|
|
Post by dieseljockey on Nov 11, 2009 10:19:12 GMT -5
It is all bad right now. There are way to many trucks for the few loads being shipped. I'm with everyone else in thinking it's going to get even worse by the first of the year. Sounds like you really have a bum deal at that company your leased to. While the bad times are here truckers need to be thinking about organizing together to force change when freight returns. This low won't last forever and we need a worthwhile contract like the ILA has. These shipping people make millions while we live on their scraps like peasants.
|
|
|
|
Post by twistlock on Nov 11, 2009 16:28:18 GMT -5
Your right. It is a dog eat dog world out here right now among the motor carriers with us being the big looser. My days are numbered where I am at because I refuse to pull loads just for the sake of buying diesel fuel or pleasing their cheap customer.
|
|
|
|
Post by ybenningz on Nov 12, 2009 1:09:46 GMT -5
Pass out the word out about this forum. Wish we all can take a stand. That will get the rates back.
|
|
|
|
Post by SCtrucker on Nov 12, 2009 9:42:07 GMT -5
i have started taking sheets of copy paper & wrote down the www.porttrucker.com pasting it at the interchange booths. if everyone just does that maybe it will get more drivers with computers to paticipate on this forum. |
|
|
|
Post by roadrunner on Nov 12, 2009 10:50:28 GMT -5
i will start doing the same tomorrow. something has to happen. i don't care if it takes until next year this time. i have had it with this crap.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ice Man on Nov 12, 2009 23:03:22 GMT -5
great idea...i will print some as well
|
|
|
|
Post by ybenningz on Nov 12, 2009 23:09:42 GMT -5
I'm gonna advertise on my big red truck and looking 2 print out some cards. Let's broadcast this forum
|
|
|
|
Post by truckerusa on Nov 13, 2009 0:06:47 GMT -5
This is weird. I had a nice decal three feet across printed with the port trucker web site a couple of months ago. I just never got around to placing it on the back of my sleeper. I'll make that one of my truck maintenance projects this weekend. The cost was twenty five dollars by one of the local shops that does race car detailing. Others might consider this idea in support too.
|
|
|
|
Post by HardTimeTrucker on Nov 14, 2009 15:39:17 GMT -5
All good ideas guys. I will do the same including make a super-size www.porttrucker.com to mount on back of tractor. We also thought about bumper stickers with the web site on them. Maybe we can make some up after the holidays. I have been posting some leaflets at several truckstops in the past few weeks. |
|
|
|
Post by ybenningz on Nov 14, 2009 19:10:23 GMT -5
Glad 2 see drivers stepping up the gears
|
|
|
|
Post by HardTimeTrucker on Nov 14, 2009 21:37:43 GMT -5
Yes, let's make 2010 our year for the intermodal trucker. This holiday season will mark twelve years since truckers in Savannah, GA shut down outside the hwy 307 main GPA gate Christmas of 2007 for five long weeks to protest against the working conditions at the container terminal. That strike ended in driver misery but also opened doors across America where we have learned some very important lessons on how to create a better mouse trap. Working together we can make this work "PAY" in the upcoming recovery. old.savannahnow.com/stories/121697/NWStruckers.html Savannah Morning News December 16th, 1997
The issues
BENEFITS: The independent truckers are treated as contract workers, not full-time employees, therefore they do not receive any benefits.
PAY: In some cases, the pay-per-mile hauled (72 cents) has not changed since 1989, despite rising maintenance costs.
COMMENT: Trucking companies had no comment.
The impact
PORTS: Almost 73% of port cargoes is handled by independent truckers. A prolonged work stoppage likely would move some business to railroads. For other businesses, delays in getting goods could mean loss of revenue.
OTHERS: The situation affects workers not only in the trucking industry, but those in the construction, service, agriculture and garment industries.
Protests threaten ports
By Loyall Solomon
Savannah Morning News
Almost 73 percent of cargo at ports is handled by independent truckers, who either own or lease their rigs.
Independent truck drivers hauling container cargo in and out of the Georgia Ports Authority and from other Savannah docks began parking their trucks and refusing to work Monday.
