Perhaps a first-year Swift driver will step in here and answer that, but I think the real question is, "Who drives 70 X 11 X 365 in paid miles?"

 

That driver would be violating his 70 hour rule within the first week.

 

It seems Mr. Cabrero isn't interested in putting any time into this, unless it is spoon fed to him. I guess I had him pegged wrong. Shame. An expose into the trucking industry makes for interesting TV.

 

I wouldn't want the Rev or anyone ELSE thinking that I was one of those who disparaged "Tony" in emails to Alex.... so.... here is my response to his email to me. I THINK I"ve preserved all of HIS comments.

In a message dated 8/3/2009 5:23:41 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:

Hi GolfHobo,

First, I feel weird writing a letter to someone when I can't even address them by their first and last name, but this is the nature of message boards I guess. At least I give you my real name, job, and phone number. Is it too much to ask of you and your friends to do the same?

Hi, Alex. You can call me Golfy (or HOBO) if you wish, as my friends do. I don't use my real name on the internet. I have been known to denigrate the PAST president of the U.S. at times, and I have a Top Secret Clearance to protect. Since Dubya circumvented the constitution and invoked "executive privilege" to monitor internet traffic, I have decided to keep a low profile. I'm NOT a tinfoil hat type of guy.... I'm just cautious.

I'll try to respond to your e-mail, but honestly, I don't think I can ever do so. I'll try, though.

I thought you did an excellent job of it!

No, I don't think there is a Michael Jackson story lurking. To be truthful, though, I haven't covered any of that so I wouldn't know. If you hear of one, though, let me know and I'll pass it along.

Good for you! It's amazing that with a 24 hour news cycle, you are given 90 seconds and HE gets about 18 hours a day!

Let me first respond to to this paragraph you write me;

1. I only had 3 hours to research my story, not 1 or 3 days as you claim.

My mistake. I didn't realize you were under even MORE constraint than we truckers are! But, tell me.... do YOU think 3 hours is enough time to get ALL the facts? If NOT.... shouldn't your LEAD be a little less "affirmative?"

There is no evidence that these people are finding a JOB in this new career, NOR that this industry is still looking for workers!

Your "lead" as you claim was relative to the "subject" of your piece.... should have been more like: "In tough economic times, MANY displaced workers are enrolling in trucking schools." Factual, yet not misleading.

2. Please tell me where one fact I had is incorrect (as I just write Tony XXXX, several drivers have e-mailed me saying they're making more than $60,000 in their first year of driving 18-wheelers. So, in a way, you are right. That $40,000 to $60,000 figure I was given from a few trucking companies is incorrect. I apologize. I should've went higher.)

Other than what you said in your topic sentence/lead.... these figures are not correct, I guarantee you! First, consider that the "trucking companies" will give you the UPSIDE! Second, consider that I have one of the best jobs in trucking, Fedex, after 3 years of experience, and I might make 50 grand this year. Third.... and I can only speculate here.... you are getting info from what we call "Lease Operators," who are giving you GROSS receipts for their runs, BEFORE they take out fuel costs, truck payments, insurance, etc. MOST of "them" make less than Company drivers who average closer to $30k for their first year!

Furthermore.... a FEW drivers emailing you with CLAIMS of making such money does NOT equal a National Average which could EASILY be found with a bit of googling, and equates to POOR research! Please ADMIT to me that, in Salt Lake City... the HOME of C.R. England (the biggest LIAR in the industry) that you got some of those figures from THEM.... or from those whom they have seduced!

OH.... and thanks for "outing" the REV by giving me his first AND last name! I already knew his first name (thanks to some careless posters) but NOW I also have his last name. There are people on message boards that would use that info against him. I'm NOT one of them. But, the "big news channels" know how to protect their sources. I guess you have a bit yet to learn.

3. At what point do you figure I've told the whole story? Should I have got into how Peterbilt manufacturing is way down as well? Should I have got into how all this stimulus money road construction is delaying more routes? What about how Mexico trucking companies are getting into the U.S. to haul freight because they're cheaper? At what point do you feel I would've told the whole story? Like it or not, you can never tell the "whole story" in the way you are suggesting.

I'm impressed by the depth of your "involvement" and understanding of the "whole story" and no.... you weren't ASKED to do the whole story. But, to answer your question: You would have told the whole story when (and IF) you ended your "piece" with the "summation" that, although trucking school enrollment is skyrocketing.... there are no guarantees of JOBS for those who "take the plunge," and that the industry is a TOUGH one to make a living in.... and that people should BEWARE of sales pitches by SCHOOLS who make THEIR money by training you, and have NO responsibility for finding you a job!

