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Post by HardTimeTrucker on Oct 19, 2009 21:06:06 GMT -5
Your the next spoke the Green coalition needs in their wobbly wheel to make NY/NJ feel secure helping those California folk push this FAAA rule change in Congress. They want this labor backed CA clean truck employee-mandate plan to be enforced nationwide to ban the owner-operator trucker from hauling marine cargo..
Virginia is the hot competition to the south for the huge ports of NY/NJ so they need the support of your legislators. They do not want the NY/NJ port terminal managers to be at a disadvantage while the Virginia ports are allowed to operating under a different rules.
Right now they're not worried about the big ports in the Southeast or Gulf if they can knock out the Mid-Atlantic and California ports with this one swift blow by Congress.
Read this article on the board (USA Intermodal Truckers)
New York's Bloomberg Backs Employee Mandate for Port Drivers
If the GREEN coalition groups with backing from the ports/mayors/legislators succeed in getting Congress to change the FAAA transportation rules effecting port transportation you may lose your right to truck ownership as an owner-operator trucker.
The true goal of this labor backed GREEN coalition group is not simply clean air. Cleaning the air we breath is being used an excuse to ban the owner-operator trucker allowing only company owned trucks with employee drivers to haul the freight. This clean truck employee-mandate plan makes it easier to unionize the entire transportation work force by eliminating the ownership rights of thousands of hard working truckers across America..
Don't be fooled!! This not just about local trucks anymore but every O/O trucker that hauls any type rail or ocean freight will be banned from the ocean shipping industry....
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Post by superchicken on Oct 20, 2009 12:31:33 GMT -5
As if we don't already have enough problems. This really sucks. I will pass the word.
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Post by robin on Oct 20, 2009 15:37:46 GMT -5
My husband is fuming over this. He was all for the Teamsters until we started reading here what they are trying to pull over the trucker. Please someone let all us know who we need to contact to express our opinion. I think at least our state representatives need to be contacted by every concerned Virginia trucker.
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Post by OOCVA Guest on Oct 21, 2009 17:22:49 GMT -5
Your the next spoke the Green coalition needs in their wobbly wheel to make NY/NJ feel secure helping those California folk push this FAAA rule change in Congress. They want this labor backed CA clean truck employee-mandate plan to be enforced nationwide to ban the owner-operator trucker from hauling marine cargo.. Virginia is the hot competition to the south for the huge ports of NY/NJ so they need the support of your legislators. They do not want the NY/NJ port terminal managers to be at a disadvantage while the Virginia ports are allowed to operating under a different rules. Right now they're not worried about the big ports in the Southeast or Gulf if they can knock out the Mid-Atlantic and California ports with this one swift blow by Congress. Read this article on the board ( USA Intermodal Truckers) New York's Bloomberg Backs Employee Mandate for Port DriversIf the GREEN coalition groups with backing from the ports/mayors/legislators succeed in getting Congress to change the FAAA transportation rules effecting port transportation you may lose your right to truck ownership as an owner-operator trucker. The true goal of this labor backed GREEN coalition group is not simply clean air. Cleaning the air we breath is being used an excuse to ban the owner-operator trucker allowing only company owned trucks with employee drivers to haul the freight. This clean truck employee-mandate plan makes it easier to unionize the entire transportation work force by eliminating the ownership rights of thousands of hard working truckers across America.. Don't be fooled!! This not just about local trucks anymore but every O/O trucker that hauls any type rail or ocean freight will be banned from the ocean shipping industry.... This is a HUGE problem. One of which the coalition has been active locally and on the hill trying to combat. Many of the changes facing our industry are a result of politically infused mandates done under the guise of environmentalism. We have long since taken the stance that yes, there needs to be environmental responsibility on behalf of truckers and ports. This type of mandate however passes the cost to the lowest man on the totem pole. Us. A solution is simple. Reduce the uncompensated dwell time on terminals by 50% and there will be a reduction in overall emissions by 50%. The reduced dwell time raises profits , cuts fuel expense for owner-operators and allows for more productive hours of service. Owner-operators would have the ability to upgrade or retrofit equipment