Independent truckers see end of the road

[RamboLiberal]

Source: USA Today

Trucker Robert Griffith is on the road three weeks out of four, pulling oversize loads like crane booms, railroad ties and air conditioning ducts. One of his biggest worries: How he'll find the money to buy his daughter a prom dress.

As the cost of diesel doubled over the last four years, his take-home pay has plummeted, from $50,000 to $11,000 last year. He's literally burning money; he spent $64,000 on diesel in the last eight months. Since he canceled his satellite radio, he's on citizens band radio constantly (handle: Instigator) talking about what needs to change so truckers like him can survive.

"I had to learn to live totally different," said Griffith, 41, of Lebanon, Tenn.

No more $150 family outings to Shogun sushi. No more weekly washes for his Western Star 4900 EX truck. No more health insurance for him and his family.

"It hurts," he said. "I'm a man who's trying to make a living for my family and I'm not succeeding."



Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/2008-03-01-truckers_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

---

They need to pull a nationwide trucker's strike like they did in the 70's w/o the violence. They need to get this issue in the news cycle.

The rest of us out here are hurting too and many of us would surely sympathize with the drivers!

[sam sarrha]

1. 4 years ago Swift had 22,000 drivers, with a turn over of 125% annually, because they are F'n bottom...

line assholes.. they aren't going to last long either, with week long hiring process, and 30 day training with some guy that cant drive..

[Viva_La_Revolution]

16. know what SWIFT stands for?...

Sure Wish I'd Finished Training.

:P

ahhh. I miss the truck business. :(

[Warpy]

2. Naw, he'll just start working 4 weeks out of four

and spending maybe one weekend a month with his family.

I sympathise with him, same damn thing happened in the 70s and a lot of truckers got out of the business, rigs parked in the yard, until Carter's Strategic Oil Reserve got the prices down and businesses that used indie haulers realized their services were going to cost more.

The bosses aren't going to pay him more to haul loads to make up for the increased fuel cost. Either he works himself to death as a trucker or he takes a shit job closer to home and sees his family, that's his choice.

[lib2DaBone]

5. No Fix

There ain't no fix. Truckers cannt make a living, and that is why we are going to have shortages of everything known to man. What else can I say to make you realize the mess we are in? Wake Up.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

7. I have thought of you guys a lot.

I have been wondering about this, because I spent a lot of my life driving all over the country in straight trucks, with band equipment in the back, talking to you guys on the radio. It's a hard, hard life and a hard way to make a buck. That said, a lot of your fellow drivers have some blame for this: a hell of a lot of them voted for and supported this administration.

I get no satisfaction out of pointing this out. I know why they did as well: it's damed hard to stay informed out there and there is this "rugged individuality" thing that Dear Leader really played to, that would resonate with the men and women out there.

I do hope people are wising up and now have a better idea about the hustle they have been victims of. I really do. I knew it would come to this.

[RamboLiberal]

12. Amazes me how Repukes managed to turn truckers

and other blue collar employees in to voting against their own best interests. I work in a warehousing environment and when I walk through the warehouse there is Rush, Hannity and the other RW shills telling these workers how bad those liberals, Hillary, Obama, Teddy Kennedy, etc. are for them. They've never figured out Bush/Cheney, all the other Repukes, Rush, Hannity, etc. are laughing all the way to the bank while they play these workers for fools!

I imagine with RW radio all over the dial many of these truckers are listening endlessly to this crap.

[CANDO]

51. Far too many Teamsters are "rugged individualists" also.

The R's have done a masterful job of playing up the macho man, tough guy bullshit. I have union brothers come at me almost daily with the shit they fill themselves with on Rush's show. You know it's bad when people who should know better turn their backs on the party that at least "sometimes" supports labor.

[Warpy]

11. Been awake for some time

and I have seen this before. You are not unique, nor are you the only people this has happened to.

I told you what the choice is right now, the same as it was in the 70s. It's not until bosses are stuck with things they can't move and other bosses are stuck with things they need but can't get that things will improve.

Truckers can expect to be thrown under the bus until that happens. Happened before.

