[Rebels1972] truckers
machen2081 at bellsouth.net
machen2081 at bellsouth.net
Thu Jun 15 11:54:37 CDT 2006
This is probably true of most jobs. The newcomers have little or no work
ethics and could care less about anything but the "buck". They give about
10% or less on the job.
The older worker has respect for his job, others and America. Many give
100% or more.
The difference is amazing in the two workers.
The sad part is that the newcomers are overtaking the older workers and
America is suffering.
In my role as an administrator for 27 yrs, I hired and terminated RN's and
others and I would see this over and over.
For some unknown reason, 1/2 of the population thinks that America owes them
a living( truckers included)
The system is totally messed up and no relief in sight!
Susan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred Atkinson" <fatkinson at mishmash.com>
To: <machen2081 at bellsouth.net>
Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2006 11:32 AM
Subject: Re: [Rebels1972] truckers
> Regretfully, that is true of the newcomers.
>
> They drug themselves up because they have to keep going.
>
> I never did any of that. And I made diddly squat. That was one of the
> reasons I gave it up.
>
> It's a system that rewards those who take dangerous risks and penalizes
> those who break the law.
>
> Yes, it's messed up.
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> Fred
>
>
> --- machen2081 at bellsouth.net wrote:
>
> From: <machen2081 at bellsouth.net>
> To: <fatkinson at mishmash.com>, "Sansom Class of 1972"
> <rebels1972 at mishmash.net>
> Subject: Re: [Rebels1972] truckers
> Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 10:50:13 -0500
>
> Fred,
> The only way they can make acceptable money is to speed? Putting hundreds
> of thousands of lives at risk every day on the road including their
> own----for them to make some money?
> Yea they're speeding all right---with the crap that they are ingesting in
> a
> pill form.
>
> I was a hemodialysis RN for 27 years and I can't begin to tell you the
> number of truckers that I have dialyzed over this period of time because
> of
> their long term drug abuse. This group was the hardest group to work with
> due to their non-compliance, disrespect for authority figures and
> continued
> drug abuse.
>
> No Fred, I wouldn't get behind a wheel and speed just to increase my
> earnings.. I'm just not made that way. I have respect for human life.
> Period.
>
> Transport the goods via railroad. Utilize as few trucks as possible. As
> for
> me, I'm sick of their attitudes---they don't own the roads!
>
> You're right about one thing---one bad apple spoils the whole bunch---this
> goes for everything in life
>
> Susan
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Fred Atkinson" <fatkinson at mishmash.com>
> To: <rebels1972 at mishmash.net>
> Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2006 10:26 AM
> Subject: Re: [Rebels1972] truckers
>
>
>> Yes, Susan,
>>
>> There is drug testing before they can even drive. And they are
>> subject to surprised, unannounced drug testing, too. I've been tested a
>> number of times, myself, all negative.
>>
>> Well, you'd probably speed too if you were economically enslaved and
>> the only way to make acceptable money was to speed. Don't you think we
>> could change the law to fix that?
>>
>> I've been around the truck drivers. Mostly, they are good people
>> trying to make a living. And remember, it only takes one or two negative
>> folks in a stereotyped group (ah, that word) to make a lot of good people
>> look bad.
>>
>> We live lifestyles that we'd never live if these folks didn't do this
>> work for us. Remember that. When we pass laws guaranteeing wages, we
>> exempt them from the same laws we make to protect ourselves.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>>
>>
>> Fred
>>
>>
>> --- tech450 at gmail.com wrote:
>>
>> From: "Rick Peek" <tech450 at gmail.com>
>> To: "Sansom Class of 1972" <rebels1972 at mishmash.net>
>> Subject: Re: [Rebels1972] truckers
>> Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 10:13:55 -0500
>>
>> Hey Susan,
>> My sentiments on truckers are with you also. Driving from Gadsden to
>> B'ham
>> on the interstate for 8 years, all my dealings with truckers have been
>> negative also. I have been run off the road several times myself and have
>> seen them cause numerous accidents, some of which I barely missed being
>> in
>> myself. I have hit debris many times that was left in the road by
>> truckers
>> and almost made me wreck and once hit some scrap metal that fell off a
>> truck
>> and shredded my new tires and almost made me wreck. I have also had my
>> winsheild cracked and paint knocked off by flying rocks that fell off
>> trucks. I'm on your side.
