Chirp chirp chirp......
Orangetex maybe Fuelman is talking about contracted carriers pulling product for BP/Arco. All the old BP Guys out here have told me that they are like the dinasours ( There's not one left roaming the planet) unless they are pulling for another company.. I know when they became extinct out here in Florida. Florida Rock took over on a temporary basis untill the stores sold then Mansfield stepped in and took over. I am with you on the hours those guys worked the two BP drivers who hired on with Mansfield talked about their $22 to $25 an hour jobs with OT after 40 and never working less then 60. they were making big bucks.. Do you know any of the Tampa / Orlando area drivers???

Snowman are you guys expecting contract issues in 2013? Romours are like azzholes but the one I hear the most is that with UPS stating they are looking to replace 20,000 plus drivers in the next 5 years due to so many coming to retirement age is a code for they are getting ready to attempt a lockout in order to stay competative with Fed EX.. If the NHL is able to lock players out for one year and still come back to a sucessful season who says UPS can't do the same especialy with 3 years of pre planning. it seems plausible...(not sure if it is true or if it would work, but you never know in this day and age) How many guys could hold out on strike if it were to last 6 months to a year and a half or longer?? As it stands for me right now I would not be able to last more then 12 months before I would have to start looking to work elsewhere. Some of my old Orlando Freight buddies seem to think that plan is in the works, do you guys talk about the possibility?

Timberwolf.

 

I like these guys that think they are making big bucks when they work 20 extra hours a week. Then they find out the extra hours put them in a different tax bracket and the extra hours work out to half their normal rate. Good deal huh!

 

Well I dont know about you Specialkay, but at $25 an hour with 20 hours ot you are making 1700 a week that is $88,000 a year for only 60 hours of work so that is pretty much in line with what Snowman said his guys are doing at UPS Freight. Not to shabby if I say so myself and they did not have to pay union dues, with that kind of money I would happily take the higher tax bracket. The buy out these guys got from BP was amazing depending on their years of service some of these guys got big cash. My wife got four months salary from them as part of her buyout package and at the time she had only been with them two years..

With all due respect.

Timberwolf

 

Timber........As far as I know (or knew).....BP required all of the contract (carrier) drivers to work under the same guidlines as the ARCO drivers. From when their equipment went on shift, to how each driver dealt with each "customer", to how many hours each driver worked on the shift and during the week. Now....I took the walk back in 2003. Given BP's attitude toward safety (or lack there of)....things could have changed. I for one can not imagine anyone willing to hang their hat on that sort of"chjange"....but when you talk about Mega-attitude....you just never know. As an ARCO "legacy" driver, I went with a couple different groups of ARCO drivers out of Seattle, to Southern Cali to work. One trip when there were rolling black-outs occuring throughout the LA basin....2000 I think that first trip was, we worked out of the Southgate terminal, pulling loads from that terminal, the refinery in Carson, the Colton terminal, and the San Diego terminal.....then again in 2002...I forget why they sent us.....but we worked in the Southgate terminal for 6 weeks (and the teamsters were a major pain in the butt over that!!), then we moved north and worked our of the Richmond Beach terminal in the Bay-area...for 3 weeks.

As far as whom I knew in Tampa/Orlando....no drivers. But There was a guy named Bob Raley, whom was a driver in Seattle and moved to Atlanta to work as the "Safety" guy between the Dora terminal, Tampa/Orlando terminal....and I thnk the terminal that was in Clearwater......not sure about that one. I don't know what Bob is doing now...haven't talked to him since 08.


Special Kay......You're right. After a certain point, working to much overtime simply kills you. I found that I took the best money home, by working a consistant 55 hour week. My last 3 years I averaged $74K a year....and felt better for working fewer hours. Of course.....the 3 years prior to those years....I was lucky to have had the job. I had a really bad illness, that should have killedme. But for 3 great doctors.....and ARCO's awesome medical benefits. (which went out the door when BP walked in)

 

Sorry but I dont have a clue. But I dont think strikes and lockouts are on anybody's agenda. Thats old school and even the teamsters realize its bad for business. The last strike cost UPS big time, Fedex took alot of business away. I would say both sides need a better feel for the economy and they probably havent even talked about it with each other yet. Thats still 2 years away. As for what my "brother" truckers say....well you said it when it comes to rumors so it goes in one ear and out the other. I dont think anyone is too upset about compensation. The biggest issues seem to be related to contractors pulling our freight.

 

Just to clarify. When I talk about pay I think in terms of road drivers because thats what I am. We are paid mileage at 59.63cpm when driving and hourly at 23.65 for non driving duties. Local drivers are all hourly. A road driver working say 55 hours is probably doing about 2500 miles (2500x.5963=$1490) + 12-15 hours on the clock for another $300 week which adds up to 1700-1800 or 85-90k a year. We have a guy on a set run that does 2780miles/week with 15-18hrs of drop/hook time. Do the math on that and its about 2100 week. Now a local driver doing 55 hours would get 40x$23.65 and 15x$35.47 for 1478 week, or 76k a year. Most local guys dont want or get 55 hours. 42-48 is more the norm. Road drivers are greedier and tend to take all they can get. I'm happy in the 45-50 hour range. And being flat rate mileage pay road drivers dont get overtime, but averaging 60 mph at 60 cents a mile is $36 an hour. The runs are drop and hook terminal to terminal and for the most part pretty easy work. Except working nights all the time. I know you know but for the benefit of others, this is UPS FREIGHT, not regular UPS, there is a difference. (they make even more)

 

Sorry I should have been more clear Snowman. I was referring to guys that don't get OT. I'll work extra time too if I OT after 60 hours but I know some drivers do not and that's where they can lose out by going into a higher tax bracket with no OT pay.

 

After a certain point with over time it is like working for straight time due to the extra taxes you pay.

 

Just to clarify,

I do not work for Arco/BP or the carrier that voted in the Teamsters.

 

Talked to a KAG driver last night and he said the pro union drivers are being starved out. The union can not regulate the work dispatched. The Colton yard has 25 trucks parked from the L.A. Basin from the loss of the ARCO/BP Business.