Virginia OOC assoc

[portsmouthvatrucker]

you people want to have a laugh? check out this driver assoc. site up here in hampton Roads,va oocva.org/
good luck trying to post on it .they have censorship like unbelievable. each time anyone post any new ideas on how truckers should work together they remove it. how very sad. they must be under the spell of industry management. they claim to represent the local truck drivers here on the va peninsular. maybe it is the trucking companies they represent? no freedom of speech on this owner-operator-coalition trucker site. wonder who they really are afraid will read it anyway? the port? this is the kind of crap we have to put up with in virginia.

[pinlock]

I was suspicious of this group in the first place. They may be drinking the VPA koolaid

[Cadillacman]

Not to sound stupid but what is the VPA

[Here are the facts]

Actually , the author of this thread is a liar and spreading mis-information about our forum.


First, he created multiple user names to create an illusion of support for the first post he made.


Second, the first post was a lie pertaining to a proposed industry wide drop in rates. There is no proof of this. Also, this was posted to rally support for his point of view.

Third, this person is trying to use our resources to gain support for a course of action we don't agree with. ( Hiring Haul) Though it looks good on paper, it is not plausible in reality. Not yet, not until some other issues are addressed.

Third, When his posts were deleted do to false information , He began trying to discredit us both in this forum and ours. He stated that we are somehow "in the pocket" of the industry.


It is very , very sad to see someone in our driving community using the same fear mongering tactics that brokers , motor carriers, and gov't officials use.



The user here is " Portsmouthvatrucker" was blocked and posts deleted because he created multiple user names from the same computer as if he were different people. One message stating he was in Miami, one stating he is in Boston, etc etc.


The OOC is comprising of a very dedicated and hard working board and membership base. We are not "selling" anything. We look to empower our community through networking politically and legally. We are cautious of union involvement do to what has happened in SoCal.

We are being bashed because we don't support a hiring hall.

Here is why:

1.) We don't need another motor carrier
2.) The idea of bidding on existing contracts is tough. Most of the load are already under lengthy contracts and you cannot even place a bid until they are up for review.
3.) By competing with existing motor carriers, you are lowering rates to be competitive. Not good.
4.) Who has the startup capital for this? Think, 100 drivers need $1000.00 per week in fuel for up to 90 days. It can take that long for corporate invoices to be filed.
5.) We embrace the idea of Owner Operators working in a free market.
6.) That "hiring haul" would still have issues being efficient while on the Port.

So, we are certainly working to improve the situation for our members. Everything is being done on a volunteer basis. There is no "VPA' koolaid.


I would bet my dollars in fact that Portsmouthvatrucker and pinlock are the same people here.


The OOC has been working on ground level issues with both the VPA and VIT.
We have established relationships with elected officials. One of which heads the states transportation committee.

We have been recognized nationally for our efforts.





My name is Paul Yurkovac, I am a board member of OOCVA. I do not need to hide behind a curtain of fake names and false posts. We can be contacted if there are any questions that relate to our actions or philosophy as an organization. If this individual is so bent on us, he should make his identity known and consider a sit down. After all, we are here to help. I feel this person really need just that. help.


The OOC feels firmly that the protection of our members is MOST important. This is why we will not allow mis-information to be posted on our site. We work hard to ensure we equip our users with FACT.



Thanks

[FACTS ONLY]

VPA = Virginia Port Authority. It is the body that is owned by the state of Virginia.

The VPA employs VIT ( Virginia International Terminals ) to operate the facilities.


That is the difference between the two.



OOC works with VIT to address operational concerns, such as wait times, chassis availability etc.


We work with VPA on more political issues.

[petedabroker]

Dear Paul,
Not meaning to be offensive here, just to clarify and make certain comments about your positions.

