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Post by justanothertrucker on Sept 18, 2009 21:39:05 GMT -5
YES, the time will come but not now.There's twenty trucks to every stinking load.Wait till next year.In the mean time build a following of drivers while times are tough.Any rush to do something now will end in disaster for everyone. Been there done that spur of the moment wildcat thing before.Believe me it won't make a difference in this sick economy.Getting mad shutting down without a creative plan just doesn't work out leaving everyone in turmoil.Virginia drivrs are getting bored with the new passive driver association we have here so build on that. There are a lot of local truckers on this site watching,waiting,listening for news.I know,I hear it from them weekly where I lease my truck.Everyone wants a quick fix but don't let that cloud the immediate issue of taking it one painful step at a time. When the time is right we hit them where it hurts most or at least have the power to do it.
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Post by canhauler on Sept 19, 2009 9:03:25 GMT -5
Any trucker action now absolutely would be suicide. Slow down, chill out, organize together slowly. We are in a critical mess with this economy. Trucking companies are still going under. This recession may continue into late next summer before freight begins to look like normal again but that's OK. With the amount of truckers missing in action be prepared for the day when loads out number the trucks at the terminals. These port shipping people have beat us into the ground with their discounted rates but their time is coming. It will turn around for us in the end only if we are fully prepared to take advantage when that time comes.
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Post by eightball on Sept 19, 2009 21:19:19 GMT -5
So how many Virginia port truckers will take part in this strike or action? You'll be doing great to get 20 involved.
How many trucks are sitting idle right now? There are hundreds that could be dispatched to Portsmouth within a very short time period to move those few loads.
Guess what, shippers would be willing to pay other companies more to take what little bit of ocean freight that you left behind just to squash your uprising. They'll make an example out of you for others that may be thinking of doing what you did. You guys will be lucky if they don't blackball you around Hampton Roads after wards. There are plenty of hungry drivers willing to move the customers freight at any cost right now.
Like the posters say above, wait until the time is right. There will be nothing accomplished at the present time by doing this.
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Post by BOBBYJOE on Sept 19, 2009 22:39:45 GMT -5
Not me, I'll wait round fer the big one boys  |
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Post by workready on Sept 20, 2009 20:20:11 GMT -5
Hey, I'm already on strike. I parked my truck three months ago. It's making more money in the driveway than for these greedy trucking agencies we have around here. I'm working at the shipyard until things turn around. I find it easier to make the monthly payment that way plus less ware/n/tear on my tractor. Screw these companies wanting their s^^t moved for pasos. I figure about eight months from now there'll be a lot less trucks pulling containers in Tidewater so everyone will be happy at the port to see the few left that can still do the work.
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jerry
New Member
Posts: 0
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Post by jerry on Sept 22, 2009 18:25:09 GMT -5
thismakes no sense to take any action now in norfolk. everyone is hungry.what will be accomplished with little supprt?
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Post by eightball on Sept 23, 2009 7:41:17 GMT -5
Calm down my man!
No one is happy with the current situation at the port terminals in VA.
Do you have a plan or enough driver support to accomplish the goal?
Ask around the port terminal to find out who else is willing to stand up?
Make a list of those who say they will with phone numbers you can contact. My experience with past driver actions is once you call for action you had better have a sizeable amount of backing because you'll never get that second bite at the apple.
What are your demands?
Make a list for everyone to see. Who are you going to make these demands on, the port customers, steamship lines, port administrator, trucking companies?
How long are you or the others willing to park your truck to get what you want?
After you take these steps it's time to call a meeting together. Use the list of names you have to spread the word to everyone else. Now see how many show for the meeting. This should tell you where you stand.
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Post by bill on Sept 23, 2009 20:25:02 GMT -5
I have done this before, thanks for the advice but this isn't my first rodeo . the point I am trying to make is, if these guys don't pull their heads out of their hiny holes, the will get screwed , just like the guys in California. Every one here said that the proposed legislation on the west coast would not pass , yet it did. wake the h*ll up people, if it happens there, most likely it will happen here in Va. just sitting around and waiting to see , well, you guys might as well drop your pants, bend over , and lube the back door up, because you will be visited real soon by the very happy guy screwing you . i don't understand? maybe i'm just dumb to the facts. what has california got to do with taking action against the portsmouth apm terminal shutting down our trucks for several days? isn't that what this post started out about? there must be several different issues in play here. what's up? |
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Post by nutsnbolts on Sept 25, 2009 7:30:19 GMT -5
so management has cut the labor force but that somehow is the longshoreman's fault?
i work as a mechanic at the port. we are directed by management what to work on, when to, how to, although we see many chassis in need of immediate repair they can't be dealt with until work is authorized. true we do have a few bad apples within the ranks. so does any craft union, nonunion. but think about it, how many rotten apples are behind the wheel of the trucks pulling these containers? i can tell you there are twice the amount now than used to be. i know i was out there for eighteen miserable years dependent on how many moves i could make in a day.
i left full time trucking five years ago to work union in the port because i not only was fed up with the slick tidewater trucking companies but also with idiots behind the wheel driving here. try working around some of our own ( i consider truckers being that because i still work my truck from time to time) in here and you'll see how easily it is for the ila worker to cop an attitude. the majority of union workers here want to do a good job but it's always a few just like those same idiots behind the wheel that make it bad for everyone else. you come in here willing to meet half way, i'm more than willing to go that extra mile but don't expect a smiling face while you blame all the port problems on us. it's the same from the booth to the field. we have to answer to upper management no matter what stupid decisions they make costing you valuable time.
if you guys could quit your constant bickering and redirect that wasted energy on uniting together we would each benefit from sharing the power of unionizing the entire Virginia waterfront including truckers. next time your in the port try asking a few of the long shore workers how the system really works from management down. ask what their opinion would be if everyone were under the ila flag. you may just open new doors for yourself and other drivers.