>>
>> Rick P.
>>
>>
>> On 6/15/06, machen2081 at bellsouth.net <machen2081 at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Ah Fred,
>>> I read and re-read your article with great interest. I wonder why you
>>> would put so much time and energy into such an article.
>>>
>>> You see truck drivers really strike a chord with me and I'll tell you
>>> why.
>>> I'm sure there are many great truck drivers on the road with a safe
>>> driving
>>> record. I haven't met many. You stated that people feel anger towards
>>> truck
>>> drivers because of the manner in which they drive on the open
>>> highway. You
>>> are so correct. My article may offend you....
>>>
>>> In 1984, I was taking my mother to and from Birmingham for her chemo
>>> treatments three times per week. On one Wednesday afternoon, I was
>>> driving
>>> her red car home with her reclined in the riders side. I was on the left
>>> side of highway I-59 and a "wonderful"truck driver flew by and took off
>>> the
>>> entire side of her car( my mother's side.) He swerved over into my lane.
>>>
>>> He never stopped and kept going at approx 90 miles per hr. I'm sure to
>>> deliver his goods to a store! I had to chase him down and lucky for us a
>>> statetrooper was a few miles away.
>>> I finally got the truck to stop. The driver jumped out(all 4'10" of him
>>> and
>>> proceeded to cuss me out and even hit me.I was pregnant at the time)
>>> He was stoned out of his mind. At this point, I was all over him and
>>> since
>>> my mother was only slightly injured she had to pull me off of him. He
>>> denied
>>> the hit and run---cars were pulled over for witnesses and the trooper
>>> had
>>> arrived.
>>> Long story short---This precious trucker was stoned on Demerol, morphine
>>> and
>>> being serviced by his boyfriend(also stoned)when he nearly killed us.
>>> Red
>>> paint was all over his wheels--he went to jail with many charges!!! This
>>> wasn't the first time for him either.
>>> How do these guys pass drug testing? Is there drug testing?
>>>
>>> Like you said.... It isn't whether or not he's at fault that matters.
>>> You
>>> may have run into him but the question is.. could he have done something
>>> to
>>> prevent it from happening? You figure it out!
>>>
>>> My parents live next door to a trucker ....This trucker steals goods,
>>> lets
>>> his 14yr drive his 18wheeler on long trips while he sleeps, and is
>>> addicted
>>> to crystal meth.
>>>
>>> My daughter and I just went to Anniston yesterday and were run off the
>>> road
>>> by a 18 wheeler and then the thing kept
>>> chasing us for miles. I called the police but the truck had left by that
>>> time. A report was taken.
>>>
>>> As you can see, I have little respect for truckers. My dealings have not
>>> been good. Many are slaves to drugs to keep them going these long,
>>> grueling
>>> hours.
>>> My hats are off to the good ones.
>>> Susan
>>>
>>>
>>> >>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> >>> From: "Fred Atkinson" <fatkinson at mishmash.com>
>>> >>> To: "Rebels 1972" <rebels1972 at mishmash.net>
>>> >>> Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 8:52 PM
>>> >>> Subject: [Rebels1972] Economic Slavery on the Highways
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>> I'd like to share some ideas about some of the people who make
>>> this
>>> >>>> country great. They are often the most unappreciated people in the
>>> >>>> world.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> We take them so much for granted despite all that they
>>> do. Everyone
>>> >>>> seems to think that the goods on the shelf at your store just
>>> >>>> appear
>>> >>>> there
>>> >>>> magically. The materials to build your home, school, or workplace
>>> were
>>> >>>> not
>>> >>>> always there. The fuel that makes your car run does not just
>>> >>>> appear
>>> at
>>> >>>> the
>>> >>>> pump. And there are many other material goods we rely on to
>>> >>>> maintain
>>> >>>> our
>>> >>>> standard of living.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> There are thousands of good Americans that transport these
>>> materials
>>> >>>> to
>>> >>>> us. They aren't heralded and they get no fanfare. Man live a
>>> >>>> lifestyle of
>>> >>>> separation from their families and work an incredible number of
>>> hours.
