OOC Jobs for Board Members!

[triaxle]

see everyone. here we are right back agan same bs under new name. now drivers pay for paul to have a job. what is next?



December 8, 2008

Owner Operators Coalition of Virginia hires trucker as PR director

A recently formed coalition of port truck drivers at Hampton Roads, VA, has promoted a truck driver to work full time on port issues. The Owner Operators Coalition of Virginia recently promoted Paul Yurkovac to the position of director of public relations and project coordinator.

Founded in early 2008, OOCVA is attempting to meet with port and political leaders to address driver concerns over port efficiency. The coalition plans to build its membership as it brings port leaders and interests together to solve issues important to truckers.

OOCVA has received advice and support from OOIDA, which has been represented at OOCVA meetings and has nearly 1,000 members of its own in the Hampton Roads area. That area includes Virginia Port Authority-owned Norfolk International Terminals, Newport News Marine Terminal, Portsmouth Marine Terminal and the Virginia Inland Port.

Yurkovac recently discussed OOCVA’s intentions with OOIDA Regulatory Affairs Specialist Joe Rajkovacz and OOIDA’s XM satellite radio host Mark Reddig. That dialog will soon be aired on OOIDA’s Land Line Now satellite radio show.

Yurkovac said he has sold his truck and will work full time to build OOCVA’s membership, which now totals more than 200 drivers.

“It’s important that the drivers see there is a resource,” Yurkovac said. “And we want to increase the resources at the drivers’ disposal.”

As ports across the country consider new environmental rules, Yurkovac said port officials have a vested interest in improving efficiency and getting drivers in and out of the port quickly.

Ongoing expansion of the Panama Canal could put East Coast ports in prime position to handle more freight coming from Asia, Yurkovac said.

“There’s so much lost time; we’re trying to convince them to do something that has very strong long-term benefit for the port,” Yurkovac said. “But they won’t come here unless the efficiency is up to par with other ports throughout the world.”

Rajkovacz said OOIDA’s experience in bringing truckers’ interests to elected officials and regulators makes the Association a model for groups like OOCVA.

“They’re doing something that is very, very unique in that they are essentially taking what we do nationally and in Washington DC, and bringing it local,” Rajkovacz said. “It’s kind of the macro versus micro view. And it’s been fun to watch how the organization has matured. Clearly, we can show people how to mimic that success – if they’re willing.”

Rajkovacz remembered attending an OOCVA meeting in the spring and seeing Virginia State Senator Yvonne Miller, chairman of the senate’s transportation committee, voicing her support for port drivers who are required to wait in line for equipment repairs on chassis they don’t own.

“She raised the picture of predominantly African-American port drivers working for free on state property,” Rajkovacz said. “This harkens back to an era obviously that isn’t very pretty in America, and it’s outrageous that any American is forced to work uncompensated.”

When OOCVA formed, Yurkovac said, the coalition was fortunate to have a bevy of drivers who brought their own talents to the coalition.

“Right at the first meeting, it was apparent there were a few guys and gals there that really wanted to step up and take a leadership role,” he said.

OOCVA officials include President John Lawson, Vice President Lewis Hill, Resource Development Coordinator Shawn Heard and Financial Officer Curtis Griffin. Other officials are administration coordinators Esther Lewis and Pam Gregory and Board Members Herbert Lewis and Mike Gregory.

Heard has worked on the Coalition’s Web site, while Hill is well known among port drivers for his ability to stir passions, Yurkovac said.

“Lewis is probably the best guy to get out there on the ground and get drivers riled up and excited about coming to a meeting,” Yurkovac said. “His BS tolerance is next to nil.”

For more information on the Owner Operators Coalition of Virginia, visit www.oocva.org.

[BS Detector]

Holy Crap!!!!!! If they have 200 members, then how come there are only 10 on their website. OOIDA is really getting some smoke blown up their Fat A.s.s.e.s!!!! OOIDA who can't even make up their minds if they like the owner-operators having to leave the Port of LA or work for sh!t wages. Hey Paul, your first PR job is to sell yourself to us drivers. I won't be at any of your bullsh!t meetings. At least we won't have to see you on the piers anymore, cause I'll be calling the TSA to have that TWIC cancelled. I think you need an employer to qualify!

[pinlock]

The OwnerOperatorCoalition of VA has become a pimp for the port authority & an insurance agency for OOIDA. There will be another driver meeting at Charlies next weekend. This is not an OOC meeting. OOC doesn't represent the drivers here like they would have you believe.

[crocodile_xpress]

I have to make a short run to Ahoskie this morning but I would like to know more about the driver meeting at the truckstop. We'll be there if someone will post the details. There has to be a better way to make something happen without another five years of talk.

[murph]

Dec 10, 2008 4:11:35 GMT -5 crocodile_xpress said:

I have to make a short run to Ahoskie this morning but I would like to know more about the driver meeting at the truckstop. We'll be there if someone will post the details. There has to be a better way to make something happen without another five years of talk.

