Truckerdoc
August 16th, 2005, 21:16
I know that some members and visitors on this forum are also members of Expediter World. Others are not. For those who visit only this forum, I would like to share a conversation that Maverick and I have been having on Expediter World. We certainly want to hear your thoughts.
Maverick Wrote:
The people in administration and upper management of the "pumkin" company suck!
The sad fact is that most of the carriers out there, especially the large ones, really don't give a crap about their drivers. They just pretend to by giving the same 'ol lip service and then just doing only just enough to make it seem as if they do. I think that we all know that what they really only care about is their bottom line. Afterall, the industry turn-over rate speaks volumes about that, don't you think?
The only thing that I'd like to say about the state of our nation is that, "IT'S UP TO US PEOPLE!!!!" WE are the voice and we do have the power. Unfortunately, we just can't seem to find the time to use it in the most effective way. Instead, we use our voices most often to complain to each other. I think that if everytime we want to complain we would complain to the politicians or to those that are in a position to make changes we could make a difference. You know, things like creating and soliciting a petition, sending e-mail and letters to our reps, making those phone calls to our reps.. Not just once or twice but consistantly. Everyone should have the names, phone #'s, and addresses of their reps with them. I think we just need to have a plan!!!
Negativity Sucks!, feeling powerless Sucks!, the fact that we don't stand united Sucks! I sure don't pretend to have answers for all our problems but I do know that we could have the power to change things that need changing if we would organize, prioritize, and unite so that when we have something to say, we would be heard!!!!
Now look what you made my do. I'm sorry, I'm get'n down off my soap box now.
_________________
Munchkins Maverick
15yr. co. Driver
10yr. OTR. O/O
4yr. Expediter
OOIDA Member # 554655
UNITED we can make it BETTER !!!
I responded
Maverick it totally correct. We have more power than we use. Voting is extremely important, and so is making campaign contributions - even if its only $20.00.
Almost all of the politicians are using computerized systems. When we write our local, state or federal politicians a letter, send them an email or make a phone call expressing our opinions, the first thing they do is look our names up on the computer.
They want to see if we voted and/or if we made a campaign contribution.
If we didn't do either, they won't listen to us. Voting is critically important. I'd like to see absentee ballots from every state in truck stops to make it easier for truck drivers to vote.
Maverick returned with these thoughts:
I rarely make direct campaign contributions but I do contribute extra $ to OOIDA's (PAC)(Political Action Committee) and to a few other groups from time to time.
Of course I think being registered to vote and actually voting is very important. I just believe that if we can create a political forum that we can use to discuss, prioritize, and create a plan for petitions or other vehicles that will express our voice in unity and in numbers that we might be able to get some attention and even maybe, just maybe, get a little respected:
Then I answered
Yes, having a political action group with lobbyists is also very important. ATA has some powerful lobbyists and lots of money to back them - they managed to block the mandatory fuel surcharge.
On the show last year, we had guest who runs a political action organization outside of Washington, DC. He taught us that grass roots efforts at home can be more influential than we think. For example, Kanjorski is the representative in my neck of the woods. If 20 - 30 truck drivers who voted in this district wrote Kanjorski a letter stating how they wanted him to vote on an issue, he would listen. It would be even better if these 20 people had made a little campaign contribution.
When we stop to think about it, it makes sense. The politicians want to be elected, so they're going to pay more attention to people who are active in the election process. Maybe only 30 write in about an issue, but the politicians know that those 30 people influence at least 30 x 30 people. And those in turn will influence others.
And this is what makes America great if we use the system as it was designed to be used. But when only 40% of the people vote, we're letting the politicians run rough-shod over us.
Maverick wrote:
You got it right again girl. I hear you and I only wish that (WE) collectively could do more to organize ourselves into a louder and more persuasive voice. Even if we would just create a forum to discuss and prioritize our issues and work with the OOIDA providing financial support above just the annual dues, create petitions and collect signatures, and convince more drivers to get involved would be a great accomplishment.
If everyone knew how much better they would feel to be involved in taking an active roll in being part of the solution instead of just complaining about what's wrong with everything they would "Get R' Done" and never look back!!
Collectively we would actually have a voice in many issues that affect all of us and our everyday lives and not just industry related.
I wish that I had the skills needed to re-organize all drivers for the benefit of all drivers, their families, and the country. I don't think that we need a union, we just need to unite. I don't think we need to strike or threaten to strike, we just need to show the power and influence of our numbers united.
Fantasy? maybe, but, who knows, stranger things have happened.
_________________
I responded:As I sit here and read Maverick's posting, and my mind spins in several directions. There is a verse in the Bible that says: One can put a 1000 to flight, but two can put 10,000 to flight.
One person can make a difference, but people banding together can make a much bigger difference. Everyone is important; everyone has a role to play. And, as you said, Maverick, we need to make a plan. Without a vision, people perish.
In business, they teach entrepreneurs to develop a plan in writing. For instance, without a business plan, you can't even get a loan. About 10 years ago, I saw the 10 Commandments for the first time (I'm really slow). Pharoh kept saying, "let it be written, let it be done". Those words made an impact on me because I understood how that works.
We start conceiving in our minds and when we put it on paper, we start bringing it into reality. Putting it in writing brings things into a sharper focus, and we begin working accordingly.
Maverick, I talked to you and Munchkin about an idea that several of us have. Every truck driver I have talked with about this idea has seen the beauty of it. It makes all the sense in the world and it's right under our noses. But we can't talk about it publicly on the web because we have no control over who reads these forums. I plan to start having chats on my website on the members only page to discuss courses of action.