The move could have a potentially serious effect on the area economy and work at the ports.
''We've had enough; we aren't getting paid fairly, so we'll just see if we can shut down the trucking companies we are driving for,'' Herbert Sanders, one of the organizers of the action, said as he watched truckers line both sides of Borne Avenue near the Ports Authority early Monday.
About 73 percent of all the container traffic in and out of the authority's Garden City Terminal is handled by trucks. An average of 15,346 containers move in and out of the Garden City Terminal per month, according to ports officials.
The drivers' gripes are against the companies they work for, not the Ports Authority.
The 500-600 independent drivers -- who either own or lease their own rigs -- say they want the companies they work for to consider them regular employees instead of contract workers.
That classification means they are not being paid adequately or getting any benefits, collective bargaining opportunities or other forms of economic protection, such as unemployment compensation or health insurance, the drivers said.
The trucking companies -- who contract with steamship lines to haul their cargoes -- decide individually what to pay their drivers.
By late Monday, dozens of truckers were braving cold weather and strong winds to station themselves outside the gates of most of the 80-90 trucking companies for which they work. They were not trying to stop or slow any traffic coming or going from the companies. The organizers said late in the day that they already had 150 truckers involved in the action, but that couldn't be confirmed.
''We are still getting the word out and expect to have more people out by tomorrow,'' said Johnny Lowe, a driver who is helping organize the work stoppage.
While the effects were not immediately visible Monday, a prolonged shutdown could affect port operations, not only at the Georgia Ports Authority but at private dock operations.
Patricia Reese, acting manager of public relations/external affairs at the Ports Authority, said the situation is being watched carefully.
''It is difficult to speculate on the impact at this time,'' Reese said. ''However, a strike would have a negative impact on the entire port community. The truckers are not employees of the Georgia Ports Authority but are a very important part of the port business community.''
James Strickland, a 73-year-old driver who has been behind the wheel of a rig since 1946, blasted the trucking companies for not being willing to raise the amount they pay.
''I've been hauling containers since 1989,'' Strickland said. ''I was pulling for 72 cents a mile then and I'm pulling for 72 cents a mile now. And then fuel was about 88 cents a gallon and now it's over a dollar.
''It's just not right,'' Strickland said. ''So I guess if I have to go down, I'll down with the rest of these fellows.''
Lowe said the Savannah truck drivers have received pledges of support from drivers in Charleston.
However, Anne Moise, a spokeswoman for the Port of Charleston, said the Savannah stoppage is not having any effect there.
''Nothing appears to be happening here,'' Moise said. ''There is no noticeable slowdown here at this time.''
The Savannah trucking companies were not commenting on the situation Monday.
Tom McAdams, general manager of the Engelhard Corp. plant here and past chairman of the Manufacturers Council of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, said he will be monitoring the work stoppage.
''Engelhard, as well as a number of other large and small companies, ship out through the port and receive goods through the port,'' McAdams said. ''A prolonged disturbance could cause a large impact on local industries meeting shipping dates and receiving products coming in.''
Ray Wood, a retired economic analyst, was not sure what the impact of a prolonged stoppage by the drivers might be.
Wood thinks that if the stoppage is prolonged, railroads would pick up an increased share of the container business.
''If the drivers are still getting paid at the same rates they were 10 years ago, they are in trouble,'' Wood said. ''In that situation, they are not even keeping up with inflation and the costs of doing business.''
Vehicle and maintenance costs are rising about 20 percent every five years, he said.
''If the drivers can hang tough and get more participation, they could make some headway,'' Wood said. ''If they could get one or two major companies to cave in, they would have accomplished something.''
The ''job action'' was launched late Saturday after a meeting of nearly 200 drivers and truck owners in Pooler, said Patrick McDonald, one of the organizers.
Originally, the organizers drew a list of 24 points they wanted the trucking companies to consider. The demands covered mostly compensation problems.
