for "large groups and batch cooking". When I asked him about his work experience he told me, and I quote, "I spent 7 years in state prison on several drug charges, I'm clean and sober, you can test me any time. Here's my PO's card, if there is ever a problem, call him. After a year of sitting around and saying '#### everyone and everything', I decided to turn my life around. I applied to and was accepted into a program in the prison kitchen and was trained for 2 years in cooking and food safety. And spent the last 4 years cooking for my fellow inmates ". I hired him for banquets and brunch, and the occasional fill in breakfast. One of the best hires I ever had.

 

When a bird ####s on my truck, I eat a plate of scrambled eggs out in the open to show the birds what I'm capable of..... Lol

 

Yes, I understand. It's easy too easy to get comfortable. That's not the point I was making. Just getting by isn't enough for most people because most people always want more. At least to a certain extent. I was afraid to quit my job and start trucking, but I did it because I wanted more, and so far it's worked out. I didn't stay "on the inside" listening to what I understood and what I knew settling for what was familiar, I stepped out in a way that was healthy.

I get that you can get comfortable "on the inside" and be afraid of the outside.

The only point I was trying to make was a lot (not all) of the people in the slammer (the harder core serial offenders, not lesser charges, Im thinking sociopaths) are there because we are learning there's a brain deficiency, the frontal lobs aren't getting enough blood, and it blocks off rational thought in the same way you and I are able to use it.

The people that are just there for lesser charges need to sent on their way to a maybe a rehabilitative program if needed and not sent back. They'll get along alright if you shut the door.

 

Sorry if Im getting too far off topic. I get carried away sometimes.

 

With some notable exceptions, most of those farms were not owned or run by the state. The farm owners contracted with the prison to provide labor. Farming methods have changed over the last 40 years and farms don't need that labor anymore. Contracted prison labor is still pretty common - now its livestock processing plants or other industries that "cannot afford" to pay its workers a wage that makes the work worthwile and thus cannot find enough workers.

When done right, prison labor is a great thing. When those who run the program look at inmates not as people, but as cheap labor that have no rights, things get sketchy in a hurry.

 

Does anybody remember the 75 million dollar Eli Lilly drug Heist? They loaded up a couple of my bosses trailers and stole 2 trailers.
I believe they later found the trailers empty in Florida.
Thieves grab up to $75 million in Eli Lilly drugs - Reuters

 

You made my day with that one. Thanks!

 

You're all wrong. Printer ink is the most valuable substance ever. XL ink cartridges cost me $100 for all colors. A few OD loads and I need more ink.

 

I did not read the comment but skimmed enough to get the jist of the subject. Yes, drivers steal loads. Happens all the time. Go back and look at some of my comments about carriers self underwriting insurance. When a driver damages a truck, damages property or Steal/damages a load the carrier loss/risk management dept will, in the end, pay it off. The OP brought up something though about felons that bothers me a lot. There are a lot of people that have felony records that are not thieves. You put something in front of a person that was not brought up to respect another's property and they might steal, no matter what their criminal record is. One more point. The real high dollar stuff is protected a lot better than most think. Starting with how the stuff is boxed and crated. Sometimes the bills use almost illegible acronyms, tattletales are put in the boxes as they are loaded. The best thing a driver can do with ANY load is lock that sucker up, make sure it is sealed and hit the road and don't mess with the load. I once picked up a load of electronics in Ohio. Went south on I 75 with it headed to Florida. I did not know it at the time but the shipper had a security person following me. Followed me almost to Lexington Kentucky. As I said, just deliver the crap and leave the load alone. You can go to prison if caught. Give that some VERY serious thought!

 

Some people are felons, because they caught a thief. lol