SHUT DOWN 2007

[mreddie]

ALL HHG OWNER/OPERATORS-DON'T FORGET TO SHUT DOWN ON JULY 30, 2007. YOUR LIVING IN THE MOVING BUSINESS DEPENDS ON IT!

[Teal 95 KW]

Shutting down for one day isn't going to help anything out, nor is it going to hurt any of the carriers. This is just like the whole "don't buy gas on june 15th" or whatever those stupid MySpace bulletins are. One day isn't going to affect anything...people will get shipments a day late, big deal. Everybody is so scared of this new tariff, then get out of the industry and find something else to do. Then again, some people are too stupid, and carrying sofas up and down flights of stairs is all that they know how to do, or want to do. For those people...alls I can say is..I'm sorry.

[mreddie]

the shutdown is for 10 days, not just 1 day. it goes from july30,2007-august 8, 2007.

[jiptwoo]

Been around too many years for this because it's all just big talk, guaranteed. Shut down 88, nothing happened, 94 heard all the big talk and I told dispatch I was shutting down and woke up at 10 am and the truck stop was empty, all the big talkers the night before were rolling. I called in, got a load and have'nt stopped trucking since. Remember o/o's will say they have bills to pay and can't shut down for 3 days, if they can't afford 3 days revenue well thats sad. Now co. drivers have no choice it is not their truck, they are not the boss and value their jobs. So go on strike, well it's not going to happen, I won't entertain the thought again. Good luck to you!

[Teal 95 KW]

Well, regardless my point was it's not going to hurt the carriers at all. They will have agency guys cover loading/unloading of trailers, and have freight trucks run the tonnage to destination. It happens already more than you know, and I had a freight truck haul one trailer back west from the north east where I loaded it while I powered one. It may have them running around a bit frantic at first to get things covered, but they will get it covered. Yall can shut down, I'll be out running shipments, .

[mreddie]

I HOPE YOU COME BACK TO READ MY REPLY.
REASONS FOR SHUTDOWNS IN THE PAST ARE NOT LIKE THEREASONS WE HAVE FOR THIS SHUTDOWN. THIS TIME, WHEN THE VAN LINES ARE DONE, THERE WILL BE NOTHING LEFT TO TAKE. I CAN'T MAKE IT ANY PLAINER THAN THAT. ONCE THEY TAKE SOMETHING AWAY, IT'S GONE FOREVER. DO YOU WANT TO KEEP WORKING FOR WHATEVER IS LEFT OVER AFTER THE NEXT ROUND OF CHANGES? MY LIFE IS WORTH MORE THAN WORKING FOR A TRUCK PAYMENT, OR TO "GET BY". AFTER 32 YEARS AS AN O/O, I THINK I DESERVE MORE THAN THAT, DON'T YOU? THE VAN LINES COUNT ON DRIVERS TO DO WHAT THEY SAY, BECAUSE THEY RUN THE SHOW. THEY WILL MAKE DO WITHOUT THOSE OF US THAT WILL STAND UP FOR ALL OF OUR RIGHTS, IT'S TRUE, BUT IF WE CAN MAKE THEM SCRAMBLE FOR EVEN A FEW SHIPMENTS, THEN WE WILL HAVE SAID SOMETHING. STAND UP AND BE A LEADER OR FOLLOW THE VAN LINES TO MORE HARD WORK FOR LESS AND LESS INCOME. I DIDN'T SAY PROFIT BECAUSE THAT'S HARD TO COME BY. A HEALTHY 1099 DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE DOING ANY GOOD IF YOUR EXPENSES KEEP RISING.

[abc123]

the gross income keeps going up, but drivers are netting same as 10 years ago

[nickbtubas]

i heard about this on the CB. it should says,
"Don't fuel your truck and HOLD YOU BREATH for the 10 days"


that will affect most carriers...

[mreddie]

I'M GLAD YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS ON THE CB. KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT. GOOD PRESS OR BAD PRESS IS BETTER THAN NO PRESS. THERE IS NOTHING WORSE FOR OUR BUSINESS THAN DRIVERS WHO DON'T HAVE AN OPINION OR ARE UNWILLING OR AFRAID TO VOICE IT. DIALOG FOR BOTH SIDES IS HOW THINGS GET ACCOMPLISHED. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER NO MATTER WHICH SIDE YOU ARE ON.
A QUESTION WAS ASKED-WHY ARE DRIVERS FROM DIFFERENT VAN LINES GETTING TOGETHER FOR THIS SHUTDOWN? THE ANSWER IS- WE ARE ALL PROFESSIONAL HHG O/O NO MATTER WHO WE LEASE TO. WE SHARE THE COMMON BOND OF THAT PROFESSIONALISM THAT DRIVES US TO DO THE BEST JOB WE CAN FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. THAT WILL ALWAYS TRANSCEND THE NAME ON YOUR TRAILER.
KEEP THE FAITH AND GOOD LUCK.
EDDIE KERR
O/O

[Teal 95 KW]

Well apparently you haven't been kept up tp speed on the fact that the tariff you're speaking of did not go through. You ought to go read the last response in the "hey, bandits cousin" thread by rev. vassago, posted by BanditsCousin....it explains what's going on.

[Rev.Vassago]

That's it. I've had enough. I'm going to work for C.R. England.

[serbie]

That's it. I've had enough. I'm going to work for C.R. England.