''We had hoped to draw up the proposals, present them to the companies and give them a deadline to say if they would negotiate,'' Lowe said. ''But the majority of the drivers Saturday night said they did not want to wait, they wanted to shut down Monday.''
McDonald added: ''This is something we, drivers and owners, have talked about for two or three years, but this time we are through talking. This time, we are doing something.''
Under federal guidelines, contract employees are not considered employees unless they pass a 20-point Internal Revenue Service test.
The situation affects workers not only in the trucking industry, but those in the construction, service, agriculture and garment industries, according to Rep. Peter J. Visclosky, D-Ind.
The truckers' plight is the reason for legislation that Visclosky will submit early next year changing the laws regarding contract workers. The legislation will be co-sponsored by Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill.
''The situation affects tens of thousands of workers in this country,'' said Frank Watkins, a spokesman for Jackson. ''Truckers really are mostly heavily hit.''
Visclosky said the distinction between employees and independent contractors is important because the two are treated very differently under federal law.
''My legislation would replace the current 20-point test with a stronger eight-point test,'' Visclosky said. ''This new test will prevent employers from improperly classifying their employees as independent contractors.''
posted 12/16/97
|
|
|
|
Post by largecar on Nov 15, 2009 8:45:15 GMT -5
Glad 2 see drivers stepping up the gears It's going to take a lot of work to turn this mess around. The majority need to decide if they want to continue working paycheck to paycheck or be fairly compensated for all the work we do. I like the idea of more exposure for this website forum. Let's publicize it better using this as a tool to organize-educate others. |
|
|
|
Post by ybenningz on Nov 18, 2009 16:50:25 GMT -5
Anyone know any ifo on Cowan Intermodal ?
|
|
|
|
Post by DD on Nov 19, 2009 11:37:51 GMT -5
which port location are you trying to hire on at? virginia sucks. the main office for cowan is in baltimore.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ice Man on Nov 20, 2009 17:41:18 GMT -5
Good Question, I put in for this company awhile ago and was wondering if I should lease onto too them. West of Atlanta
|
|
|
|
Post by Ice Man on Nov 20, 2009 18:15:53 GMT -5
What is the meaning of this Acronym DAC? "Driver Alert Control"
How about we as Driver's come up with our own Acronym? CAC "Company Alert Control"
We are the back bone of this country.
|
|
|
|
Post by crappatrol on Mar 20, 2012 21:05:24 GMT -5
Where you are located? Just remember the trucking agent you deal with in that particular port area could be the main problem even though the carrier may be decent elsewhere. Many companies allow their representative agent to treat owner-operators anyway they please because that agency could take the customers he brought with h/her elsewhere. The agency can also manipulate the rates (since deregulation there is no posted tariff to abide by) or make other special arrangements (freebies-your labor or truck) for their customer needs. Terminal managers employed by the company are held more accountable unless it's a poorly run operation from the home office down. Some companies are rotten from the core to the terminal like HUDD. On a scale from 1 to 10, number 1 being the worst possible score, HUDD doesn't make it from "0" in my book. Last time I checked, you chose to be a trucker. You also chose to work for Hudd. Not as an employee but, as a contractor meaning that you really have no employment obligation to them other than a lease agreement which you are allowed to terminate at your convienence. For the record truckerusa, we do not force dispatch. You have the choice to run it or take your tractor to another company that suits your needs. I have at least 30 owner operators a week begging for employement right now. I dont think these guys would complain about any forced dispatch. Last but not least, you are like children. I've never met a group of men who can't handle the most simple of paperwork such as logs, dvirs, and maintenance reports. Makes me wonder how any of you could handle the responsibilities of a family. Truck drivers have created the bed you lay in. My advice would be to spend less time on your computer and more time in your cabs driving you will likely make more money. Thanks, Hudd really interesting stuff you drivers have on this forum. i have enjoyed going through the back issues this evening. i'm still buried in reading but thought i would share this one with you. HUDD is still a big piece of SH#T and so are their stinky managers. |
|
|
|
Post by marv on Mar 21, 2012 15:32:08 GMT -5
u r right about that. hudd is #4 on top ten worst companie list.
|
|
