Trucker News

Webster defines a strike as "a work stoppage by a body of workers to enforce compliance with demands made on an employer."
When the CB and Internet strike advocates start calling for a strike what I would like to know is the following:
1.    1.  What is the name of the organization (body of workers) that is calling for the strike? Independent truck owners are not employees and therefore not eligible to strike.
2.      2. Where is the office of the organization?  City, State and street address please.
3.       3.What is the phone number of the office or the president of the organization?
4.      4. What is the name of the president of the organization?
5.      5 When was the organization incorporated as a LEGAL BARGAINING UNIT?
6.      6 Who is the strike directed against (the employer)?
7.       7What are the DEMANDS being made on that employer?
8.      8 How long have the leaders of the LEGAL BARGAINING UNIT been in good faith negotiations with the employer prior to reaching an impasse?
9.      9 How much are dues to belong to the striking organization?
 
When they cannot answer any of the questions and start on with the "IF WE ALL STICK TOGETHER….." ask the person for their personal phone number so that you can call and discuss the specifics of the "work stoppage" with them.

Should they be dumb enough, and some will be, to give you a correct phone number, then your response can be something like this, "thank you for your number. I will be passing this along to law enforcement so that in the event YOUR strike talk results in someone being killed or injured by some crazy during the period that YOU, as the apparent organizer, have called for a strike, the law can hunt you down and charge you as an accessory to the crime."

Now assuming that someone can actually answer any of the above questions then the MEMBERS of the organization, in my opinion, are free to strike as long as they do not interfere with my right to conduct my business in a safe and legal manner.

This horse (an Independent Truckers strike) was dead after the first attempt at a NATION WIDE INDEPENDENT TRUCKERS STRIKE in 1973.

It was a result of that failed attempt at "IF WE ALL STICK TOGETHER" that OOIDA was formed.
I have not followed the press on this attempt but in the past some of the trucking media have been irresponsible enough to give coverage to some who claim to have organized a strike. The one that comes to mind was a few years ago when two brothers and a sister from Idaho called for a strike.
 I think that they asked all strike supporters to fly a blue or purple ribbon from their mirror so others would know that they supported the strike. During that time I saw ONE China-Mart bag tied to a grab handle.

They got a lot of media coverage and of course the strike date came and went and thankfully no one got hurt that I know of.

Look at all the bickering and failure to agree on much of anything that is posted daily on this website.
The few of you who are posting on trucker to trucker cannot even agree on a date let alone an agenda.
The ORGANIZED unions can't even get it together. One month they strike one company and a few months later they strike another company. If they were truly going to be effective it would seem that they would have all contracts expire at the same time so that a strike would truly make a difference.
Also look at the recent Writers strike. Look at how many other people in support jobs and businesses that relied on the entertainment business were severely affected.

I case there is any doubt as to where I stand. I will not be a part of any shut down call from any organization to which I am not a voting member. (I belong to none so that is not an issue).
I'm with the "WORK SMARTER NOT HARDER" group.

"If it doesn't pay enough and you cannot negotiate a rate that works for you don't haul the load"
"This country was founded on the free enterprise system". That applies to oil companies and brokers as well as to trucking business owners, whether you have one truck or several thousand trucks.
We are guaranteed the "pursuit of happiness" with no guarantee that we will ever find it.
 
Would you like the government to come in and "dictate" that a Big Mac must sell for $10.00 so Micky D can make a bigger profit? Why is that different than the call for the government to set freight rates at a level that even a blithering idiot can make money in trucking?

For those that want to have the "government" set the margin that a broker can make, then why should they not set the trucking rates so low that shippers won't have to pass on cost increases to consumers?

 If you think being a broker is a get rich quick scheme,  just put a phone in your living room, get a license and bond and you will be on your way to Tahiti in 6 months.  Isn't that easy boys and girls. Been there, done that, have the scares to prove it.

If you agree to haul a load for what is offered and you are paid every penny that was agreed to then you did not get cheated. If you cannot make a profit at the rate offered, then don't haul the load or negotiate for a rate that works for you.

We already have too much government interference in our lives and businesses.
I respect any business owner's right to shut down his business for a few hours, days, or forever.
So if a large number of Independent Truckers all want to go home and shut down at the same time that is their right. Please do not interfere with my business and the business of others as we attempt to provide service to your previous customers.

What CAN we do? Since interest rates that we can earn on our savings is getting lower with every interest rate cut, the stock market may or may not be a bit risky for a while, what can we do?
My answer is to stock up on non perishable supplies for home and business at this time. This would especially be products that have petroleum as a component. When you do stock up, mark the date and price paid, including sales tax on the boxes and bags and in 6, 12 and 24 months, I think you will find that you have earned a much better return on today's investment as those products will probably be much higher down the road. If the stock market crashes, you lose your money. If the price of the products that you stocked up on goes down before you need to restock, you still have the products to use.

The benefit is many fold, first you will have supplies on hand should "everyone stick together and shut the economy down". Second you will be helping the current economy by buying more goods than you normally would at this time. That translates into more orders that the retailer will place to restock his shelves and that generates more manufacturing jobs and more freight for trucks to haul.
So you see, I do agree that "if we all stick together "we can make a difference. Let "all stick together" for the right reason. So run out to the store and stock up TODAY!" and tomorrow we will have plenty of freight to haul and can NEGOTIATE the rates that we need to be profitable.

Here are some more silver linings in this cloudy environment.  Most of these have been mentioned on other forums but are worth repeating.  Interest rates are very low if you are thinking about buying more trucking equipment from those who are going to "hang it up" this is a good time to be securing financing.  I remember interest rates of 16% back in the late 70's or early 80's. The same benefit applies if you are thinking about moving from being a renter to becoming a home owner or a landlord.
In some regards maybe the business has become too easy. When many of us started trucking 30 -50 years ago, we did not have, cell phones, Internet access either at home or in the truck, or load boards. We operated under a split system. Those with big buck had the authority to haul any manufactured products and household goods and the rest of us hauled "exempt commodities" or "Trip Leased" to the company with the authority.

We had brokers then and there will be brokers tomorrow. It is just so much easier for both sides to get into business and find each other now.  That makes it easier for a broker to find a "poor business person" or a "desperate O/O" who will haul at a low rate. It also makes it easier for the trucking business owner to contact enough brokers and shippers to find a load that does pay what he or she wants.

Times change and those that don't change with the times or attempt to be ahead of the changes will probably go by the way side.  It's just a fact of life.