TRUCC Act - Make It Happen

[gearjammer]

got this from OOIDA today it isn't even on their home page yet

ate: 07/28/2008 06:05 PM
From: "Angel Burnell" <angel_burnell@ooida.com>
Subject: OOIDA Call to Action Alert - Fuel surcharge!
To: gearjammer_riverrat@yahoo.com

Dear Mark:

As you all are aware, the TRUCC Act is a bill that was recently introduced in the House and Senate that will help truckers offset the cost of fuel by mandating that if an intermediary collects a fuel surcharge, he must pass it along to the party paying for the cost of fuel, i.e. the trucker. The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) and the American Trucking Associations (ATA) have been opposing this effort and lobbying to make sure that this bill never sees the light of day. Despite the well organized effort of those big organizations, there are still some exceptional men and women on Capitol Hill who recognize how rough it is for truckers on the road right now and are fighting hard to support your rights.

Unfortunately the small group of Representatives and Senators who have co-sponsored the TRUCC Act are being pressured by the bill's opponents to abandon their support of this bill. We all need to take a minute and say thank you to those who have leant their names to this legislation which will make it easier for truckers to collect the fuel surcharges to which they are entitled. We need to tell our elected officials that this legislation WILL make a difference in the everyday lives of truckers who cannot afford to pay nearly $5.00 a gallon for diesel fuel while a broker or some other third party pockets the fuel surcharge that the shipper paid.

Please take the time to call or write your elected official. We are all quick to voice our concerns when elected officials have done something wrong, perhaps they need to hear it too when they do something right. Remember, saying thank you for a job well done goes a long way and the following Congressmen and Senators have earned it:

Don't be shy. Tell 'em atta boy (or girl)!

Please contact your Member of Congress:

The Honorable Sherrod Brown
United States Senate
455 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-3505
Phone: 202-224-2315 Fax: 202-228-6321 Email:
Website: Senator Sherrod Brown | Senator for Ohio: Home


people the apathy in the trucking community is getting real bad and this is a good piece of legislation don't let tis slip thru our fingers CALL, WRITE,DO SOMETHING besides just taking it.

the trucking industry doesn't need a lot of help in destroying this lifestyle the truckers are doing it to themselves by just sitting around and letting this happen to us

[TN. TRUCKERS WIFE]

I totally agree, only takes a few minutes of your time and it is a step in the right direction..

[SilverSurfer]

This is a very important issue. And thanking those representatives standing behind it for professional drivers is just as important. Thanks for sharing this Gearjammer.

-ss-

[SilverSurfer]

These are the Representatives we need to send a thank you...including a statement of encouragement to push forward with their efforts.

Contact Elected Officials ~ USA.gov

[S.2910] ~ U.S. Senators
Introduced ~ 04/24/2008
Sponsor:
Senator Olympia J. Snowe (ME)
Co-Sponsors:
Senator Sherrod Brown (OH)
Senator Byron L. Dorgan (ND)
Senator Susan M. Collins (ME)
Senator Russell D. Feingold (WI)


[H.R.5977] ~ U.S. House Representatives
Introduced ~ 05/06/2008
Sponsor:
Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (OR-4)
Co-Sponsors:
Rep. Joe Baca (CA-43)
Rep. Nancy E. Boyda (KS-2)
Rep. Brad Ellsworth (IN-8)
Rep. Tim Holden (PA-17)
Rep. Ed Pastor (AZ-4)
Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (CA-39)
Rep. Leonard L. Boswell (IA-3)
Rep. Bruce L. Braley (IA-1)
Rep. Bob Filner (CA-51)
Rep. Walter B. Jones, Jr. (NC-3)
Rep. Thomas E. Petri (WI-6)


[H.R.5934] ~ U.S. House Representatives
Introduced ~ 04/30/2008
Sponsor:
Rep. Thomas E. Petri (WI-6)
Co-Sponsor:
Rep. Brad Ellsworth (IN-8)


[H.R.5997] ~ U.S. House Representatives
Introduced ~ 05/08/2008
Sponsor:
Rep. John Barrow (GA-12)
Co-Sponsor:
(no co-sponsors)


-ss-

[TN. TRUCKERS WIFE]

Thanks SS you just made it easy for us to contact them..

[SilverSurfer]

You're welcome...if I had some more time tonight - I'd also make each representative's name a link to there email page. To much to do with the upcoming event this weekend.

Just added the link to contact elected officials from my Truckers and Citizens of America domain's home page. Hope that helps.

-ss-

[Bullwinkle]

bumping his up, best thread I could find to discuss something that is very important

[TN. TRUCKERS WIFE]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bullwinkle bumping his up, best thread I could find to discuss something that is very important

Thanks Bull., I had forgot about the thread, EVERYONE PLEASE VOTE...

[TN. TRUCKERS WIFE]

I just stole jammer's post so it has the link on it that you can vote:
folks don't forget to go to WashingtonWatch.com - H.R. 5934, The TRUCC Act and vote for the TRUCC act!!
vote early and vote often lol our elected officals are looking to see which way the wind blows make sure it blows in faver of the truckers
__________________

[rich_of_wtc]

Ok I got my vote in and yes I believe that all fuel surcharges should be passed on to the truck, what I mean by the truck, whether it be the company, the owner operator, the one that pays for the fuel bill, none of it should be touched by the broker, their negotiations should be strictly freight rate, nothing should come off of the top of the fuel surcharge.

[TN. TRUCKERS WIFE]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich_of_wtc Ok I got my vote in and yes I believe that all fuel surcharges should be passed on to the truck, what I mean by the truck, whether it be the company, the owner operator, the one that pays for the fuel bill, none of it should be touched by the broker, their negotiations should be strictly freight rate, nothing should come off of the top of the fuel surcharge.

We agree that it should be, but brokers won't like this at all.. Thank you for voting..another thing, my husband is leased on to a company and they take 30% of the fuel surcharge..this would cut into their profits also

[rich_of_wtc]

The only reason brokers will not like it is because they are negotiating to low of freight rates and trying to cover the cost by skimming off the top of the fuel surcharges to make up the difference. I think all the brokers need to get on the same page and realize that. I think I can speak for many by saying this, but this is what we mean by cheap freight! A truck should never haul a load for less than half the National average price of diesel fuel in this country considering that aside from driver wages, diesel is the second highest expense of the industry and drivers cannot work for nothing. When will we get a bill passed that puts a low limit to the price of the freight rate and adjust the rate with the fuel surcharge that is already in place. Hey even sports that are meaningless have salary caps.

[Bullwinkle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TN. TRUCKERS WIFE Thanks Bull., I had forgot about the thread, EVERYONE PLEASE VOTE...

Yeah, the thread title just said "OOIDA Call To Action". I changed the title to maybe help drum up some discussion, and ultimately some action.

[lunachic]

I forgot about it too. I need some one to e-mail me gearjammers post#1 so I can repost it on my space, And Silver Surfers.

[SilverSurfer]

I already have these bills status and summary info with links on my site already. Here's the link to my "Bills Summary, Status and Needed Legislation" page...

Bills Summary and Status & Needed Legislation

I'll put something new up on myspace accounts asap and get bulletins posted as well.

-ss-

[gearjammer]

wow I was getting discouraged from the lack of posts on the problems in trucking lately but all the posting today sure has lifted my spirits and raised a bit of hope that there is still some fight left in the drivers out here.

ttw you can hijack any of my posts if it will further the cause,

I see that the poll on WashingtonWatch.com - H.R. 5934, The TRUCC Act
is finally starting to go in our favor.

bullwinkle there is a way you can add this poll onto the site if you want it has a button under the results.

if this really catches on I plan on C/p the poll to my elected officals to make sure they see it but I want a much wider spread in favor of the TRUCC act than what it shows at the moment.

BTW if you haven't done so put your senator and congressman on speed dial it saves time if you do so and do like i do and call them a few times a week.


remember Americans win because they don't quit fighting, truckers will win too if they just don't give up.

[gearjammer]

BTW ,if you scroll down on the WashingtonWatch.com - H.R. 5934, The TRUCC Act

there is a comments section there is some interesting comments made,

lets see if anyone can guess which comments are mine

[rebel]

I'm a little confused, TRUCC act is also hr 5977 (original) sponsored by DeFazio of Oregon. He's the same that introduced the stop oil speculation bill hr 6330.
Either way, both are stuck in committee.
I met with Congressman Heath Shuler yesterday at 5pm. at a dinner here in Hendersonville. He had time to kiss babies and shake hands, but when I told him I had talked to his staff about passing TRUCC act and stopping oil speculation, He almost tripped trying to get away from me. I asked how to get these out of committee and why wasn't Congress in emergency session instead of a 5 week vacation?
He just shrugged his shoulders and said " I don't know."
I got up. said I was wasting my time because obviously nothing was going to get done here, and walked out of the meeting.
I will go to Raleigh on Aug. 27th, but as of now I'm done talking to sh_t-for-brains politicians. When y'all are ready to blockade this country and shut her down, let me know. The time for talk is over.
10-10

[TN. TRUCKERS WIFE]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebel I'm a little confused, TRUCC act is also hr 5977 (original) sponsored by DeFazio of Oregon. He's the same that introduced the stop oil speculation bill hr 6330. Either way, both are stuck in committee. I met with Congressman Heath Shuler yesterday at 5pm. at a dinner here in Hendersonville. He had time to kiss babies and shake hands, but when I told him I had talked to his staff about passing TRUCC act and stopping oil speculation, He almost tripped trying to get away from me. I asked how to get these out of committee and why wasn't Congress in emergency session instead of a 5 week vacation? He just shrugged his shoulders and said " I don't know." I got up. said I was wasting my time because obviously nothing was going to get done here, and walked out of the meeting. I will go to Raleigh on Aug. 27th, but as of now I'm done talking to sh_t-for-brains politicians. When y'all are ready to blockade this country and shut her down, let me know. The time for talk is over. 10-10

lol, So he didn't want to talk to you, huh, surprise, surprise, oh well atleast you shook him up a little bit and you gotta love that..

[rebel]

Wow, reading the comment section on this bill WAS interesting. Good link, Gearjammer. Brokers sure don't want this thing to pass - and it looks like it won't.