Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Trucking in Peril - Life on the Road Trucking News Blog
Share: 
by gatorcitymadman | March 3, 2008 at 09:34 am
800 views | 0 Recommendations | 4 comments
This is probably the worst story I’ve seen in awhile, but it’s all too true. It does contain a little good news, but first the bad news -
Independent truckers see end of the road
By ELLEN SIMON
Associated Press
As the cost of diesel doubled over the last four years, his take-home pay has plummeted, from $50,000 to $11,000 last year. He’s literally burning money; he spent $64,000 on diesel in the last eight months. Since he canceled his satellite radio, he’s on citizens band radio constantly (handle: Instigator) talking about what needs to change so truckers like him can survive.
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (4)
at 11:13 on March 3rd, 2008
I really like this story, but I'm a little perplexed. I went and read the full article, and the full article really is an opinion piece.
So you have any context to add to this?
One of my favorite uncles was a top exec with a major furniture company (very very high level). A real suit. He came home from a funeral for a fairly young salesman (40 something, I think) and said to his wife: "Do I look good in this suit?" Yes, she said. "It's the last time you'll see me in it except for weddings and funerals."
He left his job, went out and bought a big rig, and became a trucker. (He always was an independent cuss). Just loved it. Made lots of money, when he chose to work. After a few years, if he wanted to go somewhere, he'd just sign on for loads and off he'd go. He told me he'd always wanted to see America, on his terms. As long as he got his load there on time, it was all good, to him.
I skipped the invite to go trucking. His thing, not mine.
How about you put a little more meat on the bone, and tell us why this person's opinion piece is news, and not opinions. Can you add not only something from you, but maybe an opposing highlight and/or link? (What the original author had to say about independents going out of business being a good thing, was, well, ahem....an opinion!)
at 12:27 on March 3rd, 2008
It's news that with the economy slowing down, it's going to affect truckers. The less stuff that's bought, the less stuff that needs to be moved.
The other part of the problem is there are too many trucks (and drivers) for too little freight, because of supply and demand, the truck supply outweighs the freight demand. Shippers can low bid and truckers either have to take it or take nothing and sit. Carriers are cutthroating each other for chump change.
The fewer trucks out there the more the rates will rise, because if the shippers really want their freight moved, they will have to pay for it.
It's a fact that when the economy slows down, trucking is going to slow down. Trucking is often seen as a leading indicator of the economy, because trucking (and rail) sees any slow downs or growth spurts first.
Thanks to the economic slowdown, truckers will go out of business. They ARE going out of business. The point about truckers going out of business now is that when the economy recovers there won't be enough trucks to keep up with the demand and rates (and consumer prices will follow) will rise enough to make trucking a decent business again.
How's your uncle doing now? Today? A few years ago you had to be an idiot NOT to make money in trucking. Today is a different story. Thanks to the slowdown in the economy and the abundance of trucks, it's not as easy.
at 16:01 on March 3rd, 2008
Suggestion: take your comment and use it at the top, as your own article. And here is what I think is the key point you're making: "hanks to the economic slowdown, truckers will go out of business. They
ARE going out of business. The point about truckers going out of
business now is that when the economy recovers there won't be enough
trucks to keep up with the demand and rates (and consumer prices will
follow) will rise enough to make trucking a decent business again."
Put that up first, and then the rest of your discussion, and voila! An article, NP style. :)
Oh heck, the uncle got out awhile back. IHe didn't need to work anymore, and he decided to spend more time fishing.
at 09:49 on July 14th, 2009
OK now people are starting to get it but the trucking industry has been screwed since Hoffa was murdered. What you have now is companies making pie in the sky promises to under educated drivers who figures things out after they're knee deep in the quicksand. Owner Operator is a term that can mean anything. If you are leased on to one of the big companies you learn pretty quick that your personal finances are at their mercy. I've personally spoken to so many drivers who have been screwed by companies after signing a lease agreement that I quake at the thought. Anyone who thinks there is very much money to be made in this industry is delusional.
The truck drivers who make a decent living are teamsters. Good luck joining up! They let you join after a Union Company hires you. Good luck getting hired unless your brother in law owns the company. Now with the Mexican and Canadian Trucks running all over the problem is magnified. Without a serious protest against the foreign trucks and I don't mean talking tough and honking your horn this industry is doomed. I wrote to both of my CA. Senators a few years back explaining my plight and received lip service.
Unfortunately the only way to take this industry back is through violence and no law abiding, hard working person is willing to sacrifice his personal freedom to make a statement. The foreign trucks need to be blocked at the border and someone needs to declare this NAFTA BS illegal as it is just a way to export American Jobs which are already in dire jeopardy. If a company is known to hire Owner Operators for the dubious purpose of squeezing them into the poor house the govt. needs to get involved and fine those companies until this practice is no longer profitable. Like that is ever gonna happen. Whom ever fires the first shot in this war for the workers (slaves) will be labled a terrorist as this is the latest catch phrase used to slander a patriot. Our forefathers are turning over in their graves right now at the lack of freedom we now have.