Originally Posted by feederfred (Post 454192)

As a former 30 year Teamster, (Locals 63 and 578-Southern California) and former shop steward at UPS and now "semi-retired"..I can tell you first hand that (A). The Teamsters power is rapidly dwindling in this country and has been for many years. Union leadership only care's about it's next forced dues increase and has completely lost touch with their base members, the trucking industry. (B) The few unionized companies that still exist such as YRC and ABF are basically teetering on the edge of financial doom. The Teamsters long ago abandoned the freight business and now concentrate on organizing government employee's because it's much easier..I used to be a big Teamster "flag waver", but over the years became convinced that the Teamster brotherhood is a myth. Give away contracts, minuscule pensions, and the ability to fire an employee at will are the norm in most contracts now. Teamster power is a joke..."Card check" legislation was gutted by Congress and the Mexican trucks keep rolling across the border...Some Teamster Power" huh ? Jimmy Hoffa is not his father and never will be...Just a fat former attorney who never did an honest day's work in his life. UPS is having their own issues now in this economy. Lay-offs and "furlough" days are happening at the company because the volume just isn't there anymore....That "shut-down" hoopla has been talked about for years and will never happen because you couldn't get four truck drivers to agree on the correct time of day, much less to organize..By the way...TDU is a dissident organization that has no credibility in today's labor movement...

Originally Posted by avc (Post 454248)

Only $5.18 and you bend over and take it with a smile !!!

LOL :lol2: :clap:

The trucking companies are counting on people like you who fall in line, you guys deserve the worst and that is what you will get, because you are cowards who will never stand up for your own profession.

Kids out of high school will take your jobs and so will Mexicans !!!

Originally Posted by feederfred (Post 454297)

Hi Snowman ! Long time, no hear from...good to see your still around. I'm still pulling cryogenic tankers part-time as usual..Did get divorced though after 24 years....single after 08/12/09....damn, almost made the "magic 25"...

Originally Posted by feederfred (Post 454297)

Hi Snowman ! Long time, no hear from...good to see your still around. I'm still pulling cryogenic tankers part-time as usual..Did get divorced though after 24 years....single after 08/12/09....damn, almost made the "magic 25"...

Originally Posted by BobBski (Post 454169)

I drive for Marten...only 4 months now...but, have been out here 17 years and find them to be a great company. As far as scaling loads goes, it's true about the 42,000 lbs....but, Martin trailers are also equipped with axle guages that are fairly reliable and a guage inside your truck showing drive axle weight. Once you figure out how to use them they're pretty reliable tools. I will add that I've found some faulty guages on trailers...but, not too many. On loads I question...I scale it...claim it at tax time...scaled a lot at first...then got the hang of the guages and don't worry about it anymore. I've also found most folks in the "office" as with most places...are pretty good folks. I've never had to ask for my detention pay or had to "argue" for any pay due. In fact, I was 4 days late in getting home once...before I could message in to ask for the PO for $200 ($50 a day, it was sent to me). Anywho...I haven't run across a company in 17 years that has 100% satisfied employees...and I can't say every week out here I've got the miles I've wanted...but...that's nothing new.....6 week average is more than what they promised.

Bear in mind, my comments are not "against" the unhappy driver...just stating my experiences thus far. Do I have some complaints???? What driver doesn't...comes with the job...ie...that's trucking.

Originally Posted by feederfred (Post 454384)

Yes, UPS will push you..I don't miss that constant "looking over the shoulder" stuff and I sure don't miss my days on the package car with that constant push to do more with less time. Just document everything and never speak to a supervisor without a steward present. Even the little things can get turned around on you..Thanks for the kind sentiment about the divorce..don't know what happened. She had her mid-life crisis and just decided I was no longer good enough, so life goes on...Dating at my age kind of sucks though, I'm clueless....