I think they were from Baltimore or DE? The next meeting will be at Big Charlies in a week or two. Maybe someone else can post the correct date.

[petedabroker]

Can I be elected to the positon of , General Manager of funding by OO's for the OOC? Anyone second that? or Assistant to the C.E.O. in charge of fund diversions. I don't want to be the C.E.O., too much exposure there. LOL

[pinlock]

Virginia port terminal manager goes crazy, highjacks truck, just hours after holding driver meeting


www.wbir.com/news/watercooler/story.aspx?storyid=71133&catid=141

[HardTimeTrucker]

Thank you pinlock for sharing this breaking news story with the rest of the Virginia drivers. There may be employment checking TWIC cards at the gate while he serves his community service.

[RED]

These goofs running this OOC are picking their memberships pocket dry. I donated my share to begin with thinking we had something special happening in Norfolk Virginia. They got my money back then but won't get me or dozens of others here again. The OOC is a platform for management to control the drivers in Hampton Roads. Like several have repeated on this forum, they have no plan to unite drivers under any kind of worth while trucker contract that will really solve any of our problems. They have modeled this organization after OOIDA who sells insurance and provides trucker discounts. Sure OOIDA files big lawsuits against major carriers under truth-n-leasing but that falls under good media coverage and takes years to resolve in the court system. If you want to join OOIDA fine, but we cannot afford to be paying dues to a copy of OOIDA in Hampton Roads to solve our container trucker issues.

The OOC team has flat out lied to everyone when they say we cannot work toward the goal of a good labor contract or owner-operator truckers cannot organize together. They say we cannot ever collective bargain as a unit. If this were true how could many other owner-operators around the country be working under a collective bargaining agreement without OOC knowing the facts? Maybe the OOC team gets their distorted advice from the same management they continue to hold meetings with?

We don't need truck discounts or to be sold insurance. We need more money and some benefits. Work on getting us a contract like the ILA has and we'll take care of our own trucking discounts.

[The Martians Are Coming]

Mar 18, 2009 10:05:36 GMT -5 @RED said:

These goofs running this OOC are picking their memberships pocket dry. I donated my share to begin with thinking we had something special happening in Norfolk Virginia. They got my money back then but won't get me or dozens of others here again. The OOC is a platform for management to control the drivers in Hampton Roads. Like several have repeated on this forum, they have no plan to unite drivers under any kind of worth while trucker contract that will really solve any of our problems. They have modeled this organization after OOIDA who sells insurance and provides trucker discounts. Sure OOIDA files big lawsuits against major carriers under truth-n-leasing but that falls under good media coverage and takes years to resolve in the court system. If you want to join OOIDA fine, but we cannot afford to be paying dues to a copy of OOIDA in Hampton Roads to solve our container trucker issues.

The OOC team has flat out lied to everyone when they say we cannot work toward the goal of a good labor contract or owner-operator truckers cannot organize together. They say we cannot ever collective bargain as a unit. If this were true how could many other owner-operators around the country be working under a collective bargaining agreement without OOC knowing the facts? Maybe the OOC team gets their distorted advice from the same management they continue to hold meetings with?

We don't need truck discounts or to be sold insurance. We need more money and some benefits. Work on getting us a contract like the ILA has and we'll take care of our own trucking discounts.

Wow. I bet there are secret efforts to implant micro chips in truck drivers brains too. Oh, and JFK is still alive.


I have not seen ONE constructive post in THIS forum. Seems to me that many (not all) like to sit and run their mouths yet do absolutely nothing. People here talk about 'coming together" yet promote ill founded hostility towards the driver ranks.

Any grass roots organization takes time to develop, I know this from past experience. It's a lot easier to sling mud than it is to actually get up off your rear and do something to provide direction.

Some folks just don't get it.


Have fun.

[pkd5757]

The ports will hold that carrot out there and offer you some office space and maybe give into a demand or two. They want nothing more than to pacify you. Down the road they will ask you for suggestions on how to change things that the ILA does. This will turn into a pissing match between the drivers and the ILA. Where will the Port be when this happens? They'll quietly sit back and watch the two sides argue or worse. I've been there, tried that! Everyone wants to reinvent the wheel! When it comes to this industry you need to have numbers and be ruthless when negotiating. These people will screw you over for a dollar, don't fall for the nice guy attitudes.

[pkd5757]

I almost forgot! The micro chip isn't in your brain, it's in your TWIC card! Was your comment constuctive? I'll wait for your second posting, maybe that will be better. Or better yet, why don't you register on the site. Stand up and be counted, make this forum better by working with us.

