It's March...lambish or lionish?
We just made both of those up.
Did you know the word up is a preposition? And, one should never end a sentence with a preposition.
But, that's the kind of rebels we are here at the e-Report. Grammatically speaking, we like living on the edge. We like to think of ourselves as edge-ish.
We also like to think of ourselves as part of the greater trucking community, and in case you hadn't noticed, communi-ty and communi-cation both begin the same, and that's how we are going to begin this edition of the e-Report, with a little communication from the greater trucking community...
Mail Call
From: KG
Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2007 9:01 AM
To: jobs@truckdriver.com
Subject: Trucking Woes!
I agree with your forum about truck drivers not being able to make a living.
My husband got taken in by the trucking recruiters who promised that we'd bring home over $1000.00 weekly, knowing full well that my husbands employer was paying $19.00 per hour + commission.
After quitting his job and pursuing his dream to be able to travel and drive a truck, we're less than impressed!
Our average pay is far less than suggested and we are finding that everyone we speak to about the trucking business and in particular, the trucking company my husband works for, says it's a dead end industry.
We are slowly sinking into the poor house !
Lot of waiting time, which isn't being paid; 2 week pay schedules, which means higher tax amounts and the cab heater hasn't worked in months! So much for keeping the fuel-cap costs down!
Congratulations to the fine men and women out there who are currently driving trucks and sustaining a healthy, happy and prosperous lifestyle!
As for us, were looking elsewhere for employment...a big wave goodbye from the window of a rig!
A Truckers Wife
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From: EB
Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2007 8:36 AM
To: jobs@truckdriver.com
Subject: Reward experienced drivers.
I started driving professionally in 1979. Before this time, I drove log trucks and dump trucks which add up to 32 years of driving experience. Throughout the years I have heard many major companies make statements that they need professional drivers and are willing to pay for years of experience. Luckily for myself I started driving for a major freight company in 1991, and I am still employed there, and I have great wages and benefits and I have nothing to complain about.
However, I have solely been driving nights for 16 years and I thought it is a good time for a change considering my age of 49. I have recently checked in to several major truck load and reefer companies that state on their web sites and in their advertisements that they are looking for professional drivers with years of experience, but when I contact these companies they are not willing to pay or negotiate any benefits. So, there is no incentive to want to go to work for these companies.
After all these years the over the road driver is still treated with disrespect, and wages and benefits are no better than they were 30 years ago.
Thank you for allowing me to blow off some steam for I know I will never be able to change the way they operate by myself.
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From: PJ
Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2007 9:15 AM
To: jobs@truckdriver.com
Subject: DRIVER
I agree with Gpa4403,we the truck drivers get little or no respect from most trucking companies.
I have more of an issue with trucking companies than I do with the Federal Regulations. Truck drivers are literally treated like robots rather the human beings. They don't care what you have to say about anything. They don't care about the driver. They may say they do but that's just a stupid line to get you to drive for them. Drivers are a dime a dozen and we are just a number but you know what, without truck drivers AMERICA STOPS.
I would love to see truck drivers go on strike until we are heard and we get the respect we truly deserve. How much more crap are truck drivers going to take before they say they've had enough?
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From: BP
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 6:47 AM
To: jobs@truckdriver.com
Subject: 14 HR Rule
I would like to see a change in the 14 Hour rule to ether allow breaks to
extend the period or just make it a solid 15 Hour day no limit to
driving or dock time as long as not more than 15 Hours
It's kind of funny, and we don't mean funny ha-ha, but looking back, with the exception of the letter about the fourteen hour rule, any of the letters above could have been written at any time in the past twenty years.
We often read articles in industry publications about the driver shortage and driver turnover, and every time we see one of those articles we get this feeling of deja vu.
You can pick up any industry publication from 1987 and find an article about the driver turnover problem and the driver shortage.
Did you ever hear the expression self-fulfilling prophecy? Just a thought.
Anyway, we thought it was time to conduct the TruckDriver.com Truck Driver Turnover Survey again.
Click here and let us know what you think about trucking companies and turnover. We'll post the results in April.
In the meantime, take our Quick Poll about the recent announcement of the possible merger between XM and Sirius. Are you for it, against it or don't give a hoot? Click here and let us know.
By the way, as we go to press, the results of the TruckDriver.com Retirement Survey show only about one-third of you are prepared for retirement, and only about one-fourth of you are thinking about preparing for it.
The rest of you must be subscribing to the Robert Earl Keen philosophy - The road goes on forever and the party never ends!
Until next time, keep on truckin' and please drive safely.
Your Comments Are Always Welcome
We do like to hear from you and invite you to let us know how we can improve the e-Report. Please send your ideas and suggestions to: jobs@truckdriver.com