There are, however, a lot of things that can be done that we can discuss on these forums. I think we need to start a different topic page to do this.
_________________
We must be the change in the world that we want to see. Ghandi
Maverick Wrote:
The people in administration and upper management of the "pumkin" company suck!
The sad fact is that most of the carriers out there, especially the large ones, really don't give a crap about their drivers. They just pretend to by giving the same 'ol lip service and then just doing only just enough to make it seem as if they do. I think that we all know that what they really only care about is their bottom line. Afterall, the industry turn-over rate speaks volumes about that, don't you think?
The only thing that I'd like to say about the state of our nation is that, "IT'S UP TO US PEOPLE!!!!" WE are the voice and we do have the power. Unfortunately, we just can't seem to find the time to use it in the most effective way. Instead, we use our voices most often to complain to each other. I think that if everytime we want to complain we would complain to the politicians or to those that are in a position to make changes we could make a difference. You know, things like creating and soliciting a petition, sending e-mail and letters to our reps, making those phone calls to our reps.. Not just once or twice but consistantly. Everyone should have the names, phone #'s, and addresses of their reps with them. I think we just need to have a plan!!!
Negativity Sucks!, feeling powerless Sucks!, the fact that we don't stand united Sucks! I sure don't pretend to have answers for all our problems but I do know that we could have the power to change things that need changing if we would organize, prioritize, and unite so that when we have something to say, we would be heard!!!!
Now look what you made my do. I'm sorry, I'm get'n down off my soap box now.
_________________
Munchkins Maverick
15yr. co. Driver
10yr. OTR. O/O
4yr. Expediter
OOIDA Member # 554655
UNITED we can make it BETTER !!!
I responded
Maverick it totally correct. We have more power than we use. Voting is extremely important, and so is making campaign contributions - even if its only $20.00.
Almost all of the politicians are using computerized systems. When we write our local, state or federal politicians a letter, send them an email or make a phone call expressing our opinions, the first thing they do is look our names up on the computer.
They want to see if we voted and/or if we made a campaign contribution.
If we didn't do either, they won't listen to us. Voting is critically important. I'd like to see absentee ballots from every state in truck stops to make it easier for truck drivers to vote.
Maverick returned with these thoughts:
I rarely make direct campaign contributions but I do contribute extra $ to OOIDA's (PAC)(Political Action Committee) and to a few other groups from time to time.
Of course I think being registered to vote and actually voting is very important. I just believe that if we can create a political forum that we can use to discuss, prioritize, and create a plan for petitions or other vehicles that will express our voice in unity and in numbers that we might be able to get some attention and even maybe, just maybe, get a little respected:
Then I answered
Yes, having a political action group with lobbyists is also very important. ATA has some powerful lobbyists and lots of money to back them - they managed to block the mandatory fuel surcharge.
On the show last year, we had guest who runs a political action organization outside of Washington, DC. He taught us that grass roots efforts at home can be more influential than we think. For example, Kanjorski is the representative in my neck of the woods. If 20 - 30 truck drivers who voted in this district wrote Kanjorski a letter stating how they wanted him to vote on an issue, he would listen. It would be even better if these 20 people had made a little campaign contribution.
When we stop to think about it, it makes sense. The politicians want to be elected, so they're going to pay more attention to people who are active in the election process. Maybe only 30 write in about an issue, but the politicians know that those 30 people influence at least 30 x 30 people. And those in turn will influence others.
And this is what makes America great if we use the system as it was designed to be used. But when only 40% of the people vote, we're letting the politicians run rough-shod over us.
Maverick wrote:
You got it right again girl. I hear you and I only wish that (WE) collectively could do more to organize ourselves into a louder and more persuasive voice. Even if we would just create a forum to discuss and prioritize our issues and work with the OOIDA providing financial support above just the annual dues, create petitions and collect signatures, and convince more drivers to get involved would be a great accomplishment.
If everyone knew how much better they would feel to be involved in taking an active roll in being part of the solution instead of just complaining about what's wrong with everything they would "Get R' Done" and never look back!!
Collectively we would actually have a voice in many issues that affect all of us and our everyday lives and not just industry related.
I wish that I had the skills needed to re-organize all drivers for the benefit of all drivers, their families, and the country. I don't think that we need a union, we just need to unite. I don't think we need to strike or threaten to strike, we just need to show the power and influence of our numbers united.
Fantasy? maybe, but, who knows, stranger things have happened.
_________________
I responded:As I sit here and read Maverick's posting, and my mind spins in several directions. There is a verse in the Bible that says: One can put a 1000 to flight, but two can put 10,000 to flight.
One person can make a difference, but people banding together can make a much bigger difference. Everyone is important; everyone has a role to play. And, as you said, Maverick, we need to make a plan. Without a vision, people perish.
In business, they teach entrepreneurs to develop a plan in writing. For instance, without a business plan, you can't even get a loan. About 10 years ago, I saw the 10 Commandments for the first time (I'm really slow). Pharoh kept saying, "let it be written, let it be done". Those words made an impact on me because I understood how that works.
We start conceiving in our minds and when we put it on paper, we start bringing it into reality. Putting it in writing brings things into a sharper focus, and we begin working accordingly.
Maverick, I talked to you and Munchkin about an idea that several of us have. Every truck driver I have talked with about this idea has seen the beauty of it. It makes all the sense in the world and it's right under our noses. But we can't talk about it publicly on the web because we have no control over who reads these forums. I plan to start having chats on my website on the members only page to discuss courses of action.
There are, however, a lot of things that can be done that we can discuss on these forums. I think we need to start a different topic page to do this.
_________________
We must be the change in the world that we want to see. Ghandi