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Post by Ladypowerdriver on May 30, 2013 21:02:41 GMT -5
SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - Port truck drivers claim unfair work conditions and paySavannah's port truck driver's are taking a stand this weekend against their bosses for what they call unfair work conditions. On Thursday, WTOC got both sides of the issue as we spoke with a truck driver and his boss about the issue. The drivers and their union, the Teamsters, say they are unlawfully classified as "independent contractors" by the trucking companies. They say low wages, high operating costs, "dangerously" long hours are just part of the equation drivers deal with. The trucking company we spoke to, C&K Trucking, said they can see some of those points, but some of it is partly the fault of how the port operates, blaming a system which is slow by nature and causes lag times and delays drivers. WTOC met with port truck driver "Big" Mike Alleyne, who's been driving for C&K Trucking for several years. He says he's not paid enough to maintain his truck, the equipment he has isn't good and he feels it's about time the company be mandated to pay health benefits for drivers. Under the independent contractor label, he says they don't have to. In Los Angeles, Seattle and New Jersey, they've seen driver walk-outs, lawsuits and new legislation in response to what the union calls a national problem. For "Big" Mike, he says it's a family problem when he ends up paying for things he feels his employer should be paying for. "Everything falls on us. If we get a ticket, it falls on us. If it's equipment, it falls on us. We're responsible for our own insurance. We don't have any backing really," Alleyne told WTOC. Some people we spoke to say the truckers know the job, know what they signed up for. Can there be change? The Teamsters union and the truckers are holding a forum this Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at the Coastal Georgia Center on Fahm Street with a panel of city, county and state elected officials and community members to hear both sides of the issue. www.wtoc.com/story/22462342/savannah-port-truck-drivers-claim-unfair-work-conditions-pay?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8942524
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Post by jg on May 31, 2013 7:39:49 GMT -5
the teamsters are going to screw us just like before so prepare to bend over driver! not surprising a lot of drivers follow people like so many sheep. you don't get something for nothing no matter how many different ways they try explain it. how about it forum leaders. what's the scoop with this return of teamster interest in savannah? why the silence?
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Post by Josh on May 31, 2013 15:52:02 GMT -5
So the teamsters are going to get us $2.50 per mile? That is what containers should pay empty -loaded to my truck but I don't think the Teamsters are the right match. What are they going to do? Stop UPS from going too the port? We need to take action our self first. Drivers are not forced to haul cheap boxes. If we say no more and mean it things will change. Until that happens with or without Teamsters this will just be another day.
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Post by ilovdieselsmoke on May 31, 2013 17:09:49 GMT -5
I don't believe you'll get that kind of commitment out of the Teamsters but good luck..
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Post by largecar on May 31, 2013 21:30:53 GMT -5
maybe they will walk out of this forum with a new rate contract i don't like what i am hearing from the left coast. i bet we will be looking at installing dpf filters on our trucks before this is over with
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Post by largecar on May 31, 2013 21:37:40 GMT -5
So the teamsters are going to get us $2.50 per mile? That is what containers should pay empty -loaded to my truck but I don't think the Teamsters are the right match. What are they going to do? Stop UPS from going too the port? We need to take action our self first. Drivers are not forced to haul cheap boxes. If we say no more and mean it things will change. Until that happens with or without Teamsters this will just be another day. we could stop this if drivers would stick together at each company. our trucking company has only a few lease drivers so it's easier to control before they decide to cut our rates. that gets everybodys attention when loads don't pay what they should so we have an office meeting to straighten it out. no need to wait or pull another load until problem is solved.
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Post by HardTimeTrucker on Jun 1, 2013 14:00:51 GMT -5
They are BSing the owner-driver in Savannah. The Teamsters don't want to deal with owner-drivers. Change-2-Win (CTW) doesn't want to deal with drivers who own their truck. CTW is funding a major portion of the Teamsters Port Trucker Campaign so they share command of the project. CTW feels owner-op truckers don't fit the profile for good union members because we are too risky, head strong, ask to many d**n questions, don't take orders well.. They want to remove that ownership ability from the individual driver so they can mold loyal union members who don't question their authority...
WOW, sounds almost like a few of these stinking trucking companies! They don't understand why anyone would want to own a truck or even a business. They are made up of mostly researches and AFL-CIO organizers who are used to organizing industries like janitors or health care workers. They don't understand trucking and would rather deal with general workers who own no tools of the trade.
They are taking advantage of truckers who desperately want something to happen. Forcing the owner-operator out of business by enlisting an army of environmentalist to help them accomplish that feat is not the answer. There are more ways than this incredibly stupid plan to skin a CAT but truckers have to decide what they want first. We have the power to demand change the correct way.