should the cost of doing business go down. There has to be a return on investment for us to do so though. This, though simple in theory is tough in today's economy due to reduced volume and especially in VA where the port is state owned and there are financial commitments due in the form of the state bond. Should the port overspend on labor etc, they may default on said bond and be in real trouble. There is help in the form of gov't DERA funding that could be applied to pilot programs which improve on port efficiency. Ports do compete too. The more efficient ports will see larger commitments from cargo owners with time sensitive freight. More business ans we all win. Another thing to consider. Such clean trucks programs drastically increase the cost of doing business for the beneficial cargo owners. The port of Seattle has had large bumps in cargo due to diversions from LA/Long Beach because shippers want to avoid the tariffs that fund the program. If enough ports adopt this mandate, shippers will not think twice about re-routing cargo and making points of entry from north and south of our border. The ever expanding rail capacity and more Mexican trucks on the horizon could be an alternative if shippers do the math on the logistical challenges. More shippers are turning to the rail anyhow. It may take longer but it can work to be quite cheaper. As much as any trucker would love to make $100 per hour... One has to honestly ask if the market will bear the cost. If you were working under organized labor, how much of that $100.00 would you see. If investment is made on port infrastructures, increase ground labor and we all work to ensure enforcement of the reg's, a lot can be done. Looking to the new FMCSA admin in DC it appears there is a much different outlook on enforcement from prior years. We can stand around and beat our chests, make mile high demands and totally go no where. We HAVE to learn the dynamic and provide sensible solutions that are attractive to all the industry stakeholders. With special interest group power on the hill and mandates coming from politicians we must become and remain engaged in the process. At the end of the day, if a driver wants to work for a company and join a union. Fine. No problem here. However, who has the right to tell any American they cannot engage in free-enterprise and give it a go as a small business owner. I would only caution certain approaches to finding solutions. Historical past efforts have not landed much and could increase the dangers of being forced out of business. |
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Post by lowrider on Oct 21, 2009 19:54:27 GMT -5
just curious bubba, what are these historical past efforts that have not landed much?
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Post by canhauler on Oct 21, 2009 21:49:12 GMT -5
Good luck on your reduced dwell time at the terminals. They adjust the labor and equipment needs according to how many cans are moving for the day. Do you know what your terminal managements deciding factor for this system of gatemoves is?
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Post by OOCVA Guest on Oct 21, 2009 21:58:44 GMT -5
Good luck on your reduced dwell time at the terminals. They adjust the labor and equipment needs according to how many cans are moving for the day. Do you know what your terminal managements deciding factor for this system of gatemoves is? To point yes they do. There are times such as now where the demand for labor is greater than what can be provided. Point being there is no funding to increase the needed workers on the ground. Such is another reason for the likely lease of APM by VIT. To utilize the automation due to the reduced need for labor. Not saying right or wrong, just stating the situation. Again, my point being if the focus/blame for the inefficient port environment and the resulting emissions is to be taken off the owner-operator, then these core issues need to be addressed. |
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Post by canhauler on Oct 21, 2009 22:11:23 GMT -5
Sorry, your wrong. There is plenty of funding to move the freight. It's a question of greed by your stevedoring/terminal gate operators in reducing cost to collect more profit same as most motor carriers lie to you about what the true customer rate is if you are to receive percentage pay of the gross revenue.
As far as automation, it's only as good as the men who operate the equipment. If it's so great why are ther so many delays at the new terminal?
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Post by catman on Oct 21, 2009 22:14:03 GMT -5
Ok fellows, so why not a contract like the Miami truckers have with the ILA. Is that possible?
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Post by truckerusa on Oct 21, 2009 22:24:20 GMT -5
Anything is possible. The ILA have over four hundred truckers in south Florida that are all lease operators under a union bargaining agreement. Hammerdown85 on here is one of them. Ask him about about how that works.
