Rant: Ok, now i truly hate that man

[Ducimus]

I know i dont normally come here, and when i do, i usually reget it, but i have to vent.

I'll just say it. I ****ing hate Bush.

No, its not Iraq, nor Afganistan, or anything dealing with 3rd world nations. Its dealing with something here at home, that effects me, and everyone around us, every day.

I know im late to the party of, "OMG!" but Bush has been trying to open US Highways to mexican truckers.

VERY BAD IDEA.

1.) Its going to put alot of americans out of work. Mexican truckers will undercut every red blooded american out there on the road. There wont be American truckers anymore in the long term.

2.) Mexican truckers, and trucks are not up to our saftey standards. How about a 90,000 ton unguided missle on your highways that is long overdue for a break job, driven by some guy who is probably unisured, probably will follow regulations LESS then an american trucker, doesnt speak english, and arguably got his license from a Cracker Jack box? You want to share the highway with that?

3.) Ohhhh black marketer border smugglers should have a field day now. How now they can haul truck loads of illegals into the country!

It just pisses me of, particually since ive been considering getting into trucking. Looks like bush's plan to **** over Americans is been put on hold for a little while:
http://www.classadrivers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=26936

But i can't find any more current information on it. This needs to be STOPPED, and that man needs to get the **** out of the oval office.

[Fish]

Bad news for you then.

By elevating popular fancy over truth, Democracy is clearly an enemy of not just truth, but duty and justice, which makes it the worst form of government. President Bush must overcome not just the situation in Iraq, but democratic government.

President Bush can fail in his duty to himself, his country, and his God, by becoming “ex-president” Bush or he can become “President-for-Life” Bush: the conqueror of Iraq, who brings sense to the Congress and sanity to the Supreme Court. Then who would be able to stop Bush from emulating Augustus Caesar and becoming ruler of the world?

http://vrijheids.net/media/docs/FamilySecurityMatters.pdf

[SUBMAN1]

I normally support Bush as you know, but I have to agree with you on this trucker thing. It will only make every problem that I can think of worse than it already is. I like Thompsons take on things with Mexico - lipstick on a pig! - he will reverse this in a heartbeat if he gets elected. Wish he was in office right now. This Mexican thing has made even me lose faith in Bush.

-S

[Sea Demon]

Yep. This is not good for our country. This is one of the worst things Bush could do. This push to get cheap, low quality crap imported from China, coming up here from Mexican highways on unsafe Mexican trucks is not something I think will be conducive to American economic growth. Nor will it contribute to safety on our highways. And it continues the imports of dangerous-low quality Chinese products into our nation. This stinks all the way around.

[waste gate]

NAFTA was the first block. The Immigration Refrom Act was to be the second block. Since it failed the Bush administration thought what the hell might as well try this. The third block is this:http://www.nascocorridor.com/. The next administration was supposed to bring the corridor. There time table is off a bit. I don't even want to contemplate what the final block will be.

Its all bad.

[Ducimus]

What slays me is how he's saying, "To do the jobs Americans won't do".

Bull****. Theres 30% more truckers on the roads these days. You know the trucking industry probably has the biggest turnover rate? Theres a reason for it, and its not dealing with the truckers. But with carriers and the people they court for contracts.

From what i understand awhile back they deregulated the industry, this set off a bidding war. Lowest bid gets the haul. Trucker deleivers goods, then gets delayed on the loading docks. The "Customer" takes their sweet time, or otherwise dicks the driver around and spending 40+ hours at the docks is not uncommon. This makes the driver late for his next delivery, so now hes got to play catch up. And because the carrier wants the contract, their too chicken**** to complain about it, and on top of that, drivers from what i understand get treated like **** from both ends. Driver are under the hammer, and get 1 at home day for every 7 on the road. You do the math.

If they want to fix the trucking industry because its "a job americans won't do" they need to look internaly to fix the REAL problems, not outsource the jobs to mexico. I swear, the way things are going, in 10-15 years from now, your either a CEO, or work at walmart.

[SUBMAN1]

I hear ya.

[CCIP]

Well, he might as well just say "Americans don't want jobs" :roll:

Seriously, that's pretty stupid. Way to undermine the lower middle class.

[bookworm_020]

I heard that alot of the truckers in the US are immagrants from Eastern Europe. Not sure of the pecentage.
In Autralia we are starting to suffer the same problem. Many of the truckers we have are Veitnam vet's who are wanting to retire. The trucking industry is more demanding on the drivers with tighter deadlines and greater workloads (it's the cowboy operators who cause most of the problems, most take reasonable care of their drivers)

Younger one aren't attracted to the industry, and many who do come don't stay.

[AVGWarhawk]

What slays me is how he's saying, "To do the jobs Americans won't do".

Yes, this is nonsense for sure. I work for Landstar as an agent. Ranger alone is 10,000+ drivers not inclusive of Inway, Ligon and Carrier Group. Rangers sister companies.


Bull****. Theres 30% more truckers on the roads these days. You know the trucking industry probably has the biggest turnover rate? Theres a reason for it, and its not dealing with the truckers. But with carriers and the people they court for contracts.


True to a certain extent. There is more to it than that. Burnout. Not quite what they thought it was. Trucks are not cheap. Got to keep the wheels rolling.


From what i understand awhile back they deregulated the industry, this set off a bidding war. Lowest bid gets the haul. Trucker deleivers goods, then gets delayed on the loading docks. The "Customer" takes their sweet time, or otherwise dicks the driver around and spending 40+ hours at the docks is not uncommon.


Bidding war in a way but generated competiton and helped some of the smaller outfits for a while. The small outfits now can not compete because the larger carriers are living on volume shipping. As far as Landstar, I haul the load if it is worth my time. I do not haul sh!t freight as it were. My customers pay top dollar but get top service from my driving force. My drivers are the AA&E transports for the government. What is AA&E? Ammunition, Arms and Explosives. You name it, we carrier with secret cleared drivers. I have a lot of primadonas who are making $400,000.00 yearly. I have just one cargo van that handles smaller AA&E loads for me. This team will make in excess of $250,000.00 this year and that just from my agency. But to your point of customers taking their sweet old time, I call it DETENTION! My first hour is free, after that, $70.00 per hour. Most seem fit to get my trucks loaded. I'm a premier transportation outfit. I have access from cargo vans up to 13 axle double drops with jeeps if needed. You need a M1 transported...I'm there. I do not back down from my customers concerning getting my trucks loaded. The know it and they also the job will be done as they ask. Furthermore, my drivers are not forced dispatched. These are professional businessmen and women who make it happen. They make their schedule and week. But, with that said, there are outfits out there that are pure crap and their driving force shows it. I do broker loads but you must be a 100% approved carrier by Landstar and have an steller safety record. One strike and your gone. I expect the same from my brokers as I do my Landstar contractors. You screw me and see I to it you do not haul another Landstar load again. Furthermore, if you look at the broker boards for loads, you will find that Landstar is always at the first for the top paying loads. The trucker today has to work smart and contract on with a carrier whos name carries some weight.

Anyway, to the Mexican driver issue. There are several issues. One major issue is tractor safety and frequent inspections for road ready tractors. There is really none in place. Sure, hopefully DOT stops will handle most but they will only get just so many off the road. These guys are rolling time bombs. Also, I see it more of an issue with the manufacturing in Mexico and getting over the boarder. It is time consuming. My feeling here is we well see a revolving door at the boarder for trucks to waltz on it with death traps on 18 wheels. Currently I keep a trailer pool of 1000 trailers at Laredo that go in and out of Mexico. They are staged and inspected. This would go away as the revolving door will be in place. Do not think for a second this is some humanitarian effort. It is to get manufactured goods across the boarder faster. My largest customer that I haul for out of Mexico is Under Armour(sports clothing). A multi-billion dollar company. If you do not think they have some pull in Washington concerning the boarder crossing then think again.

I agree with you 100% on this whole deal....it is really smelling rotten at the core...no doubt. My advise is do not contract on with a bean bag outfit who will haul saw dust for a dollar. As I always say, "I charge only the highest, but you will get the finest." My customers know this and I turn down more customers looking to go coast to coast for $2900.00 then I care to count. Good luck to you because it will not be done by a Landstar driver. I mean really, why should I look after 80 loads rolling making $1000.00 for me when I can just as well price the load as they should and look after 10 and still make $1000.00. I call it an easy day for me. My drivers make bank and enjoy what they are doing. Think about it, I'm lurking on here all day long at work because I have the time. Me and two other guys work smart for us and our drivers.


Keep on truck'in man!:rock:

[AVGWarhawk]

Many of the truckers we have are Veitnam vet's who are wanting to retire.

Very true at my work place. I tell you what, they are all great. Specifically my AA&E drivers. All of them are just great and I love working with them. Most if not all really love the job. You have too because it is not the easiest job in the world and I can tell you I could not do it.