Interesting read...

Jun 24, 2019 at 10:54 AM CST + 27
JIM SHIRACK SHIRACKTRADING INC. SALINA, KS 8 Posts, 1 +, 0 -	JIM SHIRACK SHIRACKTRADING INC. - SALINA, KS Alan Fenstermaker March 21 An open letter to the federal DOT. You try and try to make truck drivers safer. Yet every single one of your efforts have the opposite effect. Since you're too brain dead collectively to figure the problem out, let me tell you what's really happening. The truck driving industry has been in a horrible deficit for decades. Drivers are parking their trucks by the hundreds to get away from it. The days are gone of the career truck driver. Why? Because of YOU! You regulate the industry to death. You make unrealistic expectations of owner operators. The small businessman has no hope in staying afloat in your sea of regulations and taxes. All of the experienced drivers are either retiring early, or just quitting altogether. Young, green drivers get rushed through truck driving school and in 4 weeks, are turned loose on the roads. In just 6 weeks, THEY'RE the instructors, teaching brand new drivers! Really? I can't imagine why commercial vehicle accidents continue to rise every year. Now these new drivers see what it's like out here with the B.S. from dispatchers, and the State Troopers trying to fleece them for every infraction they can possibly get. So THEY leave the industry. The federal government has turned truck driving in to a profession with the same turn over rate as the fry chef at McDonald's. Now, to fill the void of drivers, you're toying with the idea of letting 16 year olds behind the wheel of a tractor trailer. DON'T BOTHER! I can already tell you how that's going to end. You want the industry to fill back up? Lighten the hell up on drivers and companies. We know when we're tired. Your 14 hour rule is the worst possible thing you could've implemented. My 4 hour nap counts as ON DUTY time? Are you on drugs, or just stupid? When was the last time you got paid for sleeping on the job? Find a way to lighten the B.S. regulations and let the experienced drivers stick around. The more you tighten the screws, the worse it will get. Remember that when the store you love to shop at has empty shelves. You'll only have yourselves to blame. Feel free to share with your favorite congressman or DOT representative.

Jun 24, 2019 at 10:54 AM CST

+ 27

JIM SHIRACK

SHIRACKTRADING INC.

SALINA, KS

8 Posts, 1 +, 0 -

JIM SHIRACK

SHIRACKTRADING INC. - SALINA, KS

Alan Fenstermaker

March 21

An open letter to the federal DOT.

You try and try to make truck drivers safer. Yet every single one of your efforts have the opposite effect. Since you're too brain dead collectively to figure the problem out, let me tell you what's really happening. The truck driving industry has been in a horrible deficit for decades. Drivers are parking their trucks by the hundreds to get away from it. The days are gone of the career truck driver. Why? Because of YOU! You regulate the industry to death. You make unrealistic expectations of owner operators. The small businessman has no hope in staying afloat in your sea of regulations and taxes. All of the experienced drivers are either retiring early, or just quitting altogether. Young, green drivers get rushed through truck driving school and in 4 weeks, are turned loose on the roads. In just 6 weeks, THEY'RE the instructors, teaching brand new drivers! Really? I can't imagine why commercial vehicle accidents continue to rise every year. Now these new drivers see what it's like out here with the B.S. from dispatchers, and the State Troopers trying to fleece them for every infraction they can possibly get. So THEY leave the industry. The federal government has turned truck driving in to a profession with the same turn over rate as the fry chef at McDonald's. Now, to fill the void of drivers, you're toying with the idea of letting 16 year olds behind the wheel of a tractor trailer. DON'T BOTHER! I can already tell you how that's going to end. You want the industry to fill back up? Lighten the hell up on drivers and companies. We know when we're tired. Your 14 hour rule is the worst possible thing you could've implemented. My 4 hour nap counts as ON DUTY time? Are you on drugs, or just stupid? When was the last time you got paid for sleeping on the job? Find a way to lighten the B.S. regulations and let the experienced drivers stick around. The more you tighten the screws, the worse it will get. Remember that when the store you love to shop at has empty shelves. You'll only have yourselves to blame.

Feel free to share with your favorite congressman or DOT representative.

Replied on Tue, Jun 25, 2019 at 07:50 AM CST + 1
DAVE WINTERS DWT TRUCKING CLEARWATER, MN 630 Posts, 325 +, 110 -	DAVE WINTERS DWT TRUCKING - CLEARWATER, MN You rock!

Replied on Tue, Jun 25, 2019 at 07:50 AM CST

+ 1

DAVE WINTERS

DWT TRUCKING

CLEARWATER, MN

630 Posts, 325 +, 110 -

DAVE WINTERS

DWT TRUCKING - CLEARWATER, MN

You rock!

