It never ceases to amaze me
The first thing I read when I get my Land Line is “Letters.”
It is interesting to see how the rest of the trucking industry
looks at things. Things like NAFTA and the opening of the border
to let Mexican trucks in the United States should be of the
utmost concern and be opposed by everyone in the trucking industry
and all citizens of this country who aren’t even in the
trucking business.
It never ceases to amaze me how the bureaucrats and politicians
and big business can come up with things, like NAFTA, that will
benefit only them and to heck with all the hardworking U.S.
citizens who are just trying to make a living and survive.
The United States has traded with Canada and Mexico for years,
so what is NAFTA needed for anyway? NAFTA is totally un-American,
as it has caused thousands of lost jobs already and caused hundreds
of small businesses to go broke. I know, as I am one of the
small businesses to go belly up.
Lael Sikes
Royal City, WA
Paying
more for using credit card
On Jan. 4, 2002, I stopped at the Pilot on Craig Road in Las Vegas
for fuel and food. The fuel credit price was $1.27 and I used
American Express for payment. When I got to the fuel desk, I was
charged $1.34 for using Amex. I use Amex for my fuel charges and
while I’ve stopped at this particular Pilot many times, this
is the first time they up-charged the purchase. There is another
Pilot in Amarillo, TX, that does the same thing and I don’t
stop there anymore. As far as the Las Vegas Pilot is concerned,
I’ll be taking my business someplace else.
James Van Etten
Wofford Heights, CA
Outlawing a safety
device
Many cities and towns are passing laws prohibiting trucks from
using Jake Brakes or engine brakes. All we ever hear is safety,
safety, safety. Yet they want to take a safety device away from
us. To me this just does not add up.
I do understand they are noisy and people who live along the highways
may be disturbed, but that is something they should have considered
when they bought the property. I live close to a railroad, but
I do not complain about the trains coming through at 3 a.m. I
knew this when I moved here.
The bottom line is they want safety, but want to take away from
us a safety device.
Robert Cole
Duncan, OK
Ten solutions to driver shortages
1. Companies need to do their homework. Keep trucks loaded, drivers can’t afford to sit, neither can the company.
2. Buy better trucks. Stay away from “dime a dozen” company trucks. Better trucks create a more appealing package for experienced drivers.
3. Make sure drivers are getting home. Home time, or lack thereof, is one of the largest driver complaints.
4. Keep tabs on your driver’s paychecks. How much money do they take home? Do your incentives create extra bonuses?
5. Keep drivers informed of the company’s goals and how the company is doing. Profit sharing is one way to inform drivers and to motivate them to work harder.
6. Listen to complaints and do something about them. Acknowledge problems. How much you care about drivers, shows in the way you handle complaints.
7. Listen for problems with certain brokers, shippers or receivers. One bad warehouse or broker may be costing you drivers.
8. Don’t haul cheap freight. Drivers have calculators too.
9. Hire quality dispatchers. Abusive dispatchers will cost you drivers.
10.Even if an experienced driver’s record isn’t perfect, he is probably a better risk. A good record doesn’t guarantee a good driver.
Elvin
Shirk
Barnett, MO
Practical thinking,
activism and effective leadership
I’m writing to compliment you all on the wonderful work you
do for the independents. I’ve never read any association
magazine that does so much to help fix problems. Most all other
associations choose to take the political line and avoid anything
that might get their industry, government regulators, suppliers
or members’ hackles up. You, on the other hand, take your
gloves off and challenge the problem makers regardless of their
position or economic clout.
It’s so refreshing to see people with PhDs in common sense
and horse sense. No legal mumbo jumbo here, just straight up clear
thinking and action! I’ve told other associations and their
leaders if they want to find out how to be effective for their
industry, subscribe to Land Line and take notes. Maybe in a year
or so of rethinking their trade, they can turn their cultures
into practical thinking, activism and effective leadership. America
needs great leader role models — you’re at the top in
my book.
Dave Fankhauser
Tellico Plains, TN
Truck accidents
= $ signs for attorneys
I would like to take a moment to comment on the recent article
providing factual data that semi-trucks involved in accidents
are at fault less than 30 percent of the time. This just proves
once again this industry is bad-mouthed more than any other industry.