[lapfog_1]

22. Can't drive unless there are loads

right now, no loads. Economic slowdown.

In another month you can make money hauling produce from California to East Coast, if you have a refer.

But even then, there are so many truckers that it's cut throat competition... and if you figure your costs wrong, you might drive for 2 weeks for just a few hundred bucks for yourself. That is, if you can get a load. Loads back from East to West mostly paid for the fuel to get back... now, that's questionable.

[OKthatsIT]

25. Well, if you don't like it, I'm sure a Mexican trucker would @ $11,000 a yr

You can thank NAFTA and the NAFTA Highway Corridor and GW BUSH for all your troubles.

[workinclasszero]

31. Truck driving..just another job Mercans won't do.

Thanks George.:puke:

[CRF450]

36. I wouldn't bet on that.

[treestar]

37. Unrelated issues

The Mexican trucks are not driven by undocumented immigrants; they are working as Mexicans and allowed into the U.S. to do it.

I don't suppose American trucks ever go into Mexico, or would if there was a market there for whatever the trucker is hauling?

The commnets upthread about lack of training are interesting; it was the Mexicans who were presumed to be terrible drivers with unsafe trucks by so many anti-Mexicans.

[sam sarrha]

38. WOW.. how do you make that much driving a truck.!! i spent more time sitting getting load/unloaded

than weighing and going back for them to do it right again and again, than i did driving a piece of shit truck with bad brakes, bad shimmy in the steering.. bad tires some Mexican swapped for my good ones.. bad windshields, bad wipers.. a partner who smelled like road kill cause he had athletes foot to his knees.. and hadn't bathed in a month.. had 2 go into amphetamine psychosis on me.. fuck that shit i quit

[CRF450]

40. You could do what my brother does...

Deliver fuel to gas stations. My brother is making around $50k/year working for Eagle. Only downside to it would be the 60hr/week work times, otherwise he loves the job.

[sam sarrha]

43. wish i could.. i lost my left hand 10-7-07, going in for 4th surgery, skin graft.. the 13th, my

my comercial driving days are over..

[CRF450]

44. Dang dude! That sucks...

What happened?

[sam sarrha]

45. freak accident.... i was thinking about driving a hospital shuttle, i have been working in aerospace

the last 8 years, pay isn't that good.. cant do either now

[JPZenger]

41. Mexican Trucks in US in Violation of Act of Congress

Congress passed a law by large margins to try to delay or stop the opening of US highways to Mexican trucks and Mexican truckdrivers. Bush is ignoring it, and there are now Mexican trucks travelling throughout the US, including into New York City.

http://www.firemarypeters.com/

[trthnd4jstc]

3. I wish you guys the best.

I am an Electrician, my gasoline bill went up from $350.00 to $700.00 a month, from 2000 to 2008, my sales went down from $48,000.00 a month to $6000.00 a month for the last 3 months. This economy is very much trying my sense of optimism. But, I am not going to surrender.

[pokercat999]

4. One of the largest plumbing firms in Sarasota Florida has

88 service trucks. They are down to 12 employees. The tire company that services their trucks is really hurting as well because rather than service a truck or buy tires they just transfer their equipment to a truck with good tires. With 76 spares they have a long way to go before buying tires again. My best friend has been selling tire supplies and equipment to the tire company where these vehicles are normally serviced, his business is off 50% month to month from last year. All this is a result of the downturn in the housing market which is also related to fuel costs. Our entire economy is inter-related. Better hold on tight we are in for some kind of wild ride.

[Delphinus]

28. pokercat,

this says it all right here: Our entire economy is inter-related. Better hold on tight we are in for some kind of wild ride.

[Old Codger]

6. prices of goods

Prices of delivered goods will rise to meet delivery costs, simple economics.

[WCGreen]

8. One thing good will happen for the whole economy and global warming...

More freight will be shipped by rail and then delivered locally by trucks...

In the long run, that is the best solution...

Less griding down on the highways...

Less overall energy use...

And cheaper freight costs to the end customer...

I hate to see a whole segment of the economy go through such drastic changes, but this time around, it's the indy truckers...