Replied on Thu, Jun 27, 2019 at 02:25 PM CST + 1
STEPHEN HANGER RELIANT TRANSPORTATION Lincoln, NE 7 Posts, 79 +, 65 -	STEPHEN HANGER RELIANT TRANSPORTATION - Lincoln, NE Very well said sir.

Replied on Thu, Jun 27, 2019 at 02:25 PM CST

+ 1

STEPHEN HANGER

RELIANT TRANSPORTATION

Lincoln, NE

7 Posts, 79 +, 65 -

STEPHEN HANGER

RELIANT TRANSPORTATION - Lincoln, NE

Very well said sir.

Replied on Fri, Jun 28, 2019 at 08:16 AM CST + 1
ANDREW WENGER AWTRANSPORTATIONLLC Tampa, FL 128 Posts, 3 +, 4 -	ANDREW WENGER AWTRANSPORTATIONLLC - Tampa, FL Thanks to their 10 hr off duty rule now we have to witness drivers doing pushups and squats along the ramps since nobody can find a parking spot. Who in there right mind sleeps for 10 hr everynight. I am lucky to get 6 hr. I just had to post this after witnessing a driver walking behind his truck this morn and the type of squats he was performing reminded me of someone that needed to drop another load.

Replied on Fri, Jun 28, 2019 at 08:16 AM CST

+ 1

ANDREW WENGER

AWTRANSPORTATIONLLC

Tampa, FL

128 Posts, 3 +, 4 -

ANDREW WENGER

AWTRANSPORTATIONLLC - Tampa, FL

Thanks to their 10 hr off duty rule now we have to witness drivers doing pushups and squats along the ramps since nobody can find a parking spot. Who in there right mind sleeps for 10 hr everynight. I am lucky to get 6 hr. I just had to post this after witnessing a driver walking behind his truck this morn and the type of squats he was performing reminded me of someone that needed to drop another load.

Replied on Sun, Jul 07, 2019 at 06:38 AM CST
DAVID TEICHROEB TWEST Seminole, TX 8 Posts, 4 +, 2 -	DAVID TEICHROEB TWEST - Seminole, TX you hit the nail on the head, i just can't get why the real truck drivers don't go to Washington and realy talk to trump it's just the jb hunt an Warner's that they listen to we as Americans need to show the government who they work for until that happens it'll never change

Replied on Sun, Jul 07, 2019 at 06:38 AM CST

DAVID TEICHROEB

TWEST

Seminole, TX

8 Posts, 4 +, 2 -

DAVID TEICHROEB

TWEST - Seminole, TX

you hit the nail on the head, i just can't get why the real truck drivers don't go to Washington and realy talk to trump it's just the jb hunt an Warner's that they listen to we as Americans need to show the government who they work for until that happens it'll never change

Replied on Tue, Jul 09, 2019 at 10:00 PM CST + 1
ED MCCONNELL ET TRUCKING LLC CASSELTON, ND 142 Posts, 12 +, 0 -	ED MCCONNELL ET TRUCKING LLC - CASSELTON, ND Very well said! The government has tried to strangle the american trucker out of business! We need to go back to the rules of the 90's where you can work when you want to work and not when an inanimate object tells you that you are tired! Humans know when they need rest! There were days when I would get up in the morning, drive to the next rest area and need a nap because I knew I was not ready or fit for the road yet! On the reverse side, there were days when I could run forever and not feel tired at all! It is just part of being a human being and what everyone experiences. I think it is time for government to start worrying about teaching the people in the 4 wheelers how to drive better! Most truck accidents are caused by cars! I drove 25 years before entering the office. Things were much different and we could make a living back then! Now we are watching things go to hell! Big Brother is watching everything we do!!!!

Replied on Tue, Jul 09, 2019 at 10:00 PM CST

+ 1

ED MCCONNELL

ET TRUCKING LLC

CASSELTON, ND

142 Posts, 12 +, 0 -

ED MCCONNELL

ET TRUCKING LLC - CASSELTON, ND

Very well said! The government has tried to strangle the american trucker out of business! We need to go back to the rules of the 90's where you can work when you want to work and not when an inanimate object tells you that you are tired! Humans know when they need rest! There were days when I would get up in the morning, drive to the next rest area and need a nap because I knew I was not ready or fit for the road yet! On the reverse side, there were days when I could run forever and not feel tired at all! It is just part of being a human being and what everyone experiences.

I think it is time for government to start worrying about teaching the people in the 4 wheelers how to drive better! Most truck accidents are caused by cars!