More often than not when an accident occurs with a semi, the semi
is always assumed to be at fault. It’s these assumptions
that cause big jury judgments and our insurance premiums to double
and almost triple in the last couple of years. How often do you
hear of a trucking company found 0 percent liable in an auto accident
trial, never? Until it is, every lawyer in the country will continue
to see dollar signs when a truck is involved. Insurance companies
will continue to settle claims because it is easier to settle
than to fight these claims in front of sympathetic jurors.
In the last year, our company has walked away from two courtrooms
with a zero negligent verdict. However, our insurance premium
has more than doubled this past renewal year. The reason is due
to industry average loss. I find this hard to believe in an industry
that is already too heavily regulated, for American-owned semis
maybe the fault lays elsewhere. Maybe it has not been such a good
idea to open the borders to ill-inspected trucks and untrained
drivers. Maybe it is about time the average car driver carries
as much insurance as is demanded by the semi-owner. Once they
realize what premiums are, I can almost guarantee some change
would take place. Maybe the average car driver should only be
able to sue for the amount that they personally are insured for.
If they want to sue for $1 million dollars, let them know the
cost of the premium for this. If they only want to be insured
for $35,000, let them only be able to sue for this. I guarantee
it would cut out the lawyer and cut down on the automatic payment
of large settlements to auto drivers.
If something is not done soon about the insurance companies, lawyers
and the small-time crooks, there will be many mom and pop trucking
companies going out of business. Part of America’s pride
has always been the truckdriver. The appreciation for this type
of attitude is what has made this country so great. But with higher
premiums and the cost to stay in compliance and the cut in freight,
it is getting harder and harder for the mom and pop trucking companies
to keep afloat. It will not be long before the American trucker
is like so many other traditions — a thing of the past.
Marvin Figgins
Grand Rapids, MN
Genuine appreciation
I just finished reading the letter from Linda Melin, skewering
Ray Kasicki’s column on Driver Appreciation Week. Melin Truck
Service may, indeed, have an enlightened attitude about the worth
of their drivers. For many of the rest of us it goes something
like this: In July of 2001, I was working for GSW in central Florida.
This was a local job — home each night. The drivers at this
location had not had a raise in four years. Extra delivery drops
were paid at the rate of $10 regardless of the added miles involved.
At a monthly drivers meeting (attendance required but uncompensated)
our traffic manager, Mr. Tony L, announced the company was considering
taking (transportation not included) us and our spouses to a dinner
theatre venue about 60 miles
away, for Driver Appreciation Week. When a couple of the drivers
wondered out loud, “why not someplace closer?” Mr. L
went into a controlled tirade about how much time he had invested
into trying to do something ‘special’ for us and how
unappreciative we were. That ended the discussion and plans were
completed.
At the next meeting, drivers were polled concerning their intention
to attend the event. Twenty-five percent of us said we did not
plan to attend. It was fortunate the meeting was over at this
point, as Tony’s pouting was embarrassing for all concerned.
He was really hoping for 100 percent, and again mentioned our
apparent lack of appreciation of his efforts.
The month following the event was uneventful with the following
exceptions: We learned those that went to the dinner received
a cooler as a ‘thank you’ from our Traffic Manager.
Those who did not go, would get nothing. Mr. L cornered me in
the yard to, once again, voiced his disappointment at the apparent
unappreciative nature of some of his drivers. I told him it had
nothing to do with that and I appreciated his offer, but had other
plans for that particular Saturday night.
A fellow driver warned me to ‘watch my back’. It seems
Mr. L had said, while complaining to him about the 25 percent
who did not attend, “That’s OK, what goes around, comes
around.” One month later, I returned from my ‘A’
load, which equired a 2 a.m. departure. At 9 a.m., I was told
my ‘B’ load was ready and I was to deliver it, pick
up a load going North, which I would deliver in the morning, and
continue North to Alabama. I would be gone at least one night.
So much for my local, home every night job. I was also told to
“expect more of this.” If this was not acceptable, then
I “should find other employment.” I parked and cleaned
out the tractor, and turned in the keys.
I have not stepped into another truck and have had no encounters
with arrogant bosses. For this I am appreciative. I’m with
Mr. Kasicki. I guess I’m a complainer too.
Harry Shafer
Lake Panasoffkee, FL
