If you could change

[repete]

If Obama made you truck czar and you could change just one thing about trucking what would it be? (ex. 11hr, 14hr , pay, bennies, ect)

[Malaki86]

Paid for any and all time spent working, including guaranteed detention time after 1hr of your scheduled appointment time in 15min increments.

Nothing I hated worse than sitting for 10-12hrs either in the dock, or waiting to get in the dock because some idiot put the wrong date and/or time and not getting a penny for it.

[Syncrosonix]

get rid of the 11hr and 14hr rules, mandatory pay for all work done, and dock sitting after 1 hour. oh yeah, none of this per diem, sliding payscale, or super low wages bullcrap.

[Rev.Vassago]

Mandatory black boxes and electronic logs, and tougher standards on getting and keeping a CDL.

[bentstrider]

Tell EPA to go knock the Greenpeace protesters off their Seadoos instead of whine about emissions.

[RostyC]

Everything above except the black boxes and electronic logs.

I'll add more truck parking. I get a little irritated sometimes when you might need something from a store, you spot one with a huge shoulder on the road, and then you see a no parking sign.

But more importantly, I'd like to mandate a giant bbq grill in every truck stop and rest area offering a host of different bbq foods. Hamburgers, hotdogs, pulled pork, pit beef, whole pigs on a stick, crab cakes etc.

[chris1]

Go back to the open public protest period for showing the need to have your authority.

[mike3fan]

Mandatory black boxes and electronic logs, and tougher standards on getting and keeping a CDL.

don't forget speed limiters too.

[RostyC]

don't forget speed limiters too.

Bite your tongue!

Don't say that not even joking.

[mike3fan]

Bite your tongue!

Don't say that not even joking.

why not? the Rev. seems to think more government intervention is better than less.

[repete]

Some good ones here, most I expected burt Rev did cetch me by suprise w/black box! You do have to admit there are some drivers out there that believe the're good/safe drivers but aren't and need watching.

I would like to see shippers provide at minimum restrooms (forget the portapotti) and GOOD vending machines. I'm also ALL FOR THE BBQ!

Chris, why the protest???

[Mackman]

Everyone gets paid by the hour and OT after 8.

[chris1]

Some good ones here, most I expected burt Rev did cetch me by suprise w/black box! You do have to admit there are some drivers out there that believe the're good/safe drivers but aren't and need watching.



Chris, why the protest???

If a shipper(not a broker) has to "show need for" your services, it would eliminate the excess trucks that apply and get authority without any idea of what they are going to do for loads.

[Rev.Vassago]

Some good ones here, most I expected burt Rev did cetch me by suprise w/black box! You do have to admit there are some drivers out there that believe the're good/safe drivers but aren't and need watching.

Making it more difficult to become and continue to be a truck driver would eliminate the huge glut of extra drivers in this industry, as well as possibly lower insurance rates due to higher safety ratings. It would eliminate the "outlaw" from the business altogether, and would only serve to increase rates and wages for the rest of us.

Look at how difficult it is to become and continue to be a commercial airline pilot, and the wages that result.

[GMAN]

Get rid of logs all together. Eliminate the UCR, IRP and IFTA. We would purchase a single plate each year for our trucks at a much lower price at our local tag office. States would need to compete for our fuel dollars and we would no longer need to track or file quarterly fuel tax reports. The heavy highway use tax would be eliminated (2290).

[Syncrosonix]

Mandatory black boxes and electronic logs, and tougher standards on getting and keeping a CDL.

dude, if they put in black boxes, they'd catch me singing along with the backstreet boys, nsync, 98º, new kids on the block, milli vanilli, janet jackson, the spice girls, and rick astley. that wouldn't be good at all.

[avc]

Son, you need a fast shot of Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix live to save you from destruction.

Next you will tell us you love Wacko Jacko !!!

[golfhobo]

I'll probably get ROASTED for this but...

The question was what ONE thing would you change. Many gave a shopping list!

I would say: A SET RATE for shipping, based either on weight, miles, or "equipment requirements." And tie it to the cost of fuel.

This would eliminate the "low ballers" who have ruined the industry, allow companies to increase profits by improving MPG or efficiency, and keep brokers "honest" (at least to the level of WHO is available and WHEN.)

A basic fundamental of "cost of goods sold" is shipping. I don't care if it's toilet paper or steel, it should cost the same to ship something a certain number of miles. (with the possible exception of OVERSIZED loads.)

It takes US... the drivers.... the SAME amount of time to MOVE it regardless of what it is.

Carriers would have more equal payscales, O/O's wouldn't have to "shop around" for a good paying load, and brokers couldn't "SHOP" for the lowball carrier to put more money in their pockets.

The railroads are advertising the heck out of their cost savings per gallon of diesel. I have nothing against them, but they should have to compete with Trucking on an equal footing.

If everyone KNEW what the basic/set cost per mile or ton of material was, carriers would have to "compete" for drivers with benefits or PAY!

Freight lanes would become more defined, and drivers would have more of a choice of what they wanted to do based on hometime and geographical area.

I'm SURE I haven't thought it all out. And what do "I" know? According to some.... I'm a SOCIALIST!

I'm sure the FREE MARKET SYSTEM is better! After all... that's how we GOT to this point of "low ball" trucking.... and Mexican drivers!

[chris1]

If we have a "rate regulation" again why not regulate prices for everything? No matter where you go or what you do it all pays/costs the same. I'm sure that you now shop at "independent" stores,paying whatever they deem a fair price. Never shop around for a better deal?
It's the same for any business. Some make, it some don't. If everyone could win there would be no more employee's to work.

[Fredog]

Mandatory black boxes and electronic logs, and tougher standards on getting and keeping a CDL.

and MORE id cards and background checks that we have to pay for