1) We don't need another motor carrier. (Just read your statements in the same order. I will not repeat your comments in the rest of my answers below)
Believe union haul will not be considered a carrier, only a means of contraction of drivers. Carriers will remain carriers, drivers will remain drivers. Its not an added carrier, in any shape or form.
2) Most if not all Steamship Lines rate request, if that is what you refer, are simply stated piece meal, done in minutes before releasing the delivery orders to the carriers, quick calls on the phone, unless of course the line owns the trucker, which then I would tend to agree, but certainly the cheapest of rates are provided to those drivers, and money pours into the ocean carrier pockets at the expense of those hired OO's working for them.
3) Steamship Lines are the ones who lower rates, not trucking companies. Direct contact with shippers and importers allow rates to fluctuate in usually positive manner, with quick adjustments to FSC and related upgrades to added task, such as but not limited to the use of truckers wheels, heavy containers, etc..
4) No start up capital needed. The Motor Carriers would operate exactly as they do now. Each added driver is estimated to cost the trucker out of pocket $10,000 per month, given the fact that drivers should be making $2,500/wk. When S/S Lines become involved, they are the ones who pay in 90/120 days thus capturing that firms A/R ,and holding the hammer of future payments based on the taking of cheaper loads. They end up owning the Motor Carrier by means of the capture of their A/R. Sort of take this load for this amount, or I don't know when I can pay the money I owe you. It happens, I saw it and that is the facts.
5) Good and I agree, all OO's should be considered in a free market place, free to accept good paying loads, and free to reject the trash provided by the S/S Lines. The S/S Lines should stay in the business of moving cargo over the seas and out of the business of domestic transportation of International goods. They screwed up their own business , now having a strong desire to rape this industry as well. They had exemptions from Anti-Trust and still cut each others throats getting to the prize.
6)Dispatch is done by the carriers , just like it always was and always will be. Pier hire hall, has nothing to do with efficiency, that is the job of the pier , stevedoring firm, and related steamship lines, for years have fostered the opinion that OO's are just a large group of cry babies, and need lessons taught. Well we were taught well, and now our voices shall and will be heard, all being done without Teamsters, Clean to be Green, and Port officials lining their own pockets with illegal Teamster money, as such in California and being tried elsewhere. Buddy its all ending and we shall all be their for its burial.
Again, I am not putting, you or your organization down. I wish only to state hard facts, realistic goals, and clarification of facts here. I would however be interested in knowing , how much the Steamship Lines are involved in your organization?

[petedabroker]

Paul, one more clarification. Yes, Steamship Lines pay in that 90-120 day period, while direct shippers/importers pay with-in that 30/45 day period. Difference here is Steamship lines love to hold truckers money for many additional months. Shippers/Importers pay their bills or their carriers do not move their goods. Once a line captures via a door to door move those container moves, they actually believe they are the gods of transportaiton and each and every trucker will beg them for those loads, accepting any rate schedule they dictate, and do it for as long as the S/S Lines are willing to hold the truckers money. Its even so bad that all and I mean all Factoring Companies refuse to handle S/S Lines as truckers accounts. The Factoring firms know full well just how bad the S/S Lines love to hold truckers money. It is and always will be the hammer that controls the carriers. Hold their money and they will do whatever we tell them, hold their money and they will accept whatever rates we provide them. Once again playing the rolls of gods of the industry. Truckers prayer:
Dear Lord, takith the S/S Lines out of our trucking industry, remove them from the total control of the truckers money, and put them back into making money in ocean freight and leave our industry to the trucking companies, importers, exporters, freight fowarders and custom house brokers. Lord, make my life good again by the removal of SteamShip Lines from our industry"
In Gods name, Amen."

[petedabroker]

Paul, since you are not hiding anything here, I ask this question? Who are the members of your board? What business are they representing?
Our membership is 100% truckers, or trucking company owners. 100% carriers of containers or related industry.
Portsmouthvatrucker- I believe he is only a guest here, but will always have the right to post, will never be edited or pulled, and actually has every equal right as any member of this organization. The only editing of this board/organization is fowl words and you can even keep them here with a few..... here and there.

[canhauler]

Sounds as though someone ruffled the feathers of what almost sounds like a company spokesperson? He sure doesn't know what he is talking about when it comes to a trucker hiring hall or maybe he actually does? Maybe this Yorcuvac guy fears this could be the end of the free services provided at the piers by the masses of working truckers subsidizing the big box retailers cheap freight discount program?

[OOC]

Petethebroker,


No offense taken. Progress requires discussion and the ability to find realistic means to solving problems.