>>> >>>> It
>>> >>>> is their plight I wish to discuss.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> When the economy went sour at the end of 2001, I spoke with a
>>> >>>> recruiter
>>> >>>> for a national trucking company, she arranged for me to travel to
>>> >>>> Memphis,
>>> >>>> Tennessee and attend a three week school that would help me get a
>>> Class
>>> >>>> A
>>> >>>> commercial driver's license with all the required endorsements and
>>> the
>>> >>>> training required for the company to hire me as an over the road
>>> truck
>>> >>>> driver. The cost of attending the truck school was over five
>>> thousand
>>> >>>> dollars and I was expected to be responsible for the cost myself.
>>> >>>> I
>>> >>>> was not
>>> >>>> compensated in any way for the time I spent in school.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> I went to truck driving school with a lot of people from
>>> >>>> different
>>> >>>> parts
>>> >>>> of the country and different backgrounds. After we completed our
>>> first
>>> >>>> week
>>> >>>> in school, we passed our written exams to get our learner's permits
>>> and
>>> >>>> our
>>> >>>> medical certificates, which were required to operate the big
>>> >>>> eighteen
>>> >>>> wheelers.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> The next week was range training. We learned all manner of
>>> backing.
>>> >>>> Backing was not like backing a car. It required a whole different
>>> >>>> twist.
>>> >>>> To back a truck to the right one must turn the wheel to the left
>>> until
>>> >>>> the
>>> >>>> truck jacks to the right. Then you turn the wheel to the right to
>>> >>>> follow
>>> >>>> the trailer and keep it on the right path. Even backing in a
>>> straight
>>> >>>> line
>>> >>>> was difficult. But we learned our required backing skills during
>>> >>>> the
>>> >>>> second
>>> >>>> week and went on for the road training.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> We drove all over western Tennessee, eastern Arkansas, and
>>> northern
>>> >>>> Mississippi. To the end of the third week we completed our
>>> >>>> training
>>> >>>> and
>>> >>>> passed our road tests. When we returned to school the following
>>> week,
>>> >>>> we
>>> >>>> were taken to the DMV to get our Class A commercial driver's
>>> >>>> licenses
>>> >>>> and
>>> >>>> late we were assigned to a driver who would train us while we were
>>> >>>> actually
>>> >>>> transporting goods all over the country. We were paid only fifty
>>> >>>> dollars
>>> >>>> per day while we trained regardless of the miles driven. Since a
>>> >>>> driver
>>> >>>> often drives between four and five hundred miles per shift, that
>>> >>>> amounts to
>>> >>>> as little as ten cents per mile or less.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> These three weeks of driver training was done with no
>>> >>>> compensation
>>> >>>> and a
>>> >>>> legal requirement that you repay the company for the training. Of
>>> >>>> course,
>>> >>>> they pro-rated the cost over two years and made the payments for
>>> >>>> your
>>> >>>> as
>>> >>>> long as you worked for them. But if you found it necessary to
>>> >>>> leave,
>>> >>>> you
>>> >>>> were on the hook for the pro-rated part of the money you owe. This
>>> >>>> makes it
>>> >>>> difficult to leave if you are unhappy with the working situation.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> After I completed the training with my instructor, I began to
>>> learn
>>> >>>> things I never knew. I knew that truck drivers were typically away
>>> >>>> from
>>> >>>> home for months at a time. I never knew that they are not covered
>>> >>>> by
>>> >>>> the
>>> >>>> wage and hour laws (overtime? What is that?). Truck drivers don't
>>> get
>>> >>>> overtime even though they constantly work in excess of sixty hours
>>> per
>>> >>>> week.
>>> >>>> They get paid for the miles they drive and (on occasion) for
>>> >>>> loading
>>> or
>>> >>>> unloading a truck, not for the time they work.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> Many responsibilities that truck drivers perform are without any
>>> >>>> compensation. The Department of Transportation requires that they
>>> >>>> perform a
>>> >>>> complete and thorough pre-trip safety inspection each day, which
>>> takes
>>> >>>> fifteen minutes of their time. They receive no compensation for
>>> their
>>> >>>> time
>>> >>>> to perform this. When they weigh and balance a truck to make sure
>>> the
>>> >>>> load
>>> >>>> is legal on the highway, they receive no compensation for that,
>>> either.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> When they hitch or unhitch a trailer, they receive no
>>> >>>> compensation
>>> >>>> for
>>> >>>> that task. When a shipper or receiver makes them stand around and
>>> wait
>>> >>>> for
>>> >>>> their load to be loaded or unloaded from a trailer, the driver
>>> receives
>>> >>>> no
>>> >>>> compensation for the time he is there idle while the shipper or
>>> >>>> receiver
>>> >>>> focuses on other things (unless he is paid for loading or
>>> >>>> unloading,
>>> >>>> which
>>> >>>> isn't often).
