Trade status for Drivers.

Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong place but I sure can't find anything saying that trade status guarantees employee paid retirement fund. I can easily find job listings for trades people which pay less than I make. A little looking around Ontario Government sites show me that my income is similar to or better than a number of trades.

How many hairstylists do you know that can look forward to a generous pension upon retirement?

 

Training a new driver properly will result in two main things.
1) A professionally trained driver will be better equipped to handle the issues that arise while driving,cutting down on traffic accidents(right now there are 130/day in Canada) which in turn will help to stabilise or lower insurance rates.


IMHO, the general public motorist, is the problem with lack of
education in reguards to Semi traffic.


2) Instead of drivers being cut lose they will "learn" how to operate a truck in all aspects. Maintenance and fuel mileage being a priority. With drivers undertsanding the costs of running a truck rather than just driving one we will (hopefully) see improvements in fuel economy and better fuel consumption results in lower demand hopefully lowering the costs of fuel.


No amount of education will stop someone who dosen't care about
costs unless they have to pay for it.


3) Fewer drivers coming into the job market. Fewer drivers means fewer trucks to move freight,freeing up more freight for brokers and seeing mileage rates increase to meet demand.

You have to stop the cut throats, fewer drivers can't stop this,
shippers will always search for the lowest shipping rate, there-by
supporting a cut throat market.

 

I haven't shelled out a penny in fines but I do get your point.

Actually, per hour I am doing just as well as the trades with the exception of overtime. Don't get me wrong, I am all for making more money. I just don't believe trade status does anything to guarantee that. It sure doesn't guarantee better benefits or pension plans.

My signature is something my instructor said when I was in school which stuck with me. He said something along the lines of 'most people don't realize how many trucks there are out on the roads. They see a whole lot of them every day but don't really notice them. The ones they do notice are the ones who stand out because they are tailgating, unnecessarily holding up traffic or doing something else they shouldn't be doing...' I do my best to not be noticed.

 

Getting trade status will also ensure a better level of training before becoming a Journeyman. Take Electricians, Plumbers, Gas Fitters, Mechanics, and even Carpenters. They all have to Apprentice and work up through proving themselves and extra training. Adding this extra level 'should' improve the look of drivers as well. Bring some self respect back into the field and help get rid of the slobs.

Drivers with under, say, 4 years (average Apprenticeship length), would Grandfather in to the Apprentice level equivalent to their experience. Later years of training would include Heavy Haul, Oversize, Specialized, Hazmat, Tankers, and such. Early years would start with Dry Van, Reefer, Open Deck.

It would help ensure that the guy hauling the Hazmat load of Explosives has some years of regular driving, as well as additional practical training. Not just write a test and here is your Hazmat certificate.

The idea would also help thin the herd, so to speak, of the rif-raf that are not serious about the career. When you have to dedicate years of training and schooling to a career path you end up with more people who are actual professionals.

That's my $.02.

 

In canada the company gives you your hazmat cert? In the states it is on your dl and you have to take a test at the dmv and thanks to 911 now you have to undergo a back ground check and fingerprints. Cost more now as well. But I think drivers should be paid hourly and not by mileage, that alone would bring up pay. I know when I drove over the road I would run up to 70 hours and not make near as much as I dolocal being paid by the hour working the same amout of hours. All that time at docks, in traffic, fueling, scaling, and all the other things you do for free and are not getting paid for does not seem right to me. That's why I quit over the road, I felt like I was being ripped off. A company can send you to the middle of no where then tell you to sit there for a day with out pay, but always seem to find you a load right before it is time to get lay over pay, it just doesn't seem right.

 

Yep, TDG is a joke.