The "2" Check system in theory I feel is a good one. But, as I said before, there need to be some concerns addressed before I feel it can be ultimately successful.

In regards to #2 : I am aware of much of the freight frequency dealing with the ship lines. Yes, I'll agree that some of it is "late" request but more so when dealing with small accounts that unpredictable volume. Many of our owner operators lease to companies that support large motor carriers such as Wal mart or Target etc. So, frequency and volume are easily speculated and predicted dealing with those corporations.

3.) I disagree. trucking companies do very much lower rates, through competing with each other. Where I lease to , we lost much of our account due to being underbid. Furthermore, our rates were lowered so we could keep the percentage we did lose. There are many accounts that circulate various motor carriers here in Hampton Roads. Each time the account moves, rates are lowered, owner operators suffer. In the Port of Virginia , we have over 7000 registered drivers. 3500-4000 of them work local drayage. Most of that drayage is in support of the larger "customer" not shipline based accounts.

4.) I agree about the mis appropriation of funds on shipline behalf. However, With many of the motor carriers here being small "agents" they don't have the capital to cover payroll when events like that unfold. The hiring hall, if enacted is still to some extent at the mercy of the motor carriers. To cut them out completely, operating under its own authority would be needed. That requires capital.

5.) glad we agree

6.) On the issue of efficiency. It is our responsibility as Owner Operators top ensure the port has quick turn around times and a good availability of safe equipment. This affects our bottom line. Even if there is a hiring haul, even if rates are good, if you still can't get your container in or out of the port due to their lack of operating efficiency, you lose.
Left to it's own devices the Port will not make the necessary changes. They operate on a financial bottom line basis. If they don't see a return from hiring more ILA or fixing more chassis , they won't do it. Due to their reduced hours , staggering of shift to avoid overtime, lack of equip, long ingate / outgate times I am turning 3 local rounds per day when I should be easily grabbing 5.

Through political pressure, environmental initiatives , and working with the ILA we hope to force the Port to think twice. There is also a "forced free labor" issue in regards to Maintenance and repair of shipline owned equipment we are looking at. We are forced to oversee such repair and are not compensated. if we drop the equip instead of going through the process for free, we are billed extensively for a "mis-park" . We are actually gaining a lot of ground on this.


There is proposed legislature elsewhere in the country that gives the Ports 1 hour to interchange a truck. If not, its an EPA induced fine of 250 per instance. if this gains ground, we all win. Owner Operators, the environment, and even to an extent the motor carriers. They are more profitable with less trucks that are able to do a higher volume.

Right now, there is a stall in Federal enforcement in Washington until the new admin takes seat. Afterwards, I would expect to see this gain a lot of ground.


You asked about the OOC's shipline involvement? Other than forwarding information regarding faulty equip, and trying to get them to recognize the new FMCSA rulings in regards to liability of intermodal equipment, none. Why?


To close, like i said before, I don't fight the idea of a hiring haul outright. I feel, that for meaningful change across the board, many things have to come together for something like that to work well and have longevity.

In the mean time ,supporting the TRUCC act is very important. This , from the back side will see rates rise. There is a lot of speculation over this proposal. However, shiplines and other customers don't want to have to constantly re negotiate rates . Motor carriers are threatening to drop rates. They are dead wrong. They will have to raise their rates to compensate, thus raising the end product to the driver. We are working to educate drivers on "truth in leasing" regs and rights. many here are working off of a percentage. if that passes, they will Freight bills and can look it over to make sure they are not getting screwed.


Thanks

[petedabroker]

canhauler, Amen brother, Amen. Maybe he will clarify membership of that organization, but it does sort of sound like, Big Brother control via S/S Lines, not to accept deviation from normal and acceptable S/S Lines profit, sort of lets start another organization to combat those nasty OO's and their site. Lets make them believe we are here to help those OO's , instead of complete control. They will fall for that one again. I don't think so!!!!!!!

[petedabroker]

Maybe I am wrong? Let me read and understand his post and then I will report.

[Cadillacman]

Sorry I asked what the VPA was.
After reading that OOC guys response it does seem to possibly be a questionable relationship between them and that port. I'm still left wondering where he felt the comparison was between a hiring hall and the need of another motor carrier. What's that about? I have been reading this trucker site for sometime now. At first I had reservations but now I am interested in this hiring hall strategy myself.

He also mentioned in his response "a hiring hall is not plausible in reality" I think he only needs to look around at a few of the union operations going on at the docks to realize his own statement is not a realistic. Thanks guys

[Facts]

Nov 15, 2008 11:45:03 GMT -5 petedabroker said:

Paul, since you are not hiding anything here, I ask this question? Who are the members of your board? What business are they representing?
Our membership is 100% truckers, or trucking company owners. 100% carriers of containers or related industry.
Portsmouthvatrucker- I believe he is only a guest here, but will always have the right to post, will never be edited or pulled, and actually has every equal right as any member of this organization. The only editing of this board/organization is fowl words and you can even keep them here with a few..... here and there.

Our board is made up off 100% owner operators. We represent no business outright. We only mean to protect the interests of our membership who are also owner operators. We are also only involved in Container Dragaye.

I certainly don't support censorship. However, it is important that the information found on our site is truthful and accurate. As of now, our members know that we work very hard not to promote mis-information or rumors. There is much danger in that.


All conversations are welcome there. So long as the rules are followed. Don't try to play the system and create multiple user names to put forth a particular image that you support. Say your piece and then take part in the conversation. Don't be dirty. I personally encourage talks about a hiring haul or any other means of improving our livelihood. We all need to be working together. All the we ask is that people use their better judgment and research something before they post it as fact. Be responsible. our forum is a tool for knowledge and growth. Drivers unknowingly acting on bad information is dangerous and harmful to them.

[OOC]

Nov 15, 2008 11:45:34 GMT -5 canhauler said:

Sounds as though someone ruffled the feathers of what almost sounds like a company spokesperson? He sure doesn't know what he is talking about when it comes to a trucker hiring hall or maybe he actually does? Maybe this Yorcuvac guy fears this could be the end of the free services provided at the piers by the masses of working truckers subsidizing the big box retailers cheap freight discount program?

Not hardly friend. company spokesman? Where do you gather that info from? Because I know port statistics? how are you supposed to get anything done if you are not educated about the things you want to change?I, like the rest of the OOC are all owner operators. And yes, my feathers were ruffled. The amount of hard work this coalition does to help ALL the drivers immense. When some faceless "do nothing" person wants to put forth discredit and be shady, its annoying. It's easy to sit behind a computer and talk big things.
Succeed or fail, we are out doing them. Every day. I put my name out there yes. We are here to help , all the drivers, yourself included.

[OOC]

Nov 15, 2008 12:12:13 GMT -5 @Cadillacman said:

Sorry I asked what the VPA was.
After reading that OOC guys response it does seem to possibly be a questionable relationship between them and that port. I'm still left wondering where he felt the comparison was between a hiring hall and the need of another motor carrier. What's that about? I have been reading this trucker site for sometime now. At first I had reservations but now I am interested in this hiring hall strategy myself.

He also mentioned in his response "a hiring hall is not plausible in reality" I think he only needs to look around at a few of the union operations going on at the docks to realize his own statement is not a realistic. Thanks guys

Questionable Relationship? Wow, the conspiracy theories here are immense. What would you consider a questionable relationship? The fact that we know how the operations work? We study it to see how we can change it? The fact that we are educated on how the Port works. The fact we actually do things and work hard to promote positive change OUTSIDE of a web forum? The fact we met with them and demanded changes be made to help drivers? The fact we filed court documents as well as a Freedom of Information Act request pertaining to the amount of forced free labor the port forces on us drivers? What, what questionable relationship?

[petedabroker]

Paul ,I have posted many times here related to the use and procedural steps of having a hire hall, being ILA members, and how the hire hall will and should work. You certainly can view those post, hopefully having a understanding of our desire. It is hardly no change to the current agreement between the ILA and their perspective Stevedoring Firms. In this instance the Stevedoring Firm is replaced by Trucking Firms. This is certainly not set into stone.

You sound as though you have a strong desire to both support and foster a positive outcome to the Owner Operator's positions. This is our whole mission statement here. No deviation. We sometimes view some statements here as being positioned by the opposition. I might of mis-understood your group and its reasons for posting. We enjoy others points of views here, and yes sometimes they get pounced upon by our members. Never shall we edit those views, but we will make counter comments to clarify the truth.