I drove 25 years before entering the office. Things were much different and we could make a living back then! Now we are watching things go to hell!

Big Brother is watching everything we do!!!!

Replied on Thu, Jul 11, 2019 at 07:35 PM CST + 2 - 1
DAVE WINTERS DWT TRUCKING CLEARWATER, MN 630 Posts, 325 +, 110 -	DAVE WINTERS DWT TRUCKING - CLEARWATER, MN The sad part is the primary reason government is in our face, is because the big carriers from the ATA, or trucking alliance told them they should be. ELD’s, sleep apnea studies, getting the EPA to go after glider kits, speed limiters etc, are just a few examples of regulations that they asked for. It seems they spend all their time trying to convince law makers that truckers are all degenerate’s, serial killers, or drug addicts. All these big corporate executives that lead those organizations view themselves as being superior to us carriers or drivers, in their mind we are just labor even if we own a fleet of trucks, we are not considered management in their eyes, we are just viewed as revenue generators to be exploited by them the corporate elite, after all they all went to college and have some fancy degree hanging in their office. The last thing the spoiled little frat boys want is for a steering wheel holder to make the same income as they do, or live in the same neighborhood as them.

Replied on Thu, Jul 11, 2019 at 07:35 PM CST

+ 2 - 1

DAVE WINTERS

DWT TRUCKING

CLEARWATER, MN

630 Posts, 325 +, 110 -

DAVE WINTERS

DWT TRUCKING - CLEARWATER, MN

The sad part is the primary reason government is in our face, is because the big carriers from the ATA, or trucking alliance told them they should be. ELD’s, sleep apnea studies, getting the EPA to go after glider kits, speed limiters etc, are just a few examples of regulations that they asked for. It seems they spend all their time trying to convince law makers that truckers are all degenerate’s, serial killers, or drug addicts. All these big corporate executives that lead those organizations view themselves as being superior to us carriers or drivers, in their mind we are just labor even if we own a fleet of trucks, we are not considered management in their eyes, we are just viewed as revenue generators to be exploited by them the corporate elite, after all they all went to college and have some fancy degree hanging in their office. The last thing the spoiled little frat boys want is for a steering wheel holder to make the same income as they do, or live in the same neighborhood as them.

Replied on Fri, Jul 12, 2019 at 07:29 AM CST
PETE WENGER PETE WENGER TRUCKING LLC Manheim, PA 79 Posts, 2 +, 1 -	PETE WENGER PETE WENGER TRUCKING LLC - Manheim, PA Originally Posted by: DAVE WINTERS Quote: "The sad part is the primary reason government is in our face, is because the big carriers from the ATA, or trucking alliance told them they should be. ELD’s, sleep apnea studies, getting the EPA to go after glider kits, speed limiters etc, are just a few examples of regulations that they asked for. It seems they spend all their time trying to convince law makers that truckers are all degenerate’s, serial killers, or drug addicts. All these big corporate executives that lead those organizations view themselves as being superior to us carriers or drivers, in their mind we are just labor even if we own a fleet of trucks, we are not considered management in their eyes, we are just viewed as revenue generators to be exploited by them the corporate elite, after all they all went to college and have some fancy degree hanging in their office. The last thing the spoiled little frat boys want is for a steering wheel holder to make the same income as they do, or live in the same neighborhood as them. " BINGO!

Replied on Fri, Jul 12, 2019 at 07:29 AM CST

PETE WENGER

PETE WENGER TRUCKING LLC

Manheim, PA

79 Posts, 2 +, 1 -

PETE WENGER

PETE WENGER TRUCKING LLC - Manheim, PA

Originally Posted by: DAVE WINTERS
Quote: "The sad part is the primary reason government is in our face, is because the big carriers from the ATA, or trucking alliance told them they should be. ELD’s, sleep apnea studies, getting the EPA to go after glider kits, speed limiters etc, are just a few examples of regulations that they asked for. It seems they spend all their time trying to convince law makers that truckers are all degenerate’s, serial killers, or drug addicts. All these big corporate executives that lead those organizations view themselves as being superior to us carriers or drivers, in their mind we are just labor even if we own a fleet of trucks, we are not considered management in their eyes, we are just viewed as revenue generators to be exploited by them the corporate elite, after all they all went to college and have some fancy degree hanging in their office. The last thing the spoiled little frat boys want is for a steering wheel holder to make the same income as they do, or live in the same neighborhood as them. "

BINGO!

Replied on Sat, Jul 13, 2019 at 09:42 AM CST + 1
PETE WENGER PETE WENGER TRUCKING LLC Manheim, PA 79 Posts, 2 +, 1 -	PETE WENGER PETE WENGER TRUCKING LLC - Manheim, PA How many years do you have to go back till the man behind the wheel is looked up to? Little kid on the school bus just can't wait till he can drive the truck. Now nobody notices the truck making deliveries of whatever so people have food to eat. Even the officer enforcing the law can't wait till you get out of his way when he's directing traffic.

Replied on Sat, Jul 13, 2019 at 09:42 AM CST

+ 1

PETE WENGER

PETE WENGER TRUCKING LLC

Manheim, PA

79 Posts, 2 +, 1 -

PETE WENGER

PETE WENGER TRUCKING LLC - Manheim, PA

How many years do you have to go back till the man behind the wheel is looked up to? Little kid on the school bus just can't wait till he can drive the truck. Now nobody notices the truck making deliveries of whatever so people have food to eat. Even the officer enforcing the law can't wait till you get out of his way when he's directing traffic.

Replied on Sat, Jul 13, 2019 at 03:03 PM CST
MATTHEW LEMBKE LEMBKE INC Normal, IL 147 Posts, 13 +, 1 -	MATTHEW LEMBKE LEMBKE INC - Normal, IL ??have been arguing for years ??yes everyone should share

Replied on Sat, Jul 13, 2019 at 03:03 PM CST

MATTHEW LEMBKE

LEMBKE INC

Normal, IL

147 Posts, 13 +, 1 -

MATTHEW LEMBKE

LEMBKE INC - Normal, IL

??have been arguing for years ??yes everyone should share

Replied on Sat, Jul 13, 2019 at 03:03 PM CST
MATTHEW LEMBKE LEMBKE INC Normal, IL 147 Posts, 13 +, 1 -	MATTHEW LEMBKE LEMBKE INC - Normal, IL ??have been arguing for years ??yes everyone should share

Replied on Sat, Jul 13, 2019 at 03:03 PM CST

MATTHEW LEMBKE

LEMBKE INC

Normal, IL

147 Posts, 13 +, 1 -

MATTHEW LEMBKE

LEMBKE INC - Normal, IL

??have been arguing for years ??yes everyone should share

Replied on Mon, Jul 15, 2019 at 01:26 PM CST + 2
DAVE WINTERS DWT TRUCKING CLEARWATER, MN 630 Posts, 325 +, 110 -	DAVE WINTERS DWT TRUCKING - CLEARWATER, MN Originally Posted by: PETE WENGER Quote: "How many years do you have to go back till the man behind the wheel is looked up to? Little kid on the school bus just can't wait till he can drive the truck. Now nobody notices the truck making deliveries of whatever so people have food to eat. Even the officer enforcing the law can't wait till you get out of his way when he's directing traffic." It seems like back when we as a industry all played on the same team we were respected and looked up to, but then the feuding started internally and it all changed starting back in the 90’s, and really eroded in the 2000’s, when the meggafleets started violating our sovereignty as small carriers under the newly formed FMCSA. They began a strategy of proxy warfare, using Government and anti truck safety organizations against all the smaller carriers, rather then allowing market forces to shape policies or regulations. The meggafleets want the revenue your trucks generate when they broker freight to you, but they don’t want you making decisions on how to run your company, they will do that for you, seems to be where we wound up. I wish we could go back to being on the same team, but I don’t think it’s possible at this point.

Replied on Mon, Jul 15, 2019 at 01:26 PM CST

+ 2

DAVE WINTERS

DWT TRUCKING

CLEARWATER, MN

630 Posts, 325 +, 110 -

DAVE WINTERS

DWT TRUCKING - CLEARWATER, MN

Originally Posted by: PETE WENGER
Quote: "How many years do you have to go back till the man behind the wheel is looked up to? Little kid on the school bus just can't wait till he can drive the truck. Now nobody notices the truck making deliveries of whatever so people have food to eat. Even the officer enforcing the law can't wait till you get out of his way when he's directing traffic."

It seems like back when we as a industry all played on the same team we were respected and looked up to, but then the feuding started internally and it all changed starting back in the 90’s, and really eroded in the 2000’s, when the meggafleets started violating our sovereignty as small carriers under the newly formed FMCSA. They began a strategy of proxy warfare, using Government and anti truck safety organizations against all the smaller carriers, rather then allowing market forces to shape policies or regulations. The meggafleets want the revenue your trucks generate when they broker freight to you, but they don’t want you making decisions on how to run your company, they will do that for you, seems to be where we wound up. I wish we could go back to being on the same team, but I don’t think it’s possible at this point.