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Post by peterbilt on Jun 4, 2013 8:27:42 GMT -5
I am not a big union guy and never really have been but we need something around here. So, if not the teamsters then what. Y'all have to offer a viable alternative or these guys around here are going to cling to the first thing that comes along. We are all desperate for a change in this industry. WE NEED A VOICE!!!!! Rather you or I like it or not the teamsters are offering that voice. I don't necessarily trust the teamsters either but something has got to change. WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?
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Post by rjones on Jun 4, 2013 16:39:41 GMT -5
don't be fooled by the offer of a voice. i do not need them speaking for me.the teamsters are here for a reason , increase membership. they don't care about drivers who own trucks.from what i see,read,hear they are not going to help with anything we need such as better container rates. in fact it looks like just the opposite. yes you are right ,.we need something badly. maybe the guys who promote this pt site can call a meeting. they know more about this then anyone else. it is not the first time for teamsters in savannah. we have been through this in the past. i did nt trust then or do i now to do what is in our best interest.i think as truck owners we should call our own meeting but i will leave that to others here who know more about how to go about doing that. i hope they do it soon.jus saying
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Post by dirtpan on Jun 4, 2013 17:40:13 GMT -5
there are better alternatives then teamsters driver. if you are a company driver they are probably a good choice. i own my two trucks and the teamsters are not the answer. when you guys announce a meeting please post it on here with plenty time. i volunteer to get the word out. all i need to know is the details. i talked to mr. k this morning so i know something is up. i support you so like i say . post it.
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Post by bigblacktruck on Jun 4, 2013 20:59:47 GMT -5
I am not a big union guy and never really have been but we need something around here. So, if not the teamsters then what. Y'all have to offer a viable alternative or these guys around here are going to cling to the first thing that comes along. We are all desperate for a change in this industry. WE NEED A VOICE!!!!! Rather you or I like it or not the teamsters are offering that voice. I don't necessarily trust the teamsters either but something has got to change. WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES? After following what has happened at west coast ports with the Teamsters I don't see trusting them to do what is right for us. I agree something has to break because drivers will seek out any alternative when their situation seems hopeless.
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Post by mark on Jun 5, 2013 19:44:28 GMT -5
how about call a driver meeting like in past. drivers will come. they always do. no driver i know wants to go with the teamsters. we are still without a direction. a meeting is the best way to collect suggestions.
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Post by ilovdieselsmoke on Jun 5, 2013 21:52:45 GMT -5
I am not a big union guy and never really have been but we need something around here. So, if not the teamsters then what. Y'all have to offer a viable alternative or these guys around here are going to cling to the first thing that comes along. We are all desperate for a change in this industry. WE NEED A VOICE!!!!! Rather you or I like it or not the teamsters are offering that voice. I don't necessarily trust the teamsters either but something has got to change. WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES? Just curious , what would you like to see happen at this port peterbilt? I know rates are incredibly cheap because there are to many fly-by-night companies which have no difficulty hanging out a shingle, open for business. Another serious problem is stealing from lease/operators. I think we have some answers for that. I believe it's time truckers called their own meeting to explore some reasonable options together. Your right, we clearly need a voice but that voice must recognize that one shoe doesn't fit all. That voice should be a collective voice representing the majority of truckers in this large transportation area. Many drivers do not fit well in company owned vehicles. On the other hand some drivers are actually better off working strictly as a company employee driver. I myself like the ownership route so that's the direction I chose for myself but we must never relinquish the right to make those choices good or bad.
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Post by mudflap on Jun 6, 2013 15:34:23 GMT -5
i would like to see 2 bucks a mile. we could get that the day drivers park trucks for few weeks. teamsters dont want to discuss that. i asked them about strike. no deal. i asked what are they going to do for trucker in sav. we have a plan but for now nothing. if i knew the answer i would share with you. i do not like someone who keeps me in the dark. they have been talking trash for months now. no results. but we are to just sit around and wait. my waiting is over. if you drivers have sothing cooking i want in.
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Post by slowpoke on Jun 7, 2013 12:41:04 GMT -5
we need to take the bull by the horns and quit expecting others to solve our problems. this invites people to take advantage of a bad situation. i could not get my questions answered so i quit going after the first couple times.
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Post by fatman on Jun 7, 2013 16:24:51 GMT -5
no i got that much out of it. they are here to go after our trucks. teamsters are not going to help drivers who own a truck. i bought into a bad bill of goods. we need help with rates. we need help with trucking companys who take our money. we dont need the EPA in our business. this was a bad mistake believing teamsters would help. yes i fell for it to. now i know the truth. i hope the rest of you around here soon find we have been had by the union. it pisses me off the more i think about this.
