Truck Strike Petition

Yeah, right! Anyone who has read more than two posts on this blog, knows what I think about any kind of strike. And someone still sends me this petition -

SUPPORT AMERICA’S TRUCKERS
If the requisitions of the people are not met by October 31, 2005 , we will strike across America. We are only asking for

* LOWER FUEL PRICES.
* Mandatory higher freight rates.
* Bans on overnight parking in rest areas lifted.
* Hours of service rules set permanently
* Cap on cost of driver services such as insurance, showers, truck services and repairs.
* Equal speed limits for trucks.
* Reasonable toll cost for trucks.

**ALL DRIVERS ARE URGED TO PARTICIPATE. ALL DRIVERS WHO ARE ON THE ROAD AFTER MIDNIGHT OCTOBER 31, 2005, WILL BE SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADS ACROSS AMERICA….REGARDLESS.

And it goes on with contact information and a phone number if I wanted to testify before Congress. Which for one, is a scary thought, imagine one of those truckers that sit around the coffee counter at a truckstop, testifying in front of Congress. And that last line sounds a lot like a threat.

My reply was a simple and honest – “You’re an idiot!”

Mandatory higher rates? Trucking in the 70’s was before my time, but
that sounds a lot like re-regulating the industry. Not going to happen.
How about not pulling cheap freight? If a broker won’t pay more, hang
up and call someone else.
Overnight parking in rest areas – Only a few states actually ban and
hand out tickets for parking more than 4 hours or 8 hours.
HOS rules set permanently – That would be nice, but only if I like them, if I don’t like them, then they can change.
A cap on the cost of a shower and truck repairs? I’m not even going to go into the stupidity of that idea.
Equal speed limits – Yeah, it sucks to go slower than cars and it’s not a safety issue, it’s a state issue, the feds aren’t and can’t get involved in that.
Toll costs – Same thing thing as speed limits.

After I got a link to a site that didn’t work, here’s my offer to this guy/group -

tumbleweedllc.com, not even a site yet. What am I supposed to learn
from that??? Convince me you’re not a nut and how a strike is going to
solve anything, how more government intervention and regs are going to
help me as opposed to my personal responsibility to charge and accept
rates high enough to cover my business expenses including fuel no
matter what the costs. And why I should support you guys, as opposed to
OOIDA who has experienced and professional lobbyist, and I’ll let you
post an entry or two on my site and we can have a decent intelligent,
grown up discussion.

And that’s my offer to anyone. Someone convince me a strike is going to fix anything. That’s when it gets quiet. So far no response from these people.

Originally posted 2005-09-15 11:22:40.

(5) Comments Read More

Comments

Lonnie Hardiman #

First of all….If you don’t like the petition, Why are you commenting on it, You can keep your thoughts to yourself, Before you start downgrading people you need to make sure that your FACTS are straight, If you are a truck driver or involved in the trucking industry at all(which I’m sure that you’re not) You should realize that there is a problem in the industry, not only with fuel prices but also with freight rates, and alot of safety issues. The 3225 signed petitions were presented to Senator Mel Martinez on Oct 17, with media coverage after the meeting, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HELP OUR INDUSTRY????? I’m sure that you are one of those people who wants changes but you can’t figure out a solution of your own, I as an owner/operator and one of the biggest supporters of this great effort have to wonder why people like YOURSELF are always so critical of the ones ACTUALLY making an attempt to benefit themselves and others.If you want a valid website go to the URL that I sent you, one more time here it is, http://www.webspawner.com/users/keepamericarolling/index.html

Greg Novak #

I support a truckers strike in the US!
Find out how to get a Free Fantasy Trucking CD and play against truckers from all over.

Armadillo #

http://www.workers.org/ww/france3.html

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9711/01/france.truck/

France did it, There is only one way to do a strike. Shut the trucks down in the middle of the road. The GW bridge would be a choice spot, I-80/I-94 Chicago, I-10 at I-5 in Los Angelos. This would definately raise a brow. How about Lets just all run the scales all the time. Its not a moving violation but it would get some attention and most of us (99.99%)would get away with it. Kinda be like a school of mullet swimming by a Lobster. One or two of us might get pinched but they aint gonna eat us. Lets say we did “shut down”. What would we ask for? How about lets get the trucking industry in line with the rest of the working world. HOURLY WAGES for the employees(Company drivers) With the true hours I work I would make $500 a week at minumum wage. There is a few jobs out there that pay hourly and they are not minimum wage. Let a labor arbitrator decide what is fair compensation. I wouldn’t do it for less than $18 an hour.

The O/O is saying What about me. Just think what would happen to freight rates if all company drivers was put on hourly wages. Win/Win!!!!!!!!!!

If it would be stressed that this is our goal. Hourly wages..Would I abide by DOT regulations. You can bet on it. Would the highways be safer?

Now, fuel prices and the rest. This is The United States. Capitalist = supply and demand. If we shut down like the french there would be an over abundance of fuel. 1 day of shut down would back the refineries up tremendously. Hourly Wages would give a result in less miles driven and less fuel being consumed until the demand had risen again.

Armadillo #

http://www.workers.org/ww/france3.html

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9711/01/france.truck/

As far as you that laugh at Truck strikes….its obvious that you suffer from Cranial rectitus, Follow the links and be enlightened.

Armadillo said it, Write it down, recite it, memorize it and paste it on your little forehead. (Ex-Administrative Vice President, Labor Union)

Tim Magyar #

I want to start by saying that it took 1 person and an Idea to invent anything that
is a luxery today.I say this because I beleive we can bring a truckers strike together.We all have great idea’s but have we ever sat down to discuss them? Your probably saying “yes we have”,but I say no
you haven’t.We all know its who you know not what you know.If any of you served in the forces you will know that it takes drill after drill after drill to get a battle plan to come together,well,thats what this will take.Exploring ever “WHAT IF PLAN” and comming at this from every angle.From private conversations to traveling by plane,bus,truck,etc just to
meet in private to make this come together.
We need power you say”MONEY”?? Not always.Some of us are driving company trucks and others travel by bus or plane to do company business.That gets most of our travel expences out of the way while we make money to plan this strike.I think we need to start small then go big.I mean I want to shut down America to but lets start
by shutting down big corperations like JB Hunt,Warner,Shnieder,and other big corperations.Lets face it most trucking companies mimick others.I have lots of good ideas and dont know it all thats why I need you.Lets let all those people behind those desks know that we run america’s trucking industry.please email me at fweffy@sprintpcs with you input on this issue.Thank you,and goodnight