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Post by OOCVA Guest on Oct 21, 2009 22:42:15 GMT -5
Sorry, your wrong. There is plenty of funding to move the freight. It's a question of greed by your stevedoring/terminal gate operators in reducing cost to collect more profit same as most motor carriers lie to you about what the true customer rate is if you are to receive percentage pay of the gross revenue. As far as automation, it's only as good as the men who operate the equipment. If it's so great why are ther so many delays at the new terminal? Well, I'll have to agree to disagree. Many financial figures are public knowledge. If you look at the contracted rate per longshoreman and the overall volume decrease, and the fact that the state is demanding their bond payment, the folks at the terminals have been told not to increase labor. Just compare the labor cost to the revenue etc etc. Automation, sure it's better. I agree that the folks operating the equipment can be slow. But that was not my point. My point was the are moving freight there TO REDUCE LABOR COST. Also, many delays are caused by either the carrier and or the driver or sometimes a combination of the two. I posed the same questions myself and was shown first hand. Here goes: I am sure you are aware APM is pushing folks to use the appt. system. That said, if a dispatcher does not enter the correct information, perhaps a wrong digit of a container number or the info is somehow incomplete then that driver is placed to the back of the pack. Until all the other drivers cycle that swiped before he/she did. I saw drivers come in with appts for loads but not the empty coming in etc etc. Something we encourage of our members is to double/triple check dispatches to make sure that info is correct and limit time wasting. That is just one example and as said before, I'm sure some folks there could work quicker. All in all, back to the original post. If the core issues are not dealt with (Emissions and inefficiency) then the current trend will continue and we will be forced out of our businesses. |
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Post by Food for thought on Oct 21, 2009 22:46:40 GMT -5
Ok fellows, so why not a contract like the Miami truckers have with the ILA. Is that possible? Well the local ILA would have to be willing. Willing to do more than just talk about it. Also, most of this environmental crap is coming from the teamsters. They(teamsters) have been foaming at the mouth to get a hold of the port driver market. ILA has to be willing to go up against them. |
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Post by canhauler on Oct 21, 2009 23:24:31 GMT -5
Is it public knowledge they get paid so much for every can at the gate? It's to their advantage to use the least amount of labor and equipment to handle the flow of traffic. It doesn't cost anything for us to sit idle while they enjoy their profit. Don't get to cozy with the management there. They have a vested interested in keeping drivers steered in the wrong direction.
The appointment system is crap, just another excuse by management to defray the blame for not having the correct man power or equipment in place to do the work. Do you know they have tried this stupid terminal appointment system off and on for over twenty years? They're not a grocery warehouse operation. It's the port. Wait until the full work load returns within the next year or two to see what an unorganized disaster this is again.
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Post by OOCVA Guest on Oct 21, 2009 23:35:32 GMT -5
Is it public knowledge they get paid so much for every can at the gate? It's to their advantage to use the least amount of labor and equipment to handle the flow of traffic. It doesn't cost anything for us to sit idle while they enjoy their profit. Don't get to cozy with the management there. They have a vested interested in keeping drivers steered in the wrong direction. The appointment system is crap, just another excuse by management to defray the blame for not having the correct man power or equipment in place to do the work. Do you know they have tried this stupid terminal appointment system off and on for over twenty years? They're not a grocery warehouse operation. It's the port. Wait until the full work load returns within the next year or two to see what an unorganized disaster this is again. Yep it is. Go to their website and download the Tariffs roster. It's listed. I am not saying the system is without flaws. I was simply making an example. No one is cozy with management either. There has to be communication for beter or worse. Yes the appt. system has sucked in the past too. However, with the computer linking that has happened between carriers and the terminal, it does have the ability to work well. IF, implemented correctly. There are a million things to go back and forth on but the issue at hand with the proposed expansion of said clean trucks programs are here. Drivers need to become engaged and let folks know the skinny. If not, unfavorable decisions will be made and folks will have something totally new to complain about on channel 19. Not all of the decision makers are affluent on the issues either. If all they hear from is one side, then they will side with them by default. There are opportunities for good things to happen for us. It just requires guys/gals to do some work outside of flapping jaws. Know what I mean. |
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Post by canhauler on Oct 21, 2009 23:41:59 GMT -5
