Dan Rather Truck Talk
Posted on Nov 12, 2009 - 4:34pm by Wayne Weisser in Trucking
After the Trucker Queen episode on Dan Rather, thanks to the great response Dan had a follow-up show.
The show started with a tour of Willie’s Place truck stop where the forum was held, then a short review of the Trucker Queen episode.
Werner’s CEO and Werner’s top driver, Todd Spencer and an independent driver from OOIDA and the author of Sweatshop on Wheels, Micheal Belzer.
The people that were invited and didn’t show were the ATA, which turned down an uninterrupted 20 minute spot to air their view because Desiree was there, what a bunch of whiners! Which is no surprise. Also a no show, no one from Covenant and CRST, plus 10 other trucking companies were invited and did not show.
Everyone voiced their opinion about the rookie trucker piece. Werner’s CEO, no opinion and just glad it was someone else and not them in the spotlight on the previous piece. (typical), Werner’s driver, no opinion (suck-up). OOIDA driver agreed with it. Todd Spencer, agreed with the piece. Professor Belzer, agreed.
Werner gets pinned about their “finishing school” and new driver training and he spends his time talking about the last question, then goes on about their training.
Allen Smith is in audience voices his opinion about the schools ripping off new students and companies abusing rookies.
Todd Spencer and Micheal Belzer talk about the difference between Driver Shortage and Driver Turnover and the Werner CEO speaks about that and the reasons for the high turnover the first six months.
Dan asks the 64 thousand dollar question, “Why can’t you charge more for hauling freight?” A good answer from the Werner CEO. I’m actually starting to like that guy.
The Mexican truck issue raises its ugly head.
Dan brings up that despite all of the problems, trucking is still very safe.
A good report from Dan and worth the $1.99 if they haven’t posted it for free yet. For an hours worth of talking about trucking, it wasn’t the bitch-fest one would expect. Problems were exposed and talked about in a civil manner. Too bad the ATA has no backbone when it comes to talking to drivers. Sorry, but the ATA is a huge organization and they get shut down by one woman truck driver? What a bunch of wooses. It’s probably a good thing they didn’t show up because their 20 minutes would have been filled with more hot air trying to dodge a question than putting out any real information.
Good show worth watching. Not really any solutions, but the first step in fixing a problem is admitting you have a problem in front of a bunch of strangers. This was good for raising the awareness and a good start.
Leave any comments below or I’m going to open up a voice mail number to call in and this will be good for any comments. Call (724) 568-7862 or (724) LOTRTNB.
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I have sent 1 e-mail in the past, and yall said you would forward it. I have been driving over 24 years , been owner-operator and now company driver for now anyways, with these new laws and regulations , but nothing to improve the drivers pay or lively hood. The big companies now , have got that way by past and present drivers, and plus funds from the government so they can haul freight cheaper and take the industry down. I have been lease with big companies in the past like sunflower, a past division of Mr. Acklie you know Acklie Company and also board member for Werner Enterprise ,and Dart transit Company out of Minnesota . I have run for both of the big companies in the past breaking all rules and regulations set by D.O.T so they will not lose their customers because either one cause or another, and I am really upset with the way of Mr. Acklie and dart are trying to force the new speed limits for trucks at 65 mph.All they are doing is forcing the owner-operators out of business, because they get grants and cheat drivers pay for their benefits . In their eyes the driver always works for free, I guess. because over the years they add more and no pay, sitting for hours and days without pay. I was an owner-operator with both of them and I had some good people working with me at both companies, we saved their butt in the past and they are ruining the driver’s future. All the rules against the driver, what about for the driver. I am sick and tired of working for free. Like now, I am working for a big company otr for at least 2 weeks at a time because their are no local jobs that pay more than 9 dollars an hour and i got paid that 23 years ago. Don’t get me wrong some of the new rules , I like, keep the junk trucks off the road. But, you ask any old timer the owner-operator had the best maintained trucks in the industry past but not now, most are wont to be, but the big companies loves owner-operators because they have more profit margins because of fuel they don’t have to buy with their money, the owner-operator looses the battle every time, because the national fuel surcharge is too high 6.25 average come on. traffic and those extra miles they run to get the load there and their little 21 cents and mile fuel surcharge is not enough and some companies out there will not pay it because the company gets theirs first and the one actually doze the job get scraps. I am guess you think I am venting , yes , in some what , I am , I am tired of not making min. wage. the computers helps in the trucks , I agree, but it kills us too. If they ever pass a law that truck drivers has to be paid for every bit of time they worked every trucking company will close the door, because there goes their profit margins, a dime or dozen is gone. The post office pays decent at 22.88 hr. and home at night on most cases , but the rest of us, lucky to average 9 to 13 dollars a hour, but normally waiting at docks for 4 to 8 hours at each end, I am lucky to average 3 dollars and average, but jobs are short supply right now, normally i would have quit 3 weeks after started but no money, no help from unemployment for us. but anyway,. i have nothing to lose anymore, i have nothing to take, so, I will SPILL THE BEANS ON EVERYONE including myself if it would help us drivers to have some labor law for us , and a min. set rate they have to pay too us. instead of like Monday worked 14 hours and made 59.40 dollars for the day, and the most i made is 256.00 a day and i ran 15 hours to do it straight driving not including getting the tire fixed and dropping and hooking or fueling the truck or anything else. but anyway call me if you want to find out more. 404-434-5442
The article that Vanished has reappeared today. This edition has several related items to the Dan Rather Broadcast plus some letters to Editor , Check it out:
http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2009/11/24/EyeonTruckingBasicdrivertrainingrulesleftoutofequationtoolong.aspx
Sorry about my typos … at least you know it is me
I wanted to add that the particular issue with Students is that they have no advocate.
Many may not care but they should because if you care about Highway Safety, then you should care about Students Succeeding.
Students are not represented by OOIDA and they will never become Owner Operators if the cannot make it long enough to become experienced.
By allowing a system where they are not being advocated you permit the churning and mistreatment which generates a repetitive cheap labor force running down wages and making student labor more appealing than employing Owner-Operators.
With regards to “Women in Trucking” , I will be curious to know if there is a benefit whatsoever to recruit Women into Trucking and if so from whom, how much and does that include steering inot particular companies or just at the level of Job Placement Recruitement?
This is a tangled mess and I foresee the trucking industry positioning itself to capitalize on returning veterans next who will suffer from “Post tramatic stress syndrome”
I will like to see some sort of Student Trucker Advocacy/Watch Dog Group to provide assistance if the Trucking Industry cannot see fit to clean up their act
I think starting a Student Trucker Advocacy group sounds like the perfect job for Desiree! Actually, what truckers need is a union – you should do that!
Oh, and when you see guys in unmarked cars, black suits, and sunglasses coming to your door – RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!
The Root of ALL Problems in the U.S. and the rest of the World is Over Population, take the numbers down to what they were in the 70’s is what I say.
When you have more traffic than roads it’s a “here’s your sign” answer
You know….when I hear someone complain about overpopulation I’m always tempted to ask why don’t they do something to help the situation.
Oh…you mean OTHER people.
I see.
Thank You for your reply, I am sorry to say that this problem is so far out of hand that only God can fix it, even to the entire Governments of all the countries can not touch this. When I talk about this in my Podcast I also mention that when I have one finger pointed out I also have three pointing back at me, I am a number just like everyone else, the only thing that bothers me about “too much” is the overcrowded highway system. Thanks, Jeff
I’ve been a driver — independent and company-based — for almost 35 years and here’s what I know:
It’s very important that we’re open about issues so we can fix an industry that’s vital to America, but trashing an industry and industry organizations via twitter and blogs only harms the reputation of the industry.
Trucking has never been portrayed too positively in the media and the general public looks at our rigs as nuisances on the road. Few understand the value of what we do.Whether there’s truth behind their perception is irrelevant b/c perception is truth to most.
Dragging our industry’s biggest defenders into this is also wrong. ATA and OOIDA fight on Capitol Hill for our rights as workers and for policies that make our jobs better.
Also, ATA represents motor carriers regarding regulatory issues, but has nothing to do with individual company or how they operate so I understand why they would want a little distance in this matter. It’s a problem with Women In Trucking and the carriers. Saying ATA condones these poor practices is like saying that the CTIA (wireless association) tells Verizon how to operate their business model.
The ATA defendied the companies in the broadcast and in statements to media without checking into details of any investigative documents which would support such .
OOIDA has a broad spectrum of issues they address on behalf of Owner Operators, not Student Truckers, therefore this issue is not a primary focus for them despite the fact that they know quite a bit about how this Student Trucker “Churning” occurs and how it affects Owner-Operators.
Twitter has been instrumental in bringing this story into mainstream media as well as others trucking topics like the Virginia 2 Hour Time Limit Signs Removal and causing a ruckus over “Jason’s Law” the Safe Trucker Parking Bill.
It was this sort of “ruckus” that was created on Twitter & Blog posts that prompted the VDOT Media Spokesman Jerrery Caldwell to call Allen & Donna Smith one day on short notice to explain VDOT’s budget woes with regards to the rest area closures.
I in turn called Fred “Silver Surfer” who was going to do a “Blog Talk Radio” on the topic later that day and told Fred we would take no callers but let him open a dialougue with Mr Caldwell.
The rest area closures were at first 25 but reduced to 18 and the 2 hour time limit sign have since been removed in Virginia, not sure anyone noticed that.
Also, I was advised my student trucker story has been brought up in a FMCSR meeting in Washington DC months before Dan Rather Producers contacted me, that is from my work on Twitter.
It was also my discussion with a longtime trucker who is now involved in a grassroots “Fair Tax” campaign that my Hazardous Materials questions were raised which caught the ear of a Former Insurance Commisioner who now holds public office.
Those are just a few of the things Twitter and the Internet have accomplished in less than 1 year.
Wow. You’ve certainly been busy, Miss Desiree.
You know, a lot of problems have been around for quite a while. They’re not anything new and everyone’s got a story. How’d you get caught up in all this?
Also, I understand your frustration with the associations, but I’d hate to think what would happen if we didn’t have them. Sure, maybe we don’t all agree with everything they do, but I suspect few, if any, laws would passed in favor of our industry without their work with lawmakers.
Update: Desiree’s followup and response to the show – http://truckerdesiree.com/2009/11/14/dan-rather-report-part-2-truck-talk/ Kind of the same she wrote above, but with more detail.
I really enjoyed the show and I’m glad to see some real information about trucking made available to the public.
Buck
That seems to be the problem with any organization when they get large and have to seek donations and sponsorships, is they forget why there were started in the first place.
Co-ed trainer/trainees should not be allowed over the road. If there aren’t enough women trainers available, train locally. A lot can be learned driving around town instead of the interstate. But it’s not about training, it’s about making money. I’m not sure what the solution is but companies need to pay attention to this instead of trying to cover up problems.
My first trainer had me fired so he could dump me in time to get a female student. I later found out he was fired for being inappropriate. I feel bad for women trainees, it’s hard enough out here without the extra crap.
My wife is extremely grateful she did this with me and always says she wouldn’t have done it alone. My hat is definitely off and a truckload of respect to all of the single women drivers.
The little known “backstory” to the Dan Rather Report is that the producers were doing a story on the trucking industry already and doing research.
They read many trucking blogs and sites and organization mission statements and found my Student Trucker Story on “Ask the Trucker”
The ATA knew Dan Rather was doing and investigation into the trucking industry since last summer. So did OOIDA and WIT where I was a member to both.
While all three groups were eager to discuss the variety of trucking topics each felt was a priority, none knew I would be in this piece at all.
The information I provided was covering a multitude of trucking issues from the standpoint of Safety , National Security Breaches I noted and the Government Run Student Mill system in Trucking.
Much of that content was cut down and a more narrow focus was made which became “Queen of the Road”.
The result of that first Dan Rather Report Prompted Ellen Voie of “Women in Trucking” to revoke my membership and in writing say that I do not support the “Women in Trucking” Mission Statement, This is because I spoke out about her sponser CRST and Tom Hansen from that first episode was contacted by Dan Ranther Producers because he and Tracy Hamm of the CRST Sexual Harrassment case reached out to me on my wordpress. CRST was Ellen Voie’s Sponser and her Video taken by another documentry filmaker at the Dallas “Great American Truck Show” where both Dan Rather and filmaker Beverly Petersen had to coordinate to interview me speaks volumes about why Ellen wants me to go away.
OOIDA’s VP Todd Spencer was not aware I was an OOIDA member until the night we met at the taping for “Truck Talk” Part 2 of the Dan Rather Report but his Media Person Norita Taylor was.
I am glad they left it open for further examination and was disappointed my company and ATA would rather hide and cover up than agree to make nessessay changes rather than spend money to conceal them.
I was also dissapointed VP Todd Spencer did not mention the particular safety challenges an enormous amount of Women face from these unsafe training mills situations.
Allen Smith was able to touch on this and my hope is that other productions will bring additional topics to light for the public. The Issues for the lack of Support and Cover Up on Women entering Trucking, Idle Policies, Lease Programs, False DAC Reporting and a National Security Breach in the Hazardous Materials Licensing from the Federal Government.
I thought the piece was a very good start on getting the issues into the public eye. It sounded as though maybe Rather kind of hopes to do more on trucking issues. Watching him, I’m getting the feeling he’s starting to ENJOY being around the truckers . . we could use a friend like him! Werner at one time wasnt too highly rated as an employer but it appears they’ve improved. And, some of the others have degenerated. At least their guy appeared to be forthright and answered most questions – an improvement over what we’ve seen in the past. I was glad they had Belzer included. He at least is seen as a non-partisan expert and lends credibility when he says something is true. I wasnt surprised the ATA wouldnt appear – their lawyers probably told them it was a bad idea to actually answer questions without a formal deposition or legal advice. I think it made it clear where some of the problems lie. I think we should all comment on the show at the website comment section: http://www.hd.net/feedback.html?refPage=danrather . If they get enough feedback, maybe they’ll follow it up.
And, a note to OTHER WEBSITES that seem to feel it necessary to bad-mouth OOIDA: they’re not a union. They’re not going to organize a truckers strike for you. They arent gonna go to bat for anything they cant prove and they arent going to run their mouths about anything they dont know for sure and can prove. To make hearsay statement can damage their credibility on the legislative issues.They also time action politically to have the most impact. The timing that suits Congress usually isnt the timing that suits us. Its a sad fact of life.So, dont bother with the ‘you’re either for us or your against us’ game. They need us and we need them if anything good is ever going to happen in this industry. It’s not a popularity contest. It’s more like voting for the lesser of two evils, if you want to term it like that. Give them some support – they’re at least getting some small results.