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Originally Posted by SilverSurfer  It's time to put a clear, concise, well written statement of resolutions/demands. I do not want to be the only individual to create an important document which we all should have part in on the creation and content. This is where I need very clear, concise information. I believe it should be all encompensing to the issues we need resolved. Any specific actions can have a statement of reasons and resolutions drawn from this statement, but we need to get serious about an overall resolution/demand statement.
Please...no ridiculous, unreasonable, unsubstantiated input. I need serious input. Once completed and agreed upon - I'll begin sending this document to not only media contacts I have, but PR contacts I have on the hill and legislative assistants...as well as all our representatives.
I will find a way for all to view this document as it progresses through it's creation, without destroying a thread with huge posts.
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Well here are some of my ideas
Government subsidies out of trucking. No more companies to receive subsidies from the government or our tax paying dollars so they can operate at a less than standard wage, and under cut us, less fuel cost because of volume discounts to only approved large companies, less insurance coverage and regulations that we the individual or small company owners do not qualify for. To make it simple if the government wants to be in the trucking business then let them own the company completely and then they can run it the way they want. If that was to happen they would be out of business in a month.
No more self insuring for companies, I would agree with self insuring for companies that are in a situation of no insurance available for a specific type of work. The trucking industry has insurance available. Make each and every truck have a liability policy and cargo policy to cover the type of service it needs to have. If we were to get all trucks insured, the cost would go down because of the volume.
Transparent contracts. It is time that we all know what the actual cost of the contract is worth, and who is involved and who is responsible. This idea we have now of a bid is fine, but the responsible parties are never around for anything other than collecting their cut.
We should have a minimum wage or rate, this will take some time. Flatbed, vans and refer units all need to have a rate. They do not have to be the same, but we need a minimum rate for each type of service to be performed.
Workman's comp. For company owners like my self, we need to have workman's comp. We need some set standards in this. I think the comp insurance I have on my people should cover them when on my property, when driving my vehicle on a road. This idea I have to have comp on my driver take care of things when a shipper or receiver hurts them on their property is BS. I have the insurance to cover someone here when loading or unloading. Companies that tell drivers they cannot be on the ground when loading or unloading due to insurance reasons is BS. The driver is the sole person responsible for a safe and secured load, and must be on site to make sure no damage to life or property can happen.
Truck ordered not used. There should be a minimum hourly rate of $100 per hour to include the deadhead time from previous stop to place of pick up. This shall include, incorrect information of the load. If the load is suppose to be 20000# and the shipper is going to load full, a contract must be renegotiated for added weight, over size or what ever. If this can't be done, the truck is owed money
Payments, with the economy today and cost of fuel most small companies or independents can NOT afford to wait for their payment. When I go to the grocery store, I have to pay. I say when we deliver the load, the load is to be inspected, and if accepted a payment in full on the spot. There will be no complication with this. The driver gets his money, and the broker will be sent his upon the completion of the job. Now instead of us having to give up a percentage of the pay to get paid quickly. We should get an addition pay % for having to wait 30 days.
Brokers, are the ones who organize or orchestrate the move. They are entitled to a % of the load. I do not have a problem with this. They are needed, but also need to be accountable for getting things corrected if something goes wrong. If the driver is at fault for damage the company or driver is responsible, If the shippers packaging is defective or fails, or the product becomes damaged due to the shippers failure to package said product correctly, the broker is responsible to get things corrected. Since the broker is in control of the driver and gets a % of the load pay, the broker needs to be insured or bonded correctly. If the broker fails to complete his part, he should be accountable for the needed corrections and liable for them, If the company or individual has to make the corrections at his expense the contract is null and void and the load is to be seized, taken back to company or individuals location and held with storage until broker and shipper or receiver come to an agreement. Brokers that fail to comply shall lose their MC and surety bonds immediately until problem is corrected. Drivers and companies shall not be held liable for damage caused by packaging that is faulty, or during loading and unloading of said product.
Shippers and receivers shall be responsible for any damage to life and property. Companies that do not allow for a driver to be on site to ensure proper loading, strapping, chaining and securing of load must either accept full responsibility of the load or remove it from the vehicle and pay a TONU charge to include the deadhead, detainment, and re routing time to get said driver or company vehicle to its next on time pick up. $100 per hour rate should be standard in these times. A maximum of 2 hours shall be granted to shipper and receiver to properly and safely load vehicles to include the proper chaining, strapping and securing of the load to be transported safely upon our highways. $100 per hour at these times for additional time to load or unload after the 2 hour maximum shall apply. Exceptions to the rule would be a company break time or lunch. In situations where a driver or company vehicle is needed and cannot be loaded or unloaded for what ever reason of the shipper or receiver, and the vehicle is asked to stay to be loaded the following day or days and if the vehicle is not needed at another location due to a time sensitive situation, the driver or company shall have the option to be paid detention pay, or to have the option of staying in a hotel or motel and all expenses covered by shipper or receiver to include a cost of the truck at a discounted rate of detention pay or a TONU goes into effect immediately.
Fuel surcharge, this is good for those who use this, I personally feel if a set standard rate is in effect to include a daily increase or decrease for fuel cost is fine. This could also work with a lower rate if the actual fuel surcharge was getting paid and added in. This is something I think we need to make a decision on. What difference does it make, if I charge $1.50 per mile for the truck and I get $1.00 fuel surcharge that I may not get later, or if I charge $2.70 per mile flat rate with fuel at $4.50 per gallon today, or I charge $3.00 per mile with fuel at $5.00 per gallon using a 5 mpg average. I use 5 mpg and some use 6 mpg, we need to get a set standard there also. Some of my trucks for heavy haul get 2 - 3 mpg, and with the few out their that stretch the truth they get 12 mpg
Hours of service and sleep time. This whole thing is a joke. There are people like me who can drive 1200 miles and feel good. and there are some who drive 2 hours and fall asleep behind the wheel. I say we have a maximum of 16 hrs per day. The average person today will drive a minimum of one hour to work, work a 8,10,12 or more hour shift or a double and then drive home for an additional hour. First of all I agree that 11 consecutive on and 10 consecutive off is ok. I never drive 11 straight, so I split and rework. The fine for altering is $1500, the fine for no log and still sit 10 is only $150. Who is the fool. They claim we have to have a good quality rest, I agree. When its 20 outside or its a 100, we are not allowed to idle. Now that is out right BS. I will go this far, if I can't idle the sleeper trucks I operate, and have my drivers get a good quality rest, I think it shall be the States problem to put us up in a comfortable hotel or motel at their expense, and also a place to plug in at no charge to ensure trucks will start in harsh cold conditions. If they don't want that, then they can change their BS law on the APU and it will become their problem to make sure that all trucks will have one on their truck at their expense. Or the smart thing to do is to shut the F__k up and leave well enough alone. If its a sleeper truck, it can idle as long as the driver is in it getting sleep.
Since our infrastructure has gone to hell, I say we cut the maximum load limit back to 72,380. The trucks perform better, stop better, and will last longer. It will take more trucks and drivers to get the loads out, It will save our roads and bridges creating more jobs all around in all fields. This means more people working, and more tax money for the morons trying to ruin this whole thing
Oh! I Got One.... 
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