OOIDA…
Posted on May 09, 2009 - 7:49pm by Marshall J. Gruskin in Trucking
![ooida_hdr_edited_thumb[1]](http://lifeontheroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/ooida-hdr-edited-thumb1.jpg)
Do you know what OOIDA stands for? It’s OK, most truckers don’t have a clue. It’s on their old logo to the left – The Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association. Sure is a mouthful. It would be helpful if they would just change it to something simpler to say and would reflect representing all truckers, not just owner operators. On their “new” website – the old one was far better – the lettering is so fuzzy no one can made out what OOIDA stands for.
I have always had a kind of like-hate relationship with this organization. One thing’s for sure, OOIDA is in love with itself. It is more like a religious cult than an association. You would think, based on the way “they” talk about their officers and activities, the waters part whenever an OOIDA representative goes to Washington, DC. They literally seem to go into a “frenzy” when their leader, Jim Johnson, writes a letter to a legislator about a trucking related issue. A letter for me is a ten minute chore that honestly doesn’t deserve much attention. But then I don’t work for OOIDA. And honestly, since many truckers can’t write or utter a coherent sentence, they would be impressed by any OOIDA letter written on their behalf.
Joining OOIDA is going to set you back $45. Too rich for my blood. As an old fart trucker, I recently joined AARP (American Association for Retired Persons) for $12 and get far more benefits. OOIDA membership sometimes goes on “sale” for $25 – I believe that was the case this past January. I have told them that in these difficult times to keep it down at $25 or lower, even though most drivers I meet don’t see the value of joining up no matter what the cost. I recently received a letter from OOIDA telling me that unless they hear from me, OOIDA will be forced to cancel my membership and my subscription to their magazine – Land Line.
Unfortunately, OOIDA is the only “game” in town. The ATA – American Trucking Association – represents the “bosses” of the industry – the enemy. OOIDA, which started back in 1973, and is located in Grain Valley, MO claims to represent 160,000 drivers – a figure I seriously question despite having no proof to dispute it. OOIDA is not a union so forget them ever dealing with the issue of company driver pay or benefits, shipper/receiver detention problems or truckers being classified as unskilled labor. Despite their best efforts, OOIDA is a reactive (as opposed to proactive) organization without the real clout to effect real change in an very mature industry without any iconoclastic movers and shakers.
Bottom line is, if you can swing it, become a OOIDA member. I don’t see anyone else that gives a hoot, owner operator or not about truckers. I imagine if I am ever to see any (overdue) changes at OOIDA I’m going to have to re-up and (kiss) kick some butt. If they will hold that renewal fee to $25, I’ll send them a check. OOIDA can be reached at 800-444-5791 or go to their website http://www.ooida.com/
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That’s a good write up Marshall, although I wouldn’t give them the sweat off the twins for a lifetime membership.
They were founded with the best of intentions but somewhere along the line got sidetracked and too full of themselves. Taking credit for things they had little to do with.
Take the Mexican truck issue in 2007. They claim, as you say, 160,000 members but in the comments, FMCSA only received a total of 2443 comments, the majority of them opposed not to the program specifically, but to the dastardly idea that we would dare to allow those dirty Mexicans into our country. And the comments, the misspellings and lack of punctuation, as well as the common theme of the comments, Welll.. You get the idea!
But good words old fart, from another one!
I was really turned off by them when I seen that there office had no parking for anything other than a bobtail. How is a driver supposed to meet this great organization if they can’t get a truck into them? As far as I know, they don’t even have a representative at a truck stop office anywhere. Even brokers understand that they need offices that trucks can get into.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen an organization I’ve thought was actually for the truck driver. If one did exist, it would be powerful and effective considering the size of potential membership. Maybe the Internet will one day bring one about, but probably wishful thinking.
The latest chest pounding from these ineffectual bozos is they are threatening the FMCSA with a lawsuit if another cross border program or anything regarding Mexican trucks is DISCUSSED at todays MCSAC meeting, which regretfully I missed despite being invited to participate. Customers come first and all that BS, you know.
But the question begs to be asked, exactly how many members they do have. Over the past couple of years, they only seem to be able to mobilize a couple of thousand for their silly little “calls to action”.