Your "piece" was about companies who prey on the disadvantaged and unemployed for the purpose of making a PROFIT! One of your sources even exclaimed that he was opening another school! That's GREAT for HIM.... but, it does nothing for those who NEED a job! The jobs aren't THERE.... so, the schools are selling a pipe dream! Report THAT!

Yes, there are more stories to do about the trucking industry. But, it could never be done with just one story. Do you agree with that? My assignment, as I've said several times, was to look at the increasing enrollment of trucking schools. That's it! Just the increasing enrollment! It wasn't to look at the number of trucking accidents for 1st year drivers compared to 10th year drivers. It wasn't to see how many trucking jobs are being lost because of the economy. It wasn't even to see how the lower cost of diesel this year was helping mom-and-pop trucking businesses. It was only to talk about the increasing enrollment of trucking schools.

You can say I failed all you want. In my line of work, I can never make 100% of the people happy 100% of the time. That's a part of any reporters' career. I remember covering a fun coloring contest at an elementary school one time (for driving drunk posters in the state of Tennessee), and one parent was ticked off that I didn't include her little boy in the story because she felt his poster was the best because she was a professional artist. Can you believe that?! She felt like I didn't do the "whole story." Sounds familiar. No matter what, people will be happy and upset at any story I do.

I understood your assignment. And I find your anecdote amusing. I understand your dilemma. But.... I have HIGH standards for journalists! I WANT you to have a stellar and profitable career! I would rather see you suffer the way that Walter Cronkite did... than soar the way that Sean Hannity has! The choice is YOURS! I understand how difficult the ladder is to climb. I'm RIGHT that you are only about 26 yrs old, aren't I?

You can't report that MAN went to the moon without mentioning those who died in the process! There are GOOD facts and BAD facts. Two sides to every story (even a 90 second one!) Even the top "commentators' on Fox News have a way of relating the "other side" when they have finished a piece of propaganda! That is their "homage" to JOURNALISM. Where do YOU stand?

Please drive safe, and watch out for all those new CDL driver's out there from those packed driving schools!

Sorry, but my biggest concern is the "journalists" in 4wheelers who talk on one phone while texting on another!

Those "wannabees" from the packed driving schools will probably never even get ON THE ROAD!

And YOU watch YOUR back! There are "bloggers" out there right now that think they should have YOUR job!


Hobo

(and NO... I'm not posting my PHONE NUMBER on the internet!)

 

I appreciate you editing out my last name. If anyone wanted to find it, it wouldn't be hard, but no sense in making it any easier.

I thought what we were giving this reporter was gold. We were giving him an opportunity to further his own career by handing him a much larger story than he initially had been handed. I would think that a program director would have applauded a reporter's initiative in creating a true piece of journalism, rather than simply "doing what he was told to do." Even if the program director ended up feeling that it was not properly suited for their station, I'm sure he or she would have gone away thinking, "Wow, Alex sure went at that 110%."

But alas, it wasn't meant to be. At least I learned I'm somewhat famous on trucking message boards.

 

It sounds like this reporter is either a little dense and just doesnt get it or truly does not care and does not want to put in the effort. And yeah, those first year salary numbers these drivers spit off to this guy,if he really would go sit around a truck stop for a few hours he would really see just how much drivers do blow hot air and that those numebrs are just not realistic outside of gross numbers from a lease purchase before any expenses have been pulled out. I came right near 50k after 2 years of driving but this was in a prime economy and was also averaging 3k miles a week for the year with a sliding scale for short hauls and a base pay of .40 cpm with mileage bonuses, which no driver straight out of school is going to get especially in this economy. I had to work my rear end off to make that 50k and never came close to it my first year or the couple after that. This guy is helping sell pipe dreams for potential drivers and he has some drivers selling pipe dreams right back at him in those emails. 95k for a first year driver pulling for Swift. Laughable.

 

Yeah, his last email to me pretty much sums up how little he's willing to do. I thought he actually cared about reporting news, but it seems he just wants to do the bare minimum to slide by. I'm sure a lot of the people who contacted him claiming these huge numbers working for places like Swift were simply doing so to yank his chain. Judging by his news story, it's pretty clear he will believe anything someone tells him if it doesn't require him to actually go out and do some fact checking.

 

This is the answer in a nut shell! I didn't even read the other three pages yet!!!


:thumbsup:

Corporate America loves cheap labor!! :moon: to Corporate America!!!

 

Really? NAME one! :lol2: