Benefits Negotiation
#11
08-14-2007, 08:55 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Pulling a Tanker for Superior Carriers!!
Posts: 3,000
Snowman.....a minor correction, if you don't mind. The Fed, in its infinite wisdom....has found its way clear to classify us as "semi-skilled". Probably had to in order to justify importing drivers from other countries to replace us with lower paid drivers.
Negotiations on pay and bennies....not much chance of that. Vito beat me to it....he said it all, and well.
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#12
08-14-2007, 10:34 PM
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: the Buckeye
Posts: 1,732
Originally Posted by Skywalker
Snowman.....a minor correction, if you don't mind. The Fed, in its infinite wisdom....has found its way clear to classify us as "semi-skilled". Probably had to in order to justify importing drivers from other countries to replace us with lower paid drivers.
Negotiations on pay and bennies....not much chance of that. Vito beat me to it....he said it all, and well.
#13
08-14-2007, 11:45 PM
Senior Board Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: The Great State of Texas - Seguin
Posts: 741
Originally Posted by jeffnjennusa
Thanks, GMan. Please be assured, I don't think there's anything wrong with trucking as a living. I meant the loss of vacation in and of itself was a step down for us, not the business of driving a truck. I have enormous respect for truckers...clearly not an easy job and one only has to come to a forum such as this to see beyond any doubt how many smart, educated people are out there driving trucks.
In considering a company, find out how strict they are on routing. Many companies only allow their trucks to run the high roads (interstates and US highways), were others allow flexibility in routing, providing you take a route that stays within certain Out of Route percentages. I could not work for a company that says you have to run x route day in and day out, I enjoy hitting the backroads and many times actually save miles. A suggestion I do have, you two mentioned doing some expediting awhile back. Bite the bullet, get a good year or so of experience with a quality company, then look into hiring on with an expediter with a couple of trucks, or buying a expeditor truck and leasing on with one of the type expediting companies. You both sound very business savvy, and more than capable of managing your own finances and business. Just a suggestions of thought. Later, Horseman
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#14
08-15-2007, 12:35 AM
we've worked many years accruing humane benefits for human beings
I don't want to sound mean or rude, but you'll get what the company gives you. period. end of discussion. Bleeding heart liberals should be out protesting or hugging a tree.
We're getting into this as a team, which I know is sought after.
I love the idea of filling an industry need, particularly when the industry is so integral to the success of our country.
Being that we're older, I feel we come with a lot more life/business experience than a youngster would
Never mind that the "youngster" has an easier time crawling around the truck (especially during pre-trip) or messing with sticky axle sliders.
which I believe is worth something to any company in any industry.
We bring stability and problem solving skills and a foresight into what helps/does not help a business in a given situation
I have no doubt that trucking is unlike anything we've ever experienced before
it is afterall still a business and I'm sure it can benefit at least a little from people like us.
I'm not trying to be an a$$hole or anything, just looking at things realistically. This isn't lifestyles of the rich and famous or a sight seeing tour and you need to have thick skin to make it in this industry ... especially if you leave your CB on in a truck stop
#16
08-15-2007, 02:59 AM
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 1,916
Originally Posted by jeffnjennusa
I feel...oops, I know I got the point, lol.
Good to see that you have a sense of humor about all this. That will take you far in this industry. :wink:
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#17
08-15-2007, 09:06 PM
Originally Posted by Elmdor
we've worked many years accruing humane benefits for human beings
And IF they DID?? MANY other countries treat their workers better than America does! I don't want to sound mean or rude, but you'll get what the company gives you. period. end of discussion. Bleeding heart liberals should be out protesting or hugging a tree. Sorry I'm late to this discussion.... I was out hugging my tree while ON VACATION.
We're getting into this as a team, which I know is sought after.
Not quite true. According to an industry analysis I read, MANY companies now favor the "family team" for JUST such reasons. My brother had only six months in with HIS company when they let HIM "train" his newly graduated wife. They run as a team with less than a year's experience, and they have "negotiated" the situation of running "hard" (if you want to call it that) for 3 - 4 weeks at a time, then taking a week off! Their company LOVES them!
I love the idea of filling an industry need, particularly when the industry is so integral to the success of our country.
:roll: :roll:
Being that we're older, I feel we come with a lot more life/business experience than a youngster would
Never mind that the "youngster" has an easier time crawling around the truck (especially during pre-trip) or messing with sticky axle sliders. Though your point is semi-valid, as to the physical requirements, I have seen MANY truckers "struggling" with receivers/shippers over scheduling errors, etc. I can immediately TELL those with business experience from those who think they are "entitled" to what they want!
which I believe is worth something to any company in any industry.
Again, a valid point. But, I'll take a guy who knows how to read a map, and call a tire repair guy, over one who is AT A LOSS as to what to do without SUPERVISION anyday! And some companies feel this way, too! Of course, I could be mistaken..... let's ask SHEEPDANCER to weigh in on this!
We bring stability and problem solving skills and a foresight into what helps/does not help a business in a given situation
Perhaps, there won't BE such a Qualcom discussion if the driver isn't a "wet behind the ears" idiot!
I have no doubt that trucking is unlike anything we've ever experienced before
it is afterall still a business and I'm sure it can benefit at least a little from people like us.
I don't doubt this is true for MEGA carriers. But, MY company has bent over backwards to keep me on at times. I think they must see "something" in my LIFE EXPERIENCES that gives them some comfort. I'm not trying to be an a$$hole or anything, just looking at things realistically. This isn't lifestyles of the rich and famous or a sight seeing tour and you need to have thick skin to make it in this industry ... especially if you leave your CB on in a truck stop I don't know YOUR background, so it is not "personal" when I say that YOUR REALITY is not necessarily what someone like the O.P. will encounter. BTW.... I've taken sightseeing tours about once a month since I started. awhile back, my dispatcher asked why I WANTED to go about 100 miles out of route on the way home. I said, "To see Mt. Rushmore." He said he had NO PROBLEM with that! For what it's worth.... I laughed when I read the title to the thread. But, just because the MAJORITY of truckers are unwashed, unkempt, illiterate and antisocial, doesn't mean we ALL get treated the SAME by our employers.
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#18
08-16-2007, 12:19 AM
Originally Posted by golfhobo
But, MY company has bent over backwards to keep me on at times. I think they must see "something" in my LIFE EXPERIENCES that gives them some comfort.
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