Comments on: Where’s the Light? http://lifeontheroad.com/2009/04/12/wheres-the-light/2190.html Discussion and opinions about the trucking industry Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:31:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mark http://lifeontheroad.com/2009/04/12/wheres-the-light/2190.html/comment-page-1/#comment-3734 Mark Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:41:12 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/?p=2190#comment-3734 It is very frustrating. Laws already in place are simply not enforced. If the government did anything it would be to create a new law that would put money in the pockets of there political machine. If the government simply enforced the laws in place the driver would make money. Trucking companies are nearly forced to ignore the laws because they could not compete if they were compliant. Their competition isn't being penalized and can cut the rates accordingly. Companies excuse their guilt by telling you that if they do not operate ethically, you would not have a load to haul anyhow. By the time a driver is choked out of his earnings, he can hardly afford a legal battle. How many trucking companies have you seen go bankrupt to find out the owner starts another company again? I forget the details, but Prime has gone bankrupt only to come back stronger than ever! Then you read about how "smart" the owners are. Smart equates to evading legal and ethical business practices and preying on people who have the simple dream of owning their own truck. All that drivers can do is warn others. Of course, this is excused as some sort of "whining trucker" syndrome, even you show hard evidence of what is going on. It is very frustrating. Laws already in place are simply not enforced. If the government did anything it would be to create a new law that would put money in the pockets of there political machine.

If the government simply enforced the laws in place the driver would make money. Trucking companies are nearly forced to ignore the laws because they could not compete if they were compliant. Their competition isn’t being penalized and can cut the rates accordingly. Companies excuse their guilt by telling you that if they do not operate ethically, you would not have a load to haul anyhow. By the time a driver is choked out of his earnings, he can hardly afford a legal battle.

How many trucking companies have you seen go bankrupt to find out the owner starts another company again? I forget the details, but Prime has gone bankrupt only to come back stronger than ever! Then you read about how “smart” the owners are. Smart equates to evading legal and ethical business practices and preying on people who have the simple dream of owning their own truck.

All that drivers can do is warn others. Of course, this is excused as some sort of “whining trucker” syndrome, even you show hard evidence of what is going on.

]]> By: Paul http://lifeontheroad.com/2009/04/12/wheres-the-light/2190.html/comment-page-1/#comment-3695 Paul Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:07:45 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/?p=2190#comment-3695 Right on, now this is an article! I wish this was new insight for me but unfortunately I have LO friends and what you're describing has been on the end of their tongues for a while now. LO'ing has been one of the most disappointing, if not utterly confusing - professions for trucks driver who, by all sound logic and reason - should be making so much more than they are. At least most company drivers know what they're getting into - not so with leasing. Right on, now this is an article! I wish this was new insight for me but unfortunately I have LO friends and what you’re describing has been on the end of their tongues for a while now.

LO’ing has been one of the most disappointing, if not utterly confusing – professions for trucks driver who, by all sound logic and reason – should be making so much more than they are. At least most company drivers know what they’re getting into – not so with leasing.

]]> By: Mark K http://lifeontheroad.com/2009/04/12/wheres-the-light/2190.html/comment-page-1/#comment-3692 Mark K Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:47:37 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/?p=2190#comment-3692 I was a leased Operator with my own truck for 10 years.Emphasis on was. It has always been the way your explaining it. Nothing has or ever will change. It works for the companies thats why they do it. You, the leased operator takes all the risk and receive the small stipend that they're willing to pay. Waiting for that light at the end of the tunnel will only result in that train running over you. I was a leased Operator with my own truck for 10 years.Emphasis on was. It has always been the way your explaining it. Nothing has or ever will change. It works for the companies thats why they do it. You, the leased operator takes all the risk and receive the small stipend that they’re willing to pay. Waiting for that light at the end of the tunnel will only result in that train running over you.

]]> By: Joe http://lifeontheroad.com/2009/04/12/wheres-the-light/2190.html/comment-page-1/#comment-3685 Joe Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:25:40 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/?p=2190#comment-3685 You're right, the leased owner operator system is so f'd up, it's only good for the carriers, something should be done about that now before it's too late. Don't hold your breath waiting for that light, it might be awhile. You’re right, the leased owner operator system is so f’d up, it’s only good for the carriers, something should be done about that now before it’s too late.

Don’t hold your breath waiting for that light, it might be awhile.

]]> By: Marshall J. Gruskin http://lifeontheroad.com/2009/04/12/wheres-the-light/2190.html/comment-page-1/#comment-3682 Marshall J. Gruskin Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:11:00 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/?p=2190#comment-3682 This should be published in EVERY trucking magazine. Well said and brilliantly written. Too bad the "established" trucking media doesn't recognize this and other blogs - they'd learn a thing or two. As a far as OOIDA is concerned, they're way too busy writing letters to the new administration. It's what they do best - write letters to try and correct anti-truck legislation "they" should have stopped from the get-go. I hope they read your piece and put it in the next Landline. It deserves a much wider audience. This should be published in EVERY trucking magazine. Well said and brilliantly written. Too bad the “established” trucking media doesn’t recognize this and other blogs – they’d learn a thing or two. As a far as OOIDA is concerned, they’re way too busy writing letters to the new administration. It’s what they do best – write letters to try and correct anti-truck legislation “they” should have stopped from the get-go. I hope they read your piece and put it in the next Landline. It deserves a much wider audience.

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