[HardTimeTrucker]

I see this poster didn't address any of the issues that this red brought up? Wonder why he side stepped the possible collective bargaining agreement by owner/operators? I find it very interesting that many of the Virginia drivers understand this labor concept. Seems someone has been doing their homework up there in Tidewater. The longshore has a trucker local & collective bargaining agreement with around five hundred truckers..

I would certainly call that a constructive post talking about a collective contract for lease/operators to operate under. No more bogus independent contractor status classification

[RSTOKES]

pkd5757 is right, the Virginia International Terminal (Virginia Port Authority) & APM terminals hold contracts with the ILA. It would not be in their best interest to see truckers here figure how to win any type collective bargaining agreement such as the union has. It is in the maritime community interest to sabotage these efforts by supporting a puppet group that claims to speak for trucker issues in Norfolk. Sure they'll embrace the leadership of any group as long as there is no plan to successfully reverse the low ball rate structure their customers enjoy or cause them to actually have to deal with us using tools as a bargaining unit.
Haven't we had enough of that here over the past years?

Keep up the good work guys. Let's work on a meeting in Virginia soon.

[concernedtrucker]

The VPA has already planted a box of micro chips ;D Sheeeeeez, please help us in Hampton Roads

[discustedinvirginia]

Mar 19, 2009 9:00:02 GMT -5 @The Martians Are Coming said:

Mar 18, 2009 10:05:36 GMT -5 @RED said:

These goofs running this OOC are picking their memberships pocket dry. I donated my share to begin with thinking we had something special happening in Norfolk Virginia. They got my money back then but won't get me or dozens of others here again. The OOC is a platform for management to control the drivers in Hampton Roads. Like several have repeated on this forum, they have no plan to unite drivers under any kind of worth while trucker contract that will really solve any of our problems. They have modeled this organization after OOIDA who sells insurance and provides trucker discounts. Sure OOIDA files big lawsuits against major carriers under truth-n-leasing but that falls under good media coverage and takes years to resolve in the court system. If you want to join OOIDA fine, but we cannot afford to be paying dues to a copy of OOIDA in Hampton Roads to solve our container trucker issues.

The OOC team has flat out lied to everyone when they say we cannot work toward the goal of a good labor contract or owner-operator truckers cannot organize together. They say we cannot ever collective bargain as a unit. If this were true how could many other owner-operators around the country be working under a collective bargaining agreement without OOC knowing the facts? Maybe the OOC team gets their distorted advice from the same management they continue to hold meetings with?

We don't need truck discounts or to be sold insurance. We need more money and some benefits. Work on getting us a contract like the ILA has and we'll take care of our own trucking discounts.

Wow. I bet there are secret efforts to implant micro chips in truck drivers brains too. Oh, and JFK is still alive.


I have not seen ONE constructive post in THIS forum. Seems to me that many (not all) like to sit and run their mouths yet do absolutely nothing. People here talk about 'coming together" yet promote ill founded hostility towards the driver ranks.

Any grass roots organization takes time to develop, I know this from past experience. It's a lot easier to sling mud than it is to actually get up off your rear and do something to provide direction.

Some folks just don't get it.


Have fun.

Great forum guys. Don't stop. You have done more here to help me understand this industry & why we remain the underdog then any effort here in Virginia over the past year. There is no grassroots organization here only a small group of wannabe leadership that are fleecing the flock. This guy talks about no constructive post on your forum or doing anything to provide direction? Your site provides knowledgeable trucking members that seem to present a clear road map to his stupid comments. Maybe he should explain the direction the OOC is headed. We haven't ever heard a plan from any of them although I myself & others have continually asked these important questions. We really would like to learn more about how this trucker hiring hall would work. How could we work on setting this operation up in Hampton Roads. Now that is what I would call a grassroots organization.

[shortcircut]

1000 members in the Hampton Roads area, yeah right. what they have is names of drivers who have been to meetings over a 15 month period, most of whom have not attended more than a half a dozen meetings. most , like myself, will not go back to them.
I have been in this industry since 1994 and if anything , the only results have been negative.
I am not saying they have bad ideas or are bad people, I am saying that just like all the other groups, they are being led to believe they are being heard and they are not. If they were , the Ports( a joke in itself) would be making changes.

[shortcircut]

probably the same people trying to stir up all this hate and discontent on these newer posts . Too bad so many people hide who they are. I for one will stand behind any comment I make and will face anyone who wishes to discuss my remarks . One thing every one has to remember , even though someone makes a remark you may not like, every one is entitled to their own opinion , like it or not, it is a right of being a human !

[cornflake]

Dec 9, 2008 9:06:16 GMT -5 triaxle said:

see everyone. here we are right back agan same bs under new name. now drivers pay for paul to have a job. what is next?



December 8, 2008

Owner Operators Coalition of Virginia hires trucker as PR director

A recently formed coalition of port truck drivers at Hampton Roads, VA, has promoted a truck driver to work full time on port issues. The Owner Operators Coalition of Virginia recently promoted Paul Yurkovac to the position of director of public relations and project coordinator.