Ok fellows, so why not a contract like the Miami truckers have with the ILA. Is that possible? Well the local ILA would have to be willing. Willing to do more than just talk about it. Also, most of this environmental crap is coming from the teamsters. They(teamsters) have been foaming at the mouth to get a hold of the port driver market. ILA has to be willing to go up against them. Hey food for thought, it's not up to the ILA to let us know when they have put everything together for us. It takes a certain amount of sacrifice by drivers themselves. We have to organize ourselves not have someone else do it for us. We have to prove to the ILA that we are self supporting and deserve their help to show us how to make this happen. If we are only members because someone handed us the keys to the building we wind up with a bunch of membership that doesn't know how the Hell we got there in the first place. I get so sick of hearing some drivers say "well let me know when that happens and I'll join up". That makes me want to puke. At some point we have to show we have the guts to take action. Who cares what the Teamsters want to do or want us to do. They had their chance but chose to screw us with this employee-mandate. Right now it's still our choice to make. Seems like the ILA is willing to do more than talk about it. They have several hundred owner/operator truckers in Miami, Port Everglades Florida. Some of them even drop and pick up in Hampton Roads. Want the true facts? Ask hardtime trucker about it. He has worked with the Miami truckers and knows a lot of the ILA leadership. He also knows the details of the trucer contract in Miami. What we need is a contract to work under whereby everyone knows what the rules are. I don't think that's asking to much to be paid for the work we do or enjoy a few union benefits certainly when this industry is making millions off the fruits of our labor delivering their freight. I want to remain an owner-operator but I don't want to fight constantly for my money every week or deal with problems that are up to the port to fix not mine. |
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Post by canhauler on Oct 21, 2009 23:52:10 GMT -5
Is it public knowledge they get paid so much for every can at the gate? It's to their advantage to use the least amount of labor and equipment to handle the flow of traffic. It doesn't cost anything for us to sit idle while they enjoy their profit. Don't get to cozy with the management there. They have a vested interested in keeping drivers steered in the wrong direction. The appointment system is crap, just another excuse by management to defray the blame for not having the correct man power or equipment in place to do the work. Do you know they have tried this stupid terminal appointment system off and on for over twenty years? They're not a grocery warehouse operation. It's the port. Wait until the full work load returns within the next year or two to see what an unorganized disaster this is again. Yep it is. Go to their website and download the Tariffs roster. It's listed. I am not saying the system is without flaws. I was simply making an example. No one is cozy with management either. There has to be communication for beter or worse. Yes the appt. system has sucked in the past too. However, with the computer linking that has happened between carriers and the terminal, it does have the ability to work well. IF, implemented correctly. There are a million things to go back and forth on but the issue at hand with the proposed expansion of said clean trucks programs are here. Drivers need to become engaged and let folks know the skinny. If not, unfavorable decisions will be made and folks will have something totally new to complain about on channel 19. Not all of the decision makers are affluent on the issues either. If all they hear from is one side, then they will side with them by default. There are opportunities for good things to happen for us. It just requires guys/gals to do some work outside of flapping jaws. Know what I mean. Yeah, go out and convince the flapping jaws on the children's band. I know a number of concerned people in this group are already making it happen. There was a signed petition sent (because of work by hardtime) to law makers to inform them that not all owner-operators are on board this clean truck fiasco on the Atlantic. Have a good night. I have freight to haul in the early AM. |
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Post by Red on Oct 22, 2009 7:12:17 GMT -5
there are a lot of truckers out here at the port who want everyone else to take the punches for them. i have never worked around so many people that demand something be done but are to afraid of the companies or their stinking job to take a stand. what has happened in trucking over the past ten years to turn grown men into the gutless wonders we have today? if we cannot do anything for our self we'll be doomed to continue in this same direction until the teamsters implement there silly ban on the ownerdriver. i am ready when you guys are to make something happen. i also am sure there are many others out here that will back whatever plan you devise to turn this one sided system around in our favor.
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Post by dirtcheap on Oct 22, 2009 16:47:45 GMT -5
Hello everyone. I'm new posting to this forum although I have been monitoring your community for some time. I find this port trucker forum a fascinating group with mostly very informed opinions. Sorry but I believe the lady drivers out here have more guts than men when it comes to standing firm against the company  |
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Post by hammerdown85 on Oct 22, 2009 18:24:30 GMT -5
HEY, GUYS a lot of our problems is us, we must stay focus . the country have been changing
all factorys gone. the common men could work in any factory and support his family ,i did once.
now between factorys gone, immigration necesityalot of people end up porttrucking and now is real bad well guys is not going to get good soon the real smart porttrucker is the one
who will survive .now every body is worry if we are going to fix this it will take ALOT
THE ILA IS THERE drivers need to learn why this why that down here south is cut troat.
i find a lot of ig norance between olat or some drivers the union can not do like the old
days break head here or leg there the union companys are under alot of pressure
to work cheap and steal canply with all the laws if there is ignorance by the drivers
it makes it harder . the road will not be easy but give it all you got ......
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Post by badcompany on Oct 22, 2009 19:02:59 GMT -5
If the International Longshoremen Assoc. decides to get involved in port trucking I'm down with that. I know many drivers right now that will attend meetings or do whatever it takes to make that situation happen. However on the other hand myself and those same drivers will certainly not have anything more to do with the Teamsters after what they are currently attempting to do with our owner/operator status. Many truckers here will support any move by your group that involves the ILA in Virginia or anywhere else. I sincerely hope that is the direction this organization is going.