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> And the driver is never guaranteed to get a shipment to
>>> move. There
>>> >>>> were a number of times where I sat at a truck stop in a strange
>>> >>>> city
>>> >>>> with no
>>> >>>> load. Our company compensated us forty dollars per day if they had
>>> no
>>> >>>> load
>>> >>>> for us. Imagine that, only forty dollars for a single day of your
>>> life
>>> >>>> (and
>>> >>>> not all drivers even get that) away from your family, community,
>>> >>>> and
>>> >>>> friends. And the per mile rates for new drivers are very low. One
>>> >>>> I
>>> >>>> was
>>> >>>> asked to pick up a trailer, weigh it to make sure it was legally
>>> >>>> balanced,
>>> >>>> and transport it to the nearest company terminal for
>>> >>>> reassignment to another driver. For my several hours of work, I
>>> >>>> received
>>> >>>> approximately twelve dollars for my efforts. It amounted to less
>>> than
>>> >>>> minimum wage.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> Truck drivers get no respect. Once when I was at a truckstop
>>> >>>> near
>>> >>>> the
>>> >>>> Canadian border in Maine, a driver told me that his CB handle was
>>> >>>> 'Caucasian
>>> >>>> scumbag'. He said that he chose that handle because of what his
>>> father
>>> >>>> (also a truck driver) told him. Truck driving is an honorable
>>> >>>> profession,
>>> >>>> but you will never get any respect. Sadly, I found myself agreeing
>>> >>>> with
>>> >>>> him. A few examples follow.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> Once I made a delivery at a warehouse. After 'bumping the dock'
>>> (an
>>> >>>> expression used that means you have parked the trailer at the
>>> >>>> loading
>>> >>>> dock
>>> >>>> so it can be loaded or unloaded), I found a door marked 'driver's
>>> >>>> entrance'.
>>> >>>> When I stepped inside the door, I found myself standing inside of a
>>> >>>> cage
>>> >>>> (subhuman treatment).
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> I once made a pickup at a major customer. As my hours were
>>> >>>> almost
>>> >>>> used
>>> >>>> up when I made the pickup, I parked the truck outside the front
>>> >>>> gate
>>> in
>>> >>>> an
>>> >>>> area where truckers were allowed to park and get the required time
>>> >>>> in
>>> >>>> the
>>> >>>> sleeper before they were allowed to drive again. When I walked
>>> >>>> back
>>> to
>>> >>>> the
>>> >>>> gate requesting to use the restroom, they refused saying that
>>> driver's
>>> >>>> weren't allowed to use the restrooms in the facility. I had to go
>>> and
>>> >>>> relieve myself in the middle of an open field because there was no
>>> >>>> other
>>> >>>> place provided for the drivers.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> People often feel anger towards truck drivers because of the
>>> manner
>>> >>>> in
>>> >>>> which they drive on the open highways. I did not engage in such
>>> >>>> driving and
>>> >>>> I did not approve of those who did. But think of what it cost me.
>>> >>>> Slowing
>>> >>>> down reduced the amount of money I made. Remember that many of the
>>> >>>> lesser
>>> >>>> experienced drivers are not all that well paid (contrary to the
>>> stories
>>> >>>> about how well truck drivers are paid). When you are paid by the
>>> mile
>>> >>>> at
>>> >>>> such a rate as twenty-seven cents a mile and only allowed to drive
>>> for
>>> >>>> a
>>> >>>> limited number of hours, making more money requires that you floor
>>> it.