Founded in early 2008, OOCVA is attempting to meet with port and political leaders to address driver concerns over port efficiency. The coalition plans to build its membership as it brings port leaders and interests together to solve issues important to truckers.

OOCVA has received advice and support from OOIDA, which has been represented at OOCVA meetings and has nearly 1,000 members of its own in the Hampton Roads area. That area includes Virginia Port Authority-owned Norfolk International Terminals, Newport News Marine Terminal, Portsmouth Marine Terminal and the Virginia Inland Port.

Yurkovac recently discussed OOCVA’s intentions with OOIDA Regulatory Affairs Specialist Joe Rajkovacz and OOIDA’s XM satellite radio host Mark Reddig. That dialog will soon be aired on OOIDA’s Land Line Now satellite radio show.

Yurkovac said he has sold his truck and will work full time to build OOCVA’s membership, which now totals more than 200 drivers.

“It’s important that the drivers see there is a resource,” Yurkovac said. “And we want to increase the resources at the drivers’ disposal.”

As ports across the country consider new environmental rules, Yurkovac said port officials have a vested interest in improving efficiency and getting drivers in and out of the port quickly.

Ongoing expansion of the Panama Canal could put East Coast ports in prime position to handle more freight coming from Asia, Yurkovac said.

“There’s so much lost time; we’re trying to convince them to do something that has very strong long-term benefit for the port,” Yurkovac said. “But they won’t come here unless the efficiency is up to par with other ports throughout the world.”

Rajkovacz said OOIDA’s experience in bringing truckers’ interests to elected officials and regulators makes the Association a model for groups like OOCVA.

“They’re doing something that is very, very unique in that they are essentially taking what we do nationally and in Washington DC, and bringing it local,” Rajkovacz said. “It’s kind of the macro versus micro view. And it’s been fun to watch how the organization has matured. Clearly, we can show people how to mimic that success – if they’re willing.”

Rajkovacz remembered attending an OOCVA meeting in the spring and seeing Virginia State Senator Yvonne Miller, chairman of the senate’s transportation committee, voicing her support for port drivers who are required to wait in line for equipment repairs on chassis they don’t own.

“She raised the picture of predominantly African-American port drivers working for free on state property,” Rajkovacz said. “This harkens back to an era obviously that isn’t very pretty in America, and it’s outrageous that any American is forced to work uncompensated.”

When OOCVA formed, Yurkovac said, the coalition was fortunate to have a bevy of drivers who brought their own talents to the coalition.

“Right at the first meeting, it was apparent there were a few guys and gals there that really wanted to step up and take a leadership role,” he said.

OOCVA officials include President John Lawson, Vice President Lewis Hill, Resource Development Coordinator Shawn Heard and Financial Officer Curtis Griffin. Other officials are administration coordinators Esther Lewis and Pam Gregory and Board Members Herbert Lewis and Mike Gregory.

Heard has worked on the Coalition’s Web site, while Hill is well known among port drivers for his ability to stir passions, Yurkovac said.

“Lewis is probably the best guy to get out there on the ground and get drivers riled up and excited about coming to a meeting,” Yurkovac said. “His BS tolerance is next to nil.”

For more information on the Owner Operators Coalition of Virginia, visit www.oocva.org.

WOW, this association really crashed & burned! We need not to repeat this.

[teresa]

evidently this whole oocva association fell flat on it's ass. i hope whomever steps up to the plate again. oh yes i'm sure there will be another. this time at least review virginias' past history of driver groups dating back to the southeastern trucker association started back in early nineties, then came ucma, then another group, then tidewater owner/op's, then oocva. what a d**n mess we have gotten ourselves into because every group repeated same mistakes over and over. ok it's happy hour so gotta go

[vapilot]

what happened to oocva? it ran outta gas after the first eight meetings. the membership bought plenty more gas but the leadership didn't know where to pour it in. by the time they figured that out they had no where to go and very few left to ride. after a couple three more meetings a month or eight later the tires went flat so they abandoned the oocva vehicle outside the nit gate. ooida took over towing it back to grain valley, mo. there ooida jim johnson tried fixing it, gave the oocva leadership a new title, sent them packing back to norfolk but by then the membership had split so they sold whats' left for scrap.
end of story.

[suffolkbound]

;D ;D ;D in a nutshell!

[Red]

OK so now that OOCVA is ancient history where does that leave faithful members who contributed to this association in the first place? Is there anyone willing to pick up the pieces. Can something good still be salvaged from any of this?

[gwergg]

qethqwthqgwthgqwthgqthgqhgyj357y5235h23w

[jackie]

everyone must read this. make copies. a virginia history lesson. this ladies,gentlemen is what we do not want to repeat. how to destroy a driver assoc class 101.