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Post by fortyfoot on Oct 23, 2009 10:45:26 GMT -5
Hello everyone. I'm new posting to this forum although I have been monitoring your community for some time. I find this port trucker forum a fascinating group with mostly very informed opinions. Sorry but I believe the lady drivers out here have more guts than men when it comes to standing firm against the company You got my vote lady!!!!!! |
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Post by therealdeal on Oct 23, 2009 15:19:45 GMT -5
The Teamsters are becoming desperate at their international headquarters. They have spent millions of their members money on this port driver organizing failure. The Change-To-Win labor group which the Teamsters are a member have spent more millions of their own membership money. In return for this investment CTW leadership were awarded control running the port driver campaign for the Teamsters. It's a top down organizing effort whereby union leadership wants badly to make this happen but the hundreds of thousands of truckers who are the potential dues paying members don't want the union to trample their individual right to own a small business. Teamsters continue to claim truckers are lined up in full support of their plan which sadly is far from the truth. Their environmental clean truck plan was just a clever ploy to seek public support in order to sneak the employee-mandate in the back door. This original clean truck plan as well as the (Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports) was created by the CTW labor leadership to pressure the ports by manipulating environmental groups, the media, and community citizen associations to demand attaching the employee-mandate to the CTP. The missing ingredient however is the lack of any grassroots organizing effort or to even consult with the truckers first who the coalition labor group wants to unionize.
Apparently CTW union leadership never gave a d**n about the truckers or the real causes of port air pollution because their green coalition campaign has not truly been about either one. Instead they have been very careful to avoid many controversial issues which may be behind port pollution such as cost cutting management tactics at the large terminals that lead to excessive truck idling or waiting times. Answers to these type questions may effect the working relationship they enjoy at particular ports who are on their list of working partners going with them to Washington to help persuade Congress to change FAAA transportation rulings. The primary goal for the CTW green campaign is simply a rush to enlist thousands of new dues paying members without regard to what truckers needs are or who the real terminal polluters of the atmosphere are. No one at the top of this CTW/teamster port campaign fiasco has ever had any hands on experience in transportation, trucking, or ownership of a truck but they have managed to promote themselves as the supreme deciders of what is best for everyone.
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virginiaisforlovers
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Post by virginiaisforlovers on Oct 25, 2009 16:35:11 GMT -5
Virginia is for lovers not fighters anymore. There are not enough truckers left here with the courage willing to mount anything against stopping the Teamsters. The small Norfolk based driver association OOCVA is to weak for such a move so when that day happens I'll retire. I doubt the situation here will change but there is always hope.
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Post by Idling Away on Oct 25, 2009 20:34:01 GMT -5
Virginia is for lovers not fighters anymore. There are not enough truckers left here with the courage willing to mount anything against stopping the Teamsters. The small Norfolk based driver association OOCVA is to weak for such a move so when that day happens I'll retire. I doubt the situation here will change but there is always hope. No, what you really mean is you personally will do NOTHING! Besides run your mouth. I'm so fed up with internet warriors and CB power play DJ's. |
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Post by Idling Away on Oct 25, 2009 20:39:56 GMT -5
The Teamsters are becoming desperate at their international headquarters. They have spent millions of their members money on this port driver organizing failure. The Change-To-Win labor group which the Teamsters are a member have spent more millions of their own membership money. In return for this investment CTW leadership were awarded control running the port driver campaign for the Teamsters. It's a top down organizing effort whereby union leadership wants badly to make this happen but the hundreds of thousands of truckers who are the potential dues paying members don't want the union to trample their individual right to own a small business. Teamsters continue to claim truckers are lined up in full support of their plan which sadly is far from the truth. Their environmental clean truck plan was just a clever ploy to seek public support in order to sneak the employee-mandate in the back door. This original clean truck plan as well as the (Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports) was created by the CTW labor leadership to pressure the ports by manipulating environmental groups, the media, and community citizen associations to demand attaching the employee-mandate to the CTP. The missing ingredient however is the lack of any grassroots organizing effort or to even consult with the truckers first who the coalition labor group wants to unionize. Apparently CTW union leadership never gave a d**n about the truckers or the real causes of port air pollution because their green coalition campaign has not truly been about either one. Instead they have been very careful to avoid many controversial issues which may be behind port pollution such as cost cutting management tactics at the large terminals that lead to excessive truck idling or waiting times. Answers to these type questions may effect the working relationship they enjoy at particular ports who are on their list of working partners going with them to Washington to help persuade Congress to change FAAA transportation rulings. The primary goal for the CTW green campaign is simply a rush to enlist thousands of new dues paying members without regard to what truckers needs are or who the real terminal polluters of the atmosphere are. No one at the top of this CTW/teamster port campaign fiasco has ever had any hands on experience in transportation, trucking, or ownership of a truck but they have managed to promote themselves as the supreme deciders of what is best for everyone. AMEN!!!!!!!! |
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