I've been wondering this myself. You know I'm only in this for a few months, and I love driving but this is really bs. I mean I know they didn't always have company training and such and I didn't really have to go through that, but I've been driving around New England for the last couple of weeks and I know they charge a premium for that yet I'm being paid 28 cents a mile. Held up at a shipper no money, they just sent a fleet message that they want us to get stamps on lumper services or no money back. I am not standing there fighting with these people for better receipts, I'm not paid for that. I'm not standing on docks counting freight either, I'm paid to drive and that's what I'm going to do. Now when I have my own company or I'm being fairly compensated then I will work commensurate with what I'm being paid.

Change must come from without. It's like that book I think it was called "The Jungle" about the meat industry in the early part of last century; as soon as that came out it changed everything. As long as drivers accept this sh*t then companies are going to do it.

I'm sure drivers weren't paid for shipper time and such back then but was it different? I mean have drivers been complaining about this since day one or was the better pay back then so it wasn't so bad? I know people are always going to complain regardless but this is ridiculous.

One final thing, you know I understand some of the things that these companies do. Even with the lumper receipts, maybe some drivers buy receipt books and charge the company or something. And down time maybe some drivers will milk the clock, well they need to pay more money and get better qualified drivers that's all there is to it. It's like the saying, " you want to pay peanuts and are going to get monkeys"

The answer isn't to abuse the monkey, it is to pay more money and hire human beings.

By the way, I was wondering too, did they always have so many woman drivers?

 

Each state called their truck driving licenses differently-In Michigan we had what was called a C2 and I don't remember what year we went to Federal CDL

 

In PA it was class I, II, or III corresponding to current CDL C, B, A in that order.

When the feds mandated the "universal" CDL thing, can't recall exactly, but it was in the mid 90's when we got "grand-fathered"...we all went down, took the "new" written test...and that was it!

 

I got my CDL in the early 90's, I think 1991.

Before that is was a Class 1.

 

well i live on the tn/ al line. the dot here are all over, but they dont harrass drivers. they dont look for something to write you up on unless your in violation. we have had several trucks turn over. just going too fast around curves & load not properly tied down. most have been drivers with 15 years exp or better. and the unions yes.. my brother is a union negotiator for the teamsters in chicago il. the teamsters are not the powerhouse they used to be though.

 

I didn't take a written test, they just exchanged my old one for a fancy new CDL.
Another revenue scam for the good of the people, bullsh*t we still have idiots, fixed nothing. :shock:

 

Before the deregulation my Father worked for a trucking company as a shipping Clerk. This was a Flatbed company that hauled Granite markers and tombstones out of Elberton, Ga. Granite Capital of the World type of place. The Owner kept Brand new Cabover Macks Trucks painted Mack Green, and Red Flatbed Trailers. Argo Trucking.

Back then I dreamed of Driving for them..

If a truck broke down the would send another with the Lowboy with a spare truck and bring back the broke down truck or send the machanics if they were close by

They would load the truck down to the max and some. and be back for a second load about mid week

But long before I had a chance the Owner sold out and it was closed down.

The COmpany that bought it only bought it for the rights it had.

 

Wow, what a topic.

Deregulation, Pres. Bush A*& hung from a flag pole, D.O.T. regulations, top named companies want you to run run run with very little to no sleep.

When will all this BS end :?: When will us drivers here in American stand as 1 and take on this countries "so-called fair govnerment" :?:

 

Didn't Barbara Walters have a special on T.V. exposing the downside of the industry? (drug use, false logs, guns and so forth)

I was had a conversation with a retired driver. He said it all went downhill after that special aired.