I am in particular, very much Anti-S/S Lines, knowing the dastardly deeds they have brought to this industry. Never shall I be swayed from this view. I seen it all, did it all with them. Firms like Walmart ,Target, etc., have every right to direct drayage towards those trucking firms that both service their needs and do it in a cost effective manner. However, we believe by total volume alone , all rate structures suffer for both trucking interest and other competitive importers who do not have such volume. We believe by having a hire hall, rate per hour structure is all the same for all its members, the port shall service carriers as directed by its importers and ocean users. That alone shall cure all the ills , both the Steamship Lines and its related Stevedoring firms cause this industry. They will be forced by their users of ocean freight to service the trucking community as it should of been serviced all along. For now there are no checks and balances in this system and the pier can do whatever the pier wishes, without consequences. That shall all change with this new way of doing business. The firm causing the problems will be identified quickly and actions taken to provide the services required for quick turn around. Rate structures shall both stabilize and be available for proper adjustments.
Kind Regards,
Peter

[petedabroker]

Walmart's logistic manager/traffic manager, calls Evergreen. Its been reported by AB&C trucker that ten drivers , now at terminal, have been waiting for 2 hours to secure wheels. Now I know what you are going to say, "There are 50 sets of wheels sitting on your terminal".
Well my response is a simple one, "Then why in gods green earth are the truckers sitting there telling me no wheels are at the terminal in good and road worthy condition?" I will tell you why, because they are there but all need M&R done. OK, I know for a fact you guys are at fault and not my truckers. I also know I can book my freight with Evergreen, OOCL, Hanjin or whoever I so desire. All the ocean freight is the same cost. Or I have the ability to move those contracts to another carrier who does have the same cost to Walmart. So here is the new deal, either get wheels available now, or I book with another. Comprenda???!!!
Yes sir Mr. Walmart, I will have those drivers out with-in the half hour and it won't happen again.
Thank you Mr. Evergreen and have a nice day.
You too sir and thanks for bringing that to my attention.
You are welcome. End of Story.
Guess what, those broken wheels are getting repaired each and every day and drivers no longer need to come to the TIR line, then return to the M&R lines to get fixed. Laugh is on Evergreen. ILA gets the repairs and truckers are not the bad guys anymore.

[OOC]

Pete,


Well said. I won't argue with your logic. I am simply stating that if a hiring haul materializes, I would most likely try to help it. However, I do feel that there are many other issues that need to be tackled to clean up the industry. The OOC has not jumped on the hiring haul bandwagon because we have found some "low hanging fruit" we want to get plucked first. Some of these issues are Hampton Roads specific but moreover if we are successful , there will be a strong foundation for owner operators to complete other improvements.

Our industry ( Owner Operators) needs to have a political seat. We need strong representation. We need to have a seat at the table when there are proposed changes to the port etc that will affect us all.
Drivers need to understand their rights. Truth in leasing Laws were made for a reason.


An example of what we do: Our port is planning to re-locate all empty containers to one terminal. This means double the drayage time, drivers will have to bobtail for free every round, and the major route between terminals has limited hours for trucks. It is cheaper for the port to do this, however very very costly to owner operators. Instead of dropping off your empty on one side of the terminal and going to the other for a load, you will have to for say , drop off your empty at Portsmouth Marine terminal and Bobtail across town to pick up your load in Norfolk.

Sound Good? We don't think so. good way to kill half of the work day.


Through our political and community alliances we are working to put a stop to this. We will be sitting down with port officials to list why this will be so detrimental to Owner Operators. If they don't play ball, there are members of the City council that don't want the added truck traffic downtown that this will cause, many motor carriers are against this ( because the will have to add more trucks to compensate). That will raise their cost of doing business. They don't want that either. environmentally, air quality will suffer. The EPA and other local outfits don't want the added emissions due to longer idle time on port Property. We can turn them loose on the Port.

So, we a have to align all of the resources we can use to make sure this doesn't happen. This is how we work at the OOC. We make it known that we won't let off the issues, but we will be glad to be constructive in finding solutions to problems.

Because the Virginia Port is state owned. It's a very political scene. If you want the power to induce change, you gotta have the resources. There are a lot of other issues we are involved with as well. I posted that so you guys can see the logic in how we operate, and to an extent why it is important to communicate with the Port.

[petedabroker]

You cannot become politically involved until you become an entity. As we speak a OO is a large hole in this industry. Never had any real identity, never unified, never had any position. In order to achieve this goal , we need to become a voice, from a position, whatever that might be. ILA would be nice, would help both sides of the portal chain, but its not a necessity. Low hanging fruit, I question, I never seen even that bug infested apple. I have never seen , unless the Steamship Lines suffered a work stoppage, any movement toward the protections of its trucking community. Nothing , Nada, and promises do abound when that work stoppage occurs, short lived, and never lasting.

So we join hands, with the very factions that have swarded our attempts in the past, to believe they are on the buddy systems now, willing and able to help solve our problems. Wow, thats a jump. NO, issues need to be forced now. I have sat on the other end of that table viewing the slim dripping from the Steamship Lines and their agents.

You certainly realize that pollution propaganda is just that. The real issue there is complete control of the OO's as company employee's , lap dog of the Mega firms. Driven toward that almighty $16/hr, paid one week vacations, 200,5K plan, and health coverage with large co-pays. They, (i.e.) Win to Change, used that angle as the means to the extremes as stated above. Its all a large joke, exposed, and voices of the OO's saying , thanks but no thanks.

It shall be accomplished here or with you. It shall have the OO's placed into a position to make enough money to upgrade those rigs, keep them in good order. I ask this, does that mean the scale houses are not doing a good job enforcing the over the road rules and truck safety issues? Why then is there a need for others to add to their oversight? Why then do the port say the pollution is now too terrible to deal, when its been there for 70 years and might add, has gotten much better , than as they claim has gotten worse. Yes, more traffic, but over all those rigs are kept in much better condition then they were in the 70'/80's. Then I say limit the vessel callings. Stop so many ships from the concentration into a portal area. Oh, no , they love those ships a coming. They love that portal revenue. They love those jobs. The issue there is controlled labor, having both the Teamsters in the background , and those Steamship buddies yelling Ra, Ra,. Those are the facts here and nothing else.

[petedabroker]

Relocation of empties, no problem, its called a extra dray cost, securement of wheel add on, double move, whatever. Its billed , documented and shipper does nothing but pays the extra cost.. Guess what? Shipper b.itches about paying extra for wheels or extra dray, and the lines reduce their ocean freight by the amount of the extra dray cost. Its done all the time. So let the port move the empties to another location, and bill for those services. If the port keeps coming up with those extra cost to trucking, the lines move to another port. That simple, nothing crazy there.

[HardTimeTrucker]

I understand many of you have received numerous phone calls from Virginia drivers over the past several months. I know we have a growing audience of drivers from Hampton Roads. We have many as guest browsing over our trucker forum while others make interesting post. That's why we added the Virginia ports section to our site months ago. For the past several weeks we have had an ear full along with several disturbing emails from Virginia drivers. It seems many truckers who haul from the ports in Norfolk feel they have no representation. Our association has been hesitant before acting because we know of the new group that started holding meetings this year. We were hoping to work with them but It seems they clearly are headed in a much different direction.

We planned from the beginning for this coalition of trucker groups to move forward toward a type of union representation, hiring hall, own union charter, or a possible charter affiliation by perhaps the International Longshoremen union. IODA no longer has any ties with the Teamsters because of their leadership involvement in the LA Clean Truck Plan. The majority of this group is made up from proud owner/operator truckers. We plan to continue our fight for both the right of freedom of ownership in America and that of (employee status). This association will not at any time be a part of any plan that bans the owner/operator from working anywhere. Taking away a citizens right to truck ownership is not the answer to any environmental pollution problems or any constructive means of solving issues of driver abuse at the port terminals. We are interested in serious driver / employee-lease/operator labor options to help truckers to win a workable contract within the maritime community.