Could you please post your numbers... you'll eventually end up in the L/P. Thanks..

[BanditsCousin]

The shutdown does NOTHING. T600 tariff isn't going down. Why are we shutting down?

It was a great idea when it came out, but that was when we were informed of a crappy new tariff. Now, no common tarifff can be used, and all HHG companies are coming up with their own rates to avoid "antitrust".

So, shut down all you want for NO REASON. The reason you had (which I supported) is long gone, and null and void.

Jeff
United Van Lines o/o

[mreddie]

I know that the 600 tariff is not going to happen as such. But, the idea behind it is alive and well. The extras will be gone and the discounts will be adjusted so they are actually as high as they are now-or higher. The van lines are not going to give you back anything unless you show them you are willing to stand up for your rights.
Jeff, do you really think United is going to give you more money when they have promised to give the shippers a simplified and reduced rate? Call your agent and ask them if you will make more or less money with any tariff they decide to use. The name of the tariff doesn't matter, as I've said before. United agents are currently using the 400N tariff and giving away the extras to get new work. They don't need to change to a new tariff if they can do the same thing this way.
Don't be swayed by the STB extension. If you wait till January to see what the van lines will do, it will be to late. At least push to have a driver input into the new tariff. Without any voice in the process, you will have to take what they give you. And this time, there will be no going back.
I'm glad you , at least, have the passion to argue these points. Most drivers just take the "wait and see" approach. Whatever happens, good luck.
Eddie Kerr
O/O

[BanditsCousin]

I'm glad its a civil debate. I question what will happen September 4th, not January. I have called my agent and asked how it will affect my bottom line, and my manager said "not signifigantly" (ie: expect a pay cut)

Since all the van linesa must create new rates, it will be exciting to see if they choose to pump money into the industry.

I look at it from both sides of the fence. The van lines need drivers, point blank. If one carrier has a more lucrative contract compared to Arpin, Bekins, Budd, Interstae, UVL, etc, they will get the drivers. Rumore has it, United is worrying about losing drivers. Of course, I'm sure every van line is too.

I for one, will NOT shut down. I need one good reason to, and I will whole-heartedly do so. The reason was the 600 tariff, and a dman good one. Now that the tariff is null and void, where is the reasoning?

I think a shutdown is a powerful waepon the put the van lines in "check", but its something that would take more time to oraganize than the current situation with the yahoo group.

After talking to my father (o/o for 30+ years hhg) he says a month shutdown is key, not a week. Also, a written list of demands is needed and proper organization. Our efforts are large and have the best intentions, but we need some sort of representation to push this DIRECTLY with the van lines instead of whining on a Yahoo! group :wink:

[mreddie]

I agree that the Yahoo group is lame, but at the time, it was all we had. I hope you are not gullible enough to think that the 600 tariff is dead. Uni-Group is in love with that tariff, and I would bet that they use it in one form or another. It may not be called the 600, but if something does all the same things it would have done, isn't that just as damaging? Several United agents are already booking on the 400N with NO EXTRAS. Isn't that a problem for the industry? You are right when you say there will be different tariffs. Each van lines will have to compete for tonnage, as always. But, it will be a little different bacause of the terminology of the tariff. Drivers should move to the van lines with the best contract, but a good contract with no tonnage isn't very smart, either. We are at the mercy of the shippers (3rd party relo. co.). Do they want good service or cheap prices? It goes back and forth. Our only hope is that they will want to pay for the quality service.
Whatever happens, good luck. I'll be at the Flying J or the Petro in Carmel Church, Va. starting on the 29th. Hope to see some support. The reasons are still there, no matter what the van lines try to tell you. We can make a difference now, but if we wait.........

[Rev.Vassago]

I agree that the Yahoo group is lame, but at the time, it was all we had. I hope you are not gullible enough to think that the 600 tariff is dead. Uni-Group is in love with that tariff, and I would bet that they use it in one form or another. It may not be called the 600, but if something does all the same things it would have done, isn't that just as damaging? Several United agents are already booking on the 400N with NO EXTRAS. Isn't that a problem for the industry? You are right when you say there will be different tariffs. Each van lines will have to compete for tonnage, as always. But, it will be a little different bacause of the terminology of the tariff. Drivers should move to the van lines with the best contract, but a good contract with no tonnage isn't very smart, either. We are at the mercy of the shippers (3rd party relo. co.). Do they want good service or cheap prices? It goes back and forth. Our only hope is that they will want to pay for the quality service.
Whatever happens, good luck. I'll be at the Flying J or the Petro in Carmel Church, Va. starting on the 29th. Hope to see some support. The reasons are still there, no matter what the van lines try to tell you. We can make a difference now, but if we wait.........

Graebel has already stated that they will use the VPS III tariff, which they authored, and of which the 400N tariff is based off of (except if has more extras).

Carriers competing on tariffs is no different than carriers competing on discounts.

[BanditsCousin]

I get memos every month from United about the upcoming change. They assure me that no extra services will be done for free. But, whatever it means is that, we'll have to see. Hopefully it all works out, but by then I should be hauling cars.

[mreddie]

the bottom line for the new tariff is-ask your agent if you will make more or less money when the tariff is in place. can you afford to make less, again? That's what this is all about. Making less, AGAIN.

[pepe4158]

Ummm kinda been gone awhile, and naive what this tarriff is....only affects household goods im quessing tho (bandit n Rev weighing in so heavily) am quessing?