What Changes Are Needed in trucking?

We are not professionals.
When a trucking company can hire,train and license a driver the same as they can a forklift driver we are no where near professional.
I tell people that anyone can get a license and drive,it's quite easy.

The word "professional" is what drivers use to make themselves feel better than the guy standing next to them.

When the general public understands what most drivers know,it most likely would scare them. As long as the public thinks we are professionals the status quo will continue.
The public needs to know how "wildwest" this industry really is.

 

From: http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=professional

If your not a "professional" ... then what are you? ... an "amateur"?

Do you not drive for your livelyhood?

Or do you work for free - or next to "nothing"?

If so - you are part of the problem.

Speak for yourself - you don't speak for me.

 

I have an idea. How 'bout regulating the idiot 4 wheelers and leave us alone to do our jobs and get "your" stinkin' freight to you the best way we see fit !!!

 

I speak for myself and you speak for yourself, yet no one speaks for us.

No one cares if you want to call yourself a professional because at the end of the day you're not.
We are listed as unskilled labour by the U.S government. The same as a guy that flips burgers,except he gets overtime after 40 hrs.
You need English skills to work at Mc Donalds,we see plenty of drivers that barely speak any english,not even enough to get them through the interview at Mc Donalds.
The only other people than you willing to say you are a professional is the company you work for........afterall,it isn't in their best interest economically to tell the public that drivers are unskilled labour.

The word "professional" makes the public feel safe on the roads. I am secure enough about my ability to drive a truck that I can and do tell everyone I meet that driving is a free for all. I have tried reason many times and people just don't respond to that,but they respond to fear.
Fear of dying beside an incompetant driver. Feed them that.

 

They started that professional stuff back in the 90's. Drivers were complaining about wages, being treated right and stuff. The solution was to start Drivers Appreciation Week and call us Professional Truck Drivers trying to make us feel important. Personally, I get sick of hearing it. Especially over truck stop intercoms. "Attention professional drivers"... It's the only job where they tag professional in front of it. Of course everyone is a professional in their job. I see it as more of a ridicule the way it is abused.

 

What ever you are "at the end of the day" - is not my concern.

If you, or anyone who thinks like you doesn't have the self respect to take pride in their profession - that's your business.

You will be paid and treated like you see yourself - that's life.

 

"At the end of the day" What EVERY driver out here IS should be your concern,they're holding you back and tarnishing your image,right?

"At the end of the day".......we are ALL exactly the same,every single one of us regrdless of color,education or ethnicity.

Pride is a great thing to have the only problem is that it doesn't pay the mortage or send your kids to college.
There all kinds of people living in the ghettos that have pride,but that doesn't change the fact that they're living in the ghetto and no one respects them.
Just as no one respects us. It's time to lay pride aside and call a spade a spade and TAKE respect back. I have tried earning it but that doesn't work when it's not a tangible commodity. Sometimes it is better to ask for forgiveness than permission and that's where we are as drivers. Just take it.

 

Well, I'm not those people, I made different choices - and the bills are paid - and I live well.

Sounds more like a self esteem problem than anything else, though I don't quite understand your point.

If you want to "take respect back", then respect yourself.

If you're not making the money you want, then it's your responsibility to make changes - it's about attitude.

On another thread your spouting the RICO act, and why drivers shouldn't "act" to make changes - so what is it?

 

You all want us to think your witty and your're great at disecting an argument,but what your really doing is arguing semantics and that's not making you look so bright.
I will keep this as simple as I can for you.

The point is.......Drivers are listed as unskilled labour, no one respects you and that is the reason why drivers work for peanuts.

You drive for a living and play the attitude card?
Too many hard working drivers with great attitudes get the shaft everyday by their company,they sit in docks without retention and layover without pay. You would be the the smart ### that says "just get another job".
For you to say it's about attitude on the strike forum shows only one thing.....you really don't get it.

 

Don't think you have much choice but to keep it simple, since you don't really have any point - except as demonstrating the level of your own self esteem.