First the trucker has to shed the ridicules industry backed - independent contractor status - before being recognized for what we truly are - employee-lease/operators. Without that recognition we have no rights under federal law to negotiate a contract with any employer no matter who the employer turns out to be.

According to several Virginia truckers a few board members of the Virginia based OOC group have stated they are somewhat anti-union. I hope this is not true but we respect that decision and that is an OOC leadership decision to make for their own membership. However, I'm afraid this attitude may limit the options of truckers who need much more than a smaller version of OOIDA to represent them on the waterfront.

We respect that as an OOC leadership decision. At the same time we do not condone censorship practice of participant ideas on any site. We don't hide that we are an organization that has close ties with the longshoremen workforce. Most of our membership work at the docks with them everyday. We understand that not every relation on the ground between the trucker and the long shore ends in a friendly exchange but the basics are in place where we all are working together to come up with a plan that will benefit members of both groups. Our group leadership has a respectful relationship with the International Longshoreman (ILWU & ILA) on both coast. This is especially true in the Norfolk, Virginia area.

As for the all the Virginia truckers (including OOC members or board members) who want to continue using this forum to educate themselves of choices they have, post their grievances, or even become a part of this association group we welcome you.

[OOC]

Pete,

Yeah, that was a good rant man. I'll agree that a unified voice is need to gain a foothold. That is very much what I and the organization mean to accomplish. This is why we created a website and now have a professionally published newsletter in the works. To keep drivers "In the know". To give them an outlet to keep up with issues and participate when they are needed.

I never suggested we become camping buddies with the opposition. It's a crappy system , but like it or not..this is political. If a mass hiring haul were to go underway and the majority of Owner Operators participate, many problems will be tackled. I'm sure that you, as I , know that that is no easy task.

I do know that the port and shiplines play the system for their own gain. My take is that if lawmakers only hear from them and the ATA, where is the Owner Operator voice?

Let's jump forward a bit, Hiring haul established...... The port still needs to be efficient, motor carriers still need to be watched and pursued if the violate drivers rights, lawmakers need to be educated about our industry when doing their job etc etc. So there needs to be a body to make this happen. That's the hopes of the OOC.

There is so much work to be done. If change is to be made, it surely has to be collective and brought from all sides.

[OOC]

Nov 15, 2008 13:18:41 GMT -5 petedabroker said:

Relocation of empties, no problem, its called a extra dray cost, securement of wheel add on, double move, whatever. Its billed , documented and shipper does nothing but pays the extra cost.. Guess what? Shipper b.itches about paying extra for wheels or extra dray, and the lines reduce their ocean freight by the amount of the extra dray cost. Its done all the time. So let the port move the empties to another location, and bill for those services. If the port keeps coming up with those extra cost to trucking, the lines move to another port. That simple, nothing crazy there.

Pete,

The problem is that the bearers of that cost will end up being the drivers . The motor carriers will not pay us for this and the shiplines will surely fight a rate increase to compensate the Port's bad idea. Sure , they may take their business elsewhere, but meanwhile Hampton Roads Owner Operators suffer. Any yes, if it happens, over time everyone will realize it was a bad move and revert to the way it is now. The only problem, owner operators cannot afford to work under those conditions while the port and shiplines work it out.


For that reason, we see it as important to put a stop to that before it starts. Save the drivers the lost income.

[shortcircut]

I don't know what all has been said on the OOC site , but I do know this. Back in May a driver was talking about all the changes that were going to be made on the VIT run terminals. Like I said to him then, and will say it again now, no matter if he likes it or not, 40 drivers and 200 signatures will not make any difference, especially since there are over 130 companies and over 4000 drivers in this area.
If these guys want to be heard and taken seriously, then they had d**n well better start working on building their numbers. These VIT people will just laugh at them , then tell them, if you don't like it, then don't come back. And I am quoting some very powerful VIT people who told me that personally.
I for one want to see this problem solved , not for my self, but for everyone.
To confront someone and say that he needs to keep his negative remarks to him self is wrong. The first amendment guarantees that.
Instead of criticizing someone, listen to what they have to say, and find a way to use that to your benefit and try to figure answers to fix the problem that person is talking about.
Again, I can't control what anyone says or thinks, but if you don't like what I am saying , then walk away. I have a right to my opinion.