The Solution: Mandatory Detention Pay

No, they don't. Sounds good on paper, never works out especially when the government gets involved.

 

Generally, this bill as I read it, does a pretty good job of covering all bases. I am usually a person who wants less Government in my life, however in this case, sitting for the many hours I have waiting to get loaded/unloaded, just like several of you have, brings me to trear my hair out.
It certainly effects the Hours of Service situation as well, detention, past a reasonable point, forces many to be more creative than is neccessary.
Making Shippers/Receivers more accountable for the time they waste of the driver is not a bad thing, past a reasonable amount of time of course.
There are so many that schedule 50 trucks all to show up to unload at the same time for 15 docks that makes me angry. This Bill "could" go a long way to resovling a lot of that.
Will it address every issue, I think not, will it help, I think so.
Why not let the Government put pressure on those shippers/receivers that go out of there way to make our lives miserable.
If this Bill could cut 25% of the wasted time I spend getting loaded/unloaded, I would be all for it and money ahead, knowing that this will bring more documentation is something I really don't want to have with me.
Shippers/Recevers have brought this on themselves, surely have them accountable for the same rules we have to live with cant be a "bad thing" in all instances.
Just my thoughts, thanks for sharing yours as well.

 

Before spputing off on this folks you need to read the bill. Address many of the issues that people talk about. Not a fan of big government but we have regulation and it is here to stay. This will not be fought hard by big business because they already pay a higher fee to most carriers for detention. It is the mega carriers that are fighting this. ATA is putting as much behind this as they are behind the EOBR bill.

I think this one will pass and if the EOBR bill passes it will be shot down in the courts.

 

And who's to stop the shipper/receiver from going into their computer and changing your appt time, saying you showed up early or late?

 

Yeah, it can happen that way. My company pulls bulk chemical out of a large distribution center, where they have a huge sign stating, "WE DO NOT PAY DEMMURRAGE". Turns out that when we turn in a detention slip it gets charged to the chemical manufacurer (DOW, BASF etc.)... They pay, and stomp it out of the distribution center.

 

Your carrier has to have the cajones to demand detention from their shippers/receivers. I get out of all Walmart DCs at 2 hours after appointment time, EVERYTIME. Want to guess why?

That's why this ####amamie scheme won't work. Do any of you really think that the shippers and receivers are going to meekly give up cash without fighting back? I wouldn't!

Walmart fights back by letting folks who run for meek little "please don't take my freight away carriers" by letting them sit, while they make sure trucks from my carrier get unloaded pronto. I have never collected one cent of detention fines from a Walmart load - and I have some detention payments in almost every settlement. That's how Walmart fights back... they get me the heck out of the dock, because they aren't going to give up their cash in detention fines - and let everyone else sit until they get around to it.

If the DiFazzio bill gets adopted, I'd see it as a golden opportunity for shippers and receivers to make money off of the carriers... by simply using their own lazy drivers and unfortunate circumstances (for the non-lazy!) against them. How? By collecting late fines and rescheduling fees to not only offset any detention payments, but to become a profit center. And you can bet that they'll get efficient enough to keep those detention payments to a minimum.

Aw Mr. Driver, that's tough! The accident tie-up made you late? That'll be $200 cash late fee - up front - before we can unload you. Whups! Look at that! Where does time go? You just went over the 2-hour late point! You'll have to reschedule! That'll be $500 cash rescheduling fee - up front - before we can give you a new appointment. When? Oh, that'll be a week from next Tuesday! What? You won't be making any money for a week-and-a-half because the wheels aren't turning while you sit on this load? That's not my problem! The government says so! Oh... and for you... you were held over? Here's your government-mandated $12.50 an hour. Enjoy your pittence!

At least that's the kind of peanuts Marten now thinks is adequate to pay their drivers in an announcement yesterday - watch the government think that's the kind of detention bucks they think everyone oughta be getting. Or maybe it will be minimum-wage. Because the government thinks all y'all are "unskilled labor!"

You don't want the government getting into this. You REALLY don't!

 

What I don't understand is why some of you put up with the BS. If your a company driver and have forced dispatch then your up a creek and should take it up with your company. However if your an OO and continue to go to places you know don't pay detention and are always screwing you around then IMO you deserve what you get! Continuously going to places that do this is no different than the guys who haul the cheap freight daily and complain about how cheap it is. For instance there is a steel mill here I USED to go to weekly. However they've been extremely busy recently and have had huge delays loading trucks. It wasn't uncommon for some guys to wait 15hrs to get loaded. The longest we have waited was 9hrs however they pay detention # $50 per hr after the first 2 hrs. So I made $350 in detention but even at that I stopped going there, and I wasn't alone. They have recently had a hard time getting loads covered because most of the usual trucks that used to haul out of there stopped going also. I just went back tuesday and was there 20min total. When loads stop getting hauled because of time delays or lack of detention then the problem with fix it's self. Leave the government out of it! It will not fix the problem they'll just not allow you on the property. If you guys seriously need someone else to fight your fights for you then please find another line of work.

 

We have a Monday regular (usually three loads) run into Grove City,Oh. Those buckholes can not find their butt with both hands and a diagram.

However our customer pays us very well for putting up with thei crap even though we've made the offer of doing drops and giving them 24 hours before pulling empties. Nope they keep paying for the incompetence of their employee's.

I actually think our customer just jacked up delivery rate to cover our detention. Walmart may think they are getting over but knowing our customer they made some pricing adjustments to cover for their lack of ability. All I can tell you is we get paid.

 

When I was with SNI, I did, and I can't remember exactly how much, and after how long, but it was no where near the amount I would make with the wheels turning, let alone the big loads I missed because of them.
When I was with CFI, no I didn't get it.
USX, I don't remember, it wouldn't surprise if it was no with them, companies of the same ilk, if you will.

A couple of you guys are right on, no doubt it is contractual, but like has been said, the trucking company has to pin 'em on, and tell mallwart how it's going to be. I won't hold my breathe, those scumbags are the worlds largest retailer and think their caca doesn't stink. It wouldn't irritate me half as much, if you were treated like a person at most of their DC's I've been too, but that's another animal.

 

As far as reading the bill goes. There's not much to read. It's been referred to committee. that's why I posted the link and revived this thread. You have the opportunity to call or email your rep or one on the committee and suggest what should be included or not. Here's the link again.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.756.IH:

I don't understand the guys that are saying it will make them kick truckers off their property. I don't see the bill saying they have to pay you to sit there. The way I see it, you check in when you get there. Assuming you are on time you go on the clock. After you are loaded or unloaded you clock out. Whether you sit there for another 4 hours is up to you but not detention time.

If more drivers would have voiced their opinion about HOS and CSA we could have had a lot more common sense in those bills. But you guys with your anti-government views don't get involved, don't do your part, and then when laws are passed you ##### and moan about it. It's representative government, you have to get involved.