>>> >>>> When
>>> >>>> a driver is caught in a traffic jam, he is sitting there burning
>>> >>>> his
>>> >>>> driving
>>> >>>> hours and getting no compensation for it. He cannot drive extra
>>> hours
>>> >>>> to
>>> >>>> make up for it or the Department of Transportation will fine him
>>> >>>> when
>>> >>>> they
>>> >>>> audit his driving logbook. To that end, some drivers falsify their
>>> >>>> logbook
>>> >>>> to drive more miles. This means that they are driving over the
>>> number
>>> >>>> of
>>> >>>> hours it is safe for a person's body to be alert enough to handle
>>> >>>> an
>>> >>>> eighty-thousand pound multi-vehicle truck and creates an additional
>>> >>>> hazard.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> Truck drivers would like to see that changed, but it's
>>> >>>> difficult.
>>> >>>> 'Over
>>> >>>> the road' drivers are away from home for months at a time. Because
>>> of
>>> >>>> that
>>> >>>> they don't get to vote. Politicians look at those statistics and
>>> they
>>> >>>> realize that spending time helping truck drivers does not yield
>>> >>>> them
>>> >>>> additional votes. This does not motivate the politicians to make
>>> >>>> things any
>>> >>>> easier for them. Once, a driver told me that he had tried to get
>>> >>>> an
>>> >>>> absentee ballot. He was asked where he'd be on election day. He
>>> told
>>> >>>> them
>>> >>>> he had no way of knowing because he was sent to different places
>>> often
>>> >>>> on
>>> >>>> only a few hours notice. Because he couldn't tell them where he'd
>>> >>>> be
>>> >>>> on
>>> >>>> election day, they denied him an absentee ballot.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> As long as we continue to pay our over the road drivers 'by the
>>> >>>> mile'
>>> >>>> instead of by the hour and pay them for the things truck drivers do
>>> for
>>> >>>> no
>>> >>>> compensation every day, the way many truck drivers operate their
>>> >>>> vehicles is
>>> >>>> not going to change. There is significant legislative reform
>>> >>>> needed
>>> >>>> but no
>>> >>>> political incentive to perform it. And many of these good people
>>> >>>> continue
>>> >>>> to suffer while making a living to support their families (with
>>> >>>> whom
>>> >>>> they
>>> >>>> are able to spend very little time with). The next time you enjoy
>>> your
>>> >>>> breakfast, buy nice new clothes at the store, fill up your tank
>>> >>>> with
>>> >>>> gasoline, or partake of any number of other countless things, you
>>> >>>> should
>>> >>>> remember that truck drivers brought those materials to you.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> Imagine if the trucks stopped rolling for a week. We'd
>>> >>>> experience
>>> >>>> gas
>>> >>>> shortages, food shortages, and have to learn to do without many
>>> things.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> When a driver is involved in a traffic accident, it isn't
>>> >>>> whether
>>> or
>>> >>>> not
>>> >>>> he is at fault that matters. You may have run into him but the
>>> >>>> question is
>>> >>>> could he have done something to prevent it from happening? Even if
>>> he
>>> >>>> was
>>> >>>> not at fault in the accident, it often is still reported on his
>>> driving
>>> >>>> record as 'preventable' (which stacks against him when his driving
>>> >>>> record is
>>> >>>> reviewed for insurance or for possible employment with a different
>>> >>>> trucking
>>> >>>> company). Imagine that, you caused the accident but they hold it
>>> >>>> against
>>> >>>> the truck driver anyway. He is responsible for managing *your*
>>> driving
>>> >>>> safety habits.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> These dramatically under appreciated people live a lifestyle
>>> >>>> that
>>> I
>>> >>>> don't understand how they continue to live day in and day out year
>>> >>>> after
>>> >>>> year. Essentially they are slaves to our system and we continue to
>>> >>>> take
>>> >>>> advantage of them paying many of them low wages and working them at
>>> >>>> a
>>> >>>> schedule that would cause most of us to experience complete
>>> exhaustion.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> My hat is off to them and I think about them from time to
>>> time. God
>>> >>>> bless our truck drivers.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> _______________________________________________
>>> >>>> Rebels1972 mailing list
>>> >>>> Rebels1972 at mishmash.net
>>> >>>> http://mishmash.net/mailman/listinfo/rebels1972_mishmash.net
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Rebels1972 mailing list
>>> Rebels1972 at mishmash.net
>>> http://mishmash.net/mailman/listinfo/rebels1972_mishmash.net
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Rick Peek
>> Tech450 at gmail.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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