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Post by virginiabeachbum on Sept 25, 2009 17:34:00 GMT -5
Call a driver meeting. Give everyone a good reason. I'll shutdown but better do it before Thanksgiving. What remains of the slim Christmas freight this year will probably go into the crapper after that. I'm not doing anything because of CB talk though so call a meeting, get a head count or chalk it up. I can see one or maybe a two day shutdown just for the publicity value but anything beyond that is plain dumb this year. You had better explain to everyone that attends the meeting not to expect to gain anything other than self satifaction of disrupting the big players. It may get their attention long enough to throw a dollar or two more on the rest of the holiday freight but that's about it. Any driver thinking that this will solve any of the issues we have is going to come away from this mad as HELL for taking part. You had better be prepared for this and go over this point well. So when is the meeting?
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Post by wizard on Sept 26, 2009 20:57:33 GMT -5
count me in. post it up around the port. i'll be there.
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Post by fatman on Sept 27, 2009 18:21:39 GMT -5
I don't think anything we attempt doing the remainder of this year will make much difference. Just my thoughts.
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Post by Ted on Sept 30, 2009 7:12:19 GMT -5
I didn't say every ILA person is a idiot, but I will say, most of them have s#*t attitudes and they take it out on the driver. maybe one out of 10 is ok, but most are just lazy and want to do the minimum work and want top dollar and benefits . I for one think what happened in Ga, SC and NC was in the best interests for the Ports and the drivers. Make the d**n gate people state workers, so , if they don't do their job, they are out the gate. better yet, cut their wages in half and pay them a certain amount per container. bet there will not be any lines then . VIT management is the most to blame , for cutting personell, but the attitudes come from the jerks working the gate. boy this guy will do wonders initiating friendly relationships between the drivers & dockers!!! lol |
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Post by fifthwheel on Sept 30, 2009 19:49:13 GMT -5
Hey shorcircut. I don't kno who is feeding u these facts but the ILA operate the gates in Georgia & Carolina. Charleston has a few non-union state workers who man several of the gates which makes no difference on how fast u get out. Befor blasting all the ILA why don't u do what the ILA guy suggeted a few post back & talk with them first to get their side of how the system works. I dont think this kind of flaming remarks toward the ILA does anyone good here.
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Post by superchicken on Oct 3, 2009 17:28:17 GMT -5
What happened to the guy that started this thread? All his post have been removed..
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Post by TDBrown on Oct 5, 2009 19:44:43 GMT -5
Must have gotten mad and quit posting???
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Post by 460cowboy on Oct 9, 2009 19:15:32 GMT -5
What happened to the guy that started this thread? All his post have been removed.. Another typical case of driver unity. Guess he blew a fuse before calling a drivers meeting like others thought he was going to do? |
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Post by HardTimeTrucker on Oct 10, 2009 11:24:47 GMT -5
What happened to the guy that started this thread? All his post have been removed.. |
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Post by ooportnorfolk on Oct 11, 2009 13:28:51 GMT -5
i know this guy working in the portsmouth area. his handle shortcircut says it all. he has a short fuse and when it goes off he's like a misguided missile in all directions. don't pay him any mind. that's the way he is.
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Post by eightball on Oct 11, 2009 19:53:35 GMT -5
Well I guess since he left for parts unknown this means no strike?
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Post by largecar on Oct 14, 2009 8:36:19 GMT -5
Too bad, shortcircut must have burnt out his electrical system worrying about the ILA.
I don't understand why he didn't stop with the negative remarks especially after they offered to extend a helping hand as he continued to blast them on this forum? I guess some people are just wrapped up to tight to back off and look at the big picture. Maybe he'll return once he cools down?
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Post by wizard on Oct 14, 2009 21:21:11 GMT -5
this guy couldn't hold it together on the forum. how did he expect to handle a meeting like he was talking about having?
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Post by rustybolt on Oct 15, 2009 19:14:18 GMT -5
Everyone has their own way dealing with job stress but shortcircut definitely has it in for the ILA. He needs to back off and approach this problem more reasonable without such flaming remarks. Blasting everyone on the docks for what a few do doesn't solve any issues we have at the port. Just a thought.
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Post by pkd5757 on Oct 16, 2009 5:23:11 GMT -5
Everyone has bad days! We blame the longshoremen, the longshoremen blame us! This is the system that has worked for years to keep all of us from banding together. The ports and the steamship lines want us to fight amongst ourselves. We have to stop and work together. Let's not throw shortcircuit under the truck, give him a break and let him cool down.
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Post by BOBBYJOE on Oct 16, 2009 10:56:35 GMT -5
Yeah at least wait until after the holiday season ends. Then everyone can join in being depressed over this years trucking revenue.
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