We can only hope that someday it will be republicans and wall street types who are forced to go through similar angst...

[harmonicon]

10. you're dreaming

There's no infrastructure for that. What government is going to put in these rail lines? What companies? Sure, it might be the best way, but you ought to know by now that the best way to do things is often the last way they're done by the powers that be.

[elleng]

14. Rail lines exist;

they carry lots of freight. (Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, Burlington Northern/Santa Fe, CSX, for a few.) They are a major sector of the economy. Freight railroads seek continually to take freight off roads; sometimes/places it works, sometimes it doesn't. Usually freight has to be delivered over the road from freight lines to local cities, towns, businesses.

Its the railroads who, over the last 20 +- years, have prevailed concerning competition and labor matters before government agencies, and motor carriers have lost former govt protections concerning competition; labor has lost protections it had gained in the past.

No simple answers here; its a big country, and these are big problems, often subject to political manipulation as is everything else.

[harmonicon]

17. I know that there are freight lines

but the tracks, in general, are not in the greatest state of repair, and are clogged enough as is. I've heard of several rail lines shutting down over the past several years, not of any new lines opening. What you're suggesting would be a major change in infrastructure, and I don't think anyone is going to step up to the plate to put it in place, and who wants multiple rail yards in their neighborhood (what it would take to replace trucking)?

[elleng]

20. Neither truck nor rail can be replaced;

neither can they take over the other's work.

Abandonments have occurred for many years, and the government evaluates each request for such; most based on relative lack of rail business in the area. Most of the long-haul lines are in decent repair; this is under DoT's jurisdiction, re: safety. NorthEast corridor is congested, for freight rail and motor, and passenger. If anyone seeks to build significantly long rail line, environment, safety, etc, etc. are first evaluated by govt; its not easy at all.

I'm suggesting some changes in the way govt regulates, as to consolidations (competition) for rail, and labor/safety matters for rail AND motor. And I'm NOT suggesting it would be easy to do any of it. I do think truckers have been shafted for a long time.

[DavidMS]

48. Thats starting to change

I heard a story on NPR about how some rail lines were being improved (speeds raised, double tracked) and that railways are looking to expand capacity. What I wonder about is given that the way stores are going is the big box format, would the next step be servicing several of them with a rail line? Of course it would take a change in thinking on the part of the railroads and methods of moving smaller lots of freight fast. It would drasticaly drop the cost of shipping goods.

[elleng]

49. Transportation needs continually change.

Railroads are ALWAYS improving some lines, and seeking to expand capacity, in particular in the way you mention; that's economics, and rrs use such approaches a lot; they after all are businesses. Different forces are at play in different parts of the country.

Keep in mind that its a big country, and motor carriers along with rail roads both make it possible.

[UpInArms]

13. they ripped all those tracks up in the 80s

they no longer exist

so sad :(

[lapfog_1]

23. unfortunately, there are other considerations

the railroad is set up for container shipping and bulk goods (coal, grain, etc).

Truckers are set up for produce (timely delivery, multi-drop) and priority items...

[H8fascistcons]

9. It just makes me sick

to see what these Fascist republican freaks have done to out country!!!

[sce56]

15. Being Retired Mil I have seen a COLA of 2.5 -3% every year as they say it fixed to inflation?

How can they say that when the price of gas has doubled the past few years! I saw a thread here recently where they said the true inflation was 7% but they wont admit that. I don't understand why the truckers don't just increase their fees! Oh yeah I forgot they have no union voice to speak for independents!

[dysfunctional press]

34. the government doesn't include fuel and food costs in figuring COLA's.

:crazy:

if they did, rich people might have to pay their fair share of taxes.

[downindixie]

18. maybe thats why

bush is trying to allow Mexican driver to travel our highways!

[lapfog_1]

24. That would be a big BINGO.

not just the truck drivers, but their worn out and under-insured trucks.