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Post by BigEgg on Jun 7, 2013 17:19:22 GMT -5
NO WAY. I'M NOT GIVING UP WORKING AS AN OO TRUCKER. WHY WOULD THEY INVOLVE ENVIRO WEIRDOS? I HOPE WHAT I HEAR IS NOT TRUE. PLEASE TELL US SO.
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Post by Ladypowerdriver on Jun 8, 2013 3:23:32 GMT -5
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Post by Ladypowerdriver on Jun 8, 2013 3:38:37 GMT -5
HERE'S A REVELATION FOR YAH: Trent Shelton's status. Wednesday Make sure EVERYBODY in your boat is rowing, and not drilling holes when you're not looking. KNOW YOUR CIRCLE. #RehabTime
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Post by goatman on Jun 8, 2013 5:47:49 GMT -5
i went to that forum on saturday with three other drivers. did we come away with any answers? no, nothing i needed to hear. that goes for all of us in the group who went. what i see is they are going to use the desperation of truckers at this port to enrich themselves. now we have a big union doing exactly what the companies have been doing for years at this port. i hate to rain on anybodys parade but we were better off before the teamsters arrived. if anything we need more then ever to help our self before they ruin it for all independent truckers in savannah by changing our work classification.
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Post by peterbilt on Jun 11, 2013 12:00:47 GMT -5
First of all diesel smoke. I would like to see these drivers stick up for themselves and each other and quit whining like a bunch of little school girls!!!! You know enough is enough with all the whining and complaining. These trucking companies around here are treating us the way they do because we have allowed them to for far to long. I don't know what the best option is for these drivers at this port but there is one thing for sure. It's going to change. This system is just not sustainable. It's going to have to change, to me the key is making sure it changes the way we want it to. I don't think the teamsters is the answer but the fact is. If we don't do something they will. There is to much crying and whining around here and not enough DOING!!! If a union is the best way, I don't think it should be the teamsters. There are other unions around. Maybe we could start our own union. One that is run by us and for us. I wonder if anyone has ever checked into that.
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Post by peterbilt on Jun 11, 2013 12:01:32 GMT -5
First of all diesel smoke. I would like to see these drivers stick up for themselves and each other and quit whining like a bunch of little school girls!!!! You know enough is enough with all the whining and complaining. These trucking companies around here are treating us the way they do because we have allowed them to for far to long. I don't know what the best option is for these drivers at this port but there is one thing for sure. It's going to change. This system is just not sustainable. It's going to have to change, to me the key is making sure it changes the way we want it to. I don't think the teamsters is the answer but the fact is. If we don't do something they will. There is to much crying and whining around here and not enough DOING!!! If a union is the best way, I don't think it should be the teamsters. There are other unions around. Maybe we could start our own union. One that is run by us and for us. I wonder if anyone has ever checked into that.
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Post by gardencity on Jun 11, 2013 20:37:06 GMT -5
i know a good option - shutdown trucks-leave the cargo on the pier- but then we have to pass out some b@lls first because most around this port are lacking them. i am talking a big shutdown. not some halfazz park the truck til after lunch break. a shutdown that takes place for a few weeks. for that you have to prepare but how. i do not know the answer to that. how do we get what we need from that if we can pull a big shutdown off? i do not have that answer. i do not know if there is the stomach for that in savannah. i heard that many years ago drivers did that here for a month. i heard the leaders did not have there s%@t together so it ended in disaster. left everyone with a bad taste. can that happen again? who knows but i do know the teamsters are not here to help. they will not even answer our questions. what does that tell you? it tells me they are not interested in what i consider important to me. it tells me they will do what they want regardless of what we need. that is not a good start. they may really have a plan but looks like we are not included in it. u ask why cant we start our own union? if we do need a union i would say why not talk to the longshoremen. we work around them each day not the teamsters. i know they have a bunch of smartazz workers but we have an equal amount of smartazz drivers so maybe we can work something out. we need answers to questions we have listed but i do not have the answers. this has to be worked out so where do we start or who knows something about this?
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Post by maxbrat on Jun 11, 2013 21:40:44 GMT -5
im down with that. so how many do we need to shutdown?
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Post by melvei on Jun 11, 2013 23:07:31 GMT -5
interesting stuff but i don't believe a general strike by truckers in this way will work. who are we striking at? we work for the trucking companies not the port. if we shut them all off from the nipple that may cause enough confusion they will throw the guilty parties to the wolves. someone down there may force the companies to sit down with us to work something out. they will have to get trucks back moving to customers. what about the trucks with company drivers behind the wheel? how about trucks from out of town? would they honor a shutdown by us? a lot to think about. this is what we should be doing at a meeting. are there any plans for a driver meeting soon?
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