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Post by ilovdieselsmoke on Jun 12, 2013 7:34:38 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. I agree with you. Something is over due to break here in this industry. Many of these companies are finally running out of the seemingly endless supply of suckers they have enjoyed for years. More new rules kick in July 1st but that's not going to stop these intermodal companies from running 24/7 because most don't take the laws serious anyway. The really bad ones always seem to get around the law somehow. The solution to this problem is within our own workforce. Somehow the attitude of drivers toward the trucking industry has got to improve. Drivers over the years have edged toward the mentality of operating like a temporary workforce. Professionalism / pride has been drained away and replaced by the thinking that I'm just here for right now, no loyalty to any idea or anyone. Well you get what you pay for and that's why today the new regulations are being proposed. Before we can fix any issues here we must educate the ones who are out on the road today. At least the ones we can save! We need to start by working together again. That is about to take place. Do we need a union? I don't know any more but the Teamsters are not a good fit for the owner-operator. I have ideas on how to make some things work but first we must build some numbers.
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Post by ilovdieselsmoke on Jun 12, 2013 10:06:29 GMT -5
I believe one thing we need take advantage of is to form a coalition with a few motor carriers who want to see professionalism and respect restored. There are way to many agents or managers within this business that see truckers as a APM machine to withdraw money anytime they get the urge. That has to stop. How many drivers do we have that would really like to meet monthly or bi monthly to have a voice? I think the numbers would be surprising if done right. I'm not interested in working with any group or individual who thinks getting rid of the independent trucker will solve the problem. I know the Teamsters plan is exactly that. They had plenty opportunity to do the right thing but their port to port track record over the past four years has proved they are not interested in owner/operators. I believe we could form a coalition of some sorts with the ILA (longshoremen) but that's as far as that will go. What ever we do has to began at home with our self. Any union is only as strong as it's workers. A union that doesn't listen to what the workers want is no more than a labor corporation so what's the point of joining with some labor group to be told what to do from the start. There are a lot of things we can do with an association that a union can't do but first we must organize among ourselves to create anything useful. After that we can discuss options but first we need members just like a union..
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Post by james on Jun 12, 2013 11:10:43 GMT -5
they understand it better if no trucks show up for work. so when do we start to meet. i'm ready but i want something besides a b!t#h session each month. i hear plenty that on the cb radio. we need something constructive happening in savannah. i will pay a membership fee if thats what it takes. jus start it now.
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Post by squawkbox on Jun 12, 2013 14:09:02 GMT -5
ok so i like the NO trucks show up theme too but that will take a plan. you need to talk about this among fellow drivers who can be trusted. call a meeting and many drivers will come. a lot of guys are fedup and didn't hear what they wanted a couple weekends ago. give a good two week notice if possible. i was around when you guys had meetings before several years back so take a time out to learn from mistakes made. try not to repeat them. i am not saying there was not a true effort but scores of folk were allowed to talk out of place toward the end. the meeting calls did not get out to everyone. you may have more help from the sidelines then you think at present so do it. i will make sure others come when you post a date.
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Post by leftcoast66 on Jun 13, 2013 12:30:49 GMT -5
watch your backs georgia trucker. i call to you from oakland,california. the teamsters were here at this port making big promise. they are the cause of owner-driver here spending hundreds of thousands of dollars installing the pollution control filters. first their were grants but hundreds of drivers like me couldn't obtain them. we were left without work unless we paid ourself for the dpf upgrades.many of us were wiped out having to borrow thousands of dollars to upgrade trucks to the new regs but that was only a temp fix. now you have to have new trucks.since, i have been forced out of business so now i drive for a company making one half i did with my truck. i still have a truck that i cannot use. one day i plan to move from here and take that truck with me. for now i try save funds but driving for someone else makes that almost imposible. so even though i drive a company truck right now we still have no union,no representation. we don't even hear from them. they are history but we left with the mess.
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Post by newport news on Jun 13, 2013 12:50:37 GMT -5
really bazzare! reading this makes me wanna puke that's sad dude.
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Post by david on Jun 13, 2013 16:14:50 GMT -5
it's going to be even more sad if that happens here. i have an old 79' 359 peterbilt.there's no way am i going to buy anything new or purchase these dpf filters to install on my d**n truck. i have no intention of standing by to see what these tricksters will do next. you drivers call your meeting. i will be there and promise i will bring many more friends. there has to be a way to stop them from causing this kind of trouble in savannah. we need to print some of this and pass out to other drivers. i don't think anyone in savannah knows what they are up to. the word needs to get out.
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Post by *TAILGATOR* on Jun 13, 2013 20:21:56 GMT -5
do you drivers believe they plan to do this same thing in south carolina? this will spell the end of us. we have three trucks a 1993, 95,and 96 model Kenworth. all in excellent shape.
we were approached last year by someone from the port to join the scrap for cash program and use that money for a down payment on a newer truck. i told them they were insane to offer $10,000 for any of the three trucks. they don't have a clue of value between manufacturers. they also can't appreciate the fact that trucks in good shape, well maintained and driven right don't pose operational problems or pollute so why junk something that gets good mileage and is making money?
no this is another insane idea that i'm hearing so yes we will be watching what you fellows do in savannah about this. we'll mount a fight here if need be but hopefully it will end in savannah. we may even join you down there at your meeting so don't be surprised if a few carolina truckers show up too.
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Post by bigblacktruck on Jun 14, 2013 7:26:04 GMT -5
watch your backs georgia trucker. i call to you from oakland,california. the teamsters were here at this port making big promise. they are the cause of owner-driver here spending hundreds of thousands of dollars installing the pollution control filters. first their were grants but hundreds of drivers like me couldn't obtain them. we were left without work unless we paid ourself for the dpf upgrades.many of us were wiped out having to borrow thousands of dollars to upgrade trucks to the new regs but that was only a temp fix. now you have to have new trucks.since, i have been forced out of business so now i drive for a company making one half i did with my truck. i still have a truck that i cannot use. one day i plan to move from here and take that truck with me. for now i try save funds but driving for someone else makes that almost imposible. so even though i drive a company truck right now we still have no union,no representation. we don't even hear from them. they are history but we left with the mess. well this doesn't need to happen in southeast georgia. thnx for sharing your grief. i am seeing red!
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joe
New Member
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Post by joe on Jun 14, 2013 22:21:28 GMT -5
if we need a union i like explore the idea of starting one for truckers in savannah. how hard would be to do that? are we better just have a driver asso? what advantage to this?
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