[lonestarnot]

32. That tear up our highways and roads and pollute our air.

[2Design]

19. this is why BFEE is pushing for mexican truckers - another american

job gone to the dogs - breaking unions too - really destroying the middle class FDR helped to create and these idiots vote for these turkeys year after year

[BearSquirrel2]

21. Be careful ...

BFEE made the original push. Clinton actually pushed the treaty through Congress. Dubaya is only trying to realize the full extent of the treaty. This is something to remember when you want to put the Clinton people back into office.

Overall, I think the Clinton administration did a good job. But they made a colossal blunder in terms of NAFTA and WTO.

[lonestarnot]

33. They sure as hell did!

[2Design]

39. I am tired of BFEE actions being blamed on clinton - enough

yes clinton did the final push on nafta after the republics pushed and pushed and he was trying to reach across the aisle and do something for both sides - this started before clinton - and it seems that the last 28 years we had clinton for 8 and yet the republicans and you want to blame him for reagan (BFEE) and poppy and now dimwit -

[Zhade]

50. I can't let this ignorance pass unchallenged. YOU'RE WRONG.

Clinton campaigned on worker protections in NAFTA, and dropped that promise once in office. HE LIED TO US.

He's as responsible for this mess as the b*s* family.

[CANDO]

52. To a certain extent, I agree.

But I do give him credit for holding off on the trucking provisions of NAFTA. But all in all, I say to hell with him for ever going along with implementing it in the first place. This is why I say no way in hell to his wife as President. DLC triangulaters.

[harpboy_ak]

26. Cabbies are getting shafted, too

I'm a taxi driver, and it's getting harder and harder to make a living --- I've had 4 12 hour workdays in the past month when I've taken home $20 or less after paying my cab lease & gas, and I'm working 4 days a week in order to avoid the slowest days when I could easily not even make enough fares to pay my lease, much less my gas.

Even on the good days this winter, I've haven't been making a living wage, because the gas prices keep climbing. Gas here in Juneau, Alaska, a state that produces about 40% of the oil used on the West Coast, is now up to $3.31/gal for 87 octane, up 3 cents in the past week, or another $3 to $3.50/day out of my income.

Meanwhile, the BFEE & friends make out like the bandits they are.

Definitely time for a change, and not another 8 years of Clinton DLC Repug Lite sellouts.

[Delphinus]

46. Interesting.

I've never been to Alaska, so no clue as to even how large a city Juneau might be, but when you talked of being a cab driver, Alaska was the last place in the world I would have thought of!

I am sure that the cost of living up there is a lot more expensive too. I hope you have another way to bring income into your life.

[bean fidhleir]

27. As long as the people running things don't work for a living, things will get worse

You think they care what working folks have to suffer? They rake in the dough no matter who's hurting. They operate the pump that shifts the money out of our pockets and into theirs. And that pump works on both strokes, up and down, good times or bad.

There's only one way to get free, and that's for working people to band together. They've got money, we've got numbers. But our numbers don't add up as long as we compete instead of cooperate.

Gas prices aren't just gas prices, they're a wake-up call. Are we paying attention yet?

[NashVegas]

47. #1 Pay Off Debts

Homes that depend on two (or more) full-time incomes *and* live beyond their means have no 'fuck you' money. It's important to have that and / or family who can help you get by in strike times.

[bean fidhleir]

53. That's a biggie, for sure. Debt enslaves us. (nt)

[sendero]

29. I know truckers are hurting..

.. but there is something I don't understand. Every truck has to buy diesel, so their costs should rise in tandem. Since their costs rise in tandem, so should their fees.

I realize some are stuck in contacts and such, but it would seem that, as a result of this oil/gas debacle, their fees would rise, the cost of the goods they transport would rise and everything would work out.

Why is this not happening?

[workinclasszero]

30. I hate to say it but...I bet this guy voted for Jr.

Hopefully many former middle class people have seen what happens when you give control of the government to the damn republicans!

They steal the food off your family's plate and drive you to the poor house!

[lonestarnot]

35. You know what, I'll bet he did too!

[4dsc]

42. Look's like he'll be a COMPANY driver soon..

Let's face it, if you cannot make as an independent driver you'll probably end up driving for some company and make more money..

There are independent's that are making it if you know the right company to work for..

I'm a company driver and I make a very good living with plenty of time off..