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TRUCKER'S STORY * USA - Truckers feel pinch as port traffic drops
Is he read the paycheck, anxiety set in. Charles Robinson couldn't believe what he saw: $2.52 for two weeks of work
Hampton Road,VA,USA -The Virginian-Pilot, by Michael White -August 8, 2009: ... It certainly wouldn't cover his $745 monthly truck payment. He called his dispatcher to confirm the amount. He was shocked to learn that after insurance and taxes, the number on the check was accurate... On Feb. 7, Robinson, 60, missed a truck payment for the first time in 14 years. Four days later, his tractor-trailer was repossessed... Once secure in his line of work, Robinson, an independent trucker from Petersburg, fell victim to a drop in Hampton Roads port traffic caused by the recession. Compared with the same month a year ago, June saw almost 18 percent fewer imported TEUs, or 20-foot equivalent units, which measure volume and, in turn, total goods shipped through the port... The 10 months starting in October 2008 marked the longest downturn in port activity since the Virginia Port Authority began tracking that data in 1991... After losing his truck, he found work driving in a friend's fleet. But he still couldn't find a full week's work. Robinson estimated he makes $4,000 less each month than he did in 1999... Independent operators make up about 95 percent of all truckers, according to Joe Rajkovacz, of the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association, but they hold little power in their industry... In 2007, about 7,000 independent truckers operated out of the Hampton Roads port facilities. That number has dropped by about 15 percent in the past year. The independents face hurdles that corporate trucking companies do not, such as higher overhead for fuel and maintenance... (Photo by Bill Tiernan / The Virginian-Pilot - Charles Robinson owned his own rig for 14 years, but it was repossessed after his paychecks dropped along with port traffic. Now Robinson drives a rig for a friend’s trucking fleet, top)* TRUCKERS' HEALTH * USA - MI, going to be a requirement for Truck Driving? BMI or Body Mass Index, is this going to change truck driving? I know it will, because this is a big problem in trucking today !!!
Lexington,KY,USA -The Examiner/Lexington Truck Industry Examiner, by Jason Cox -August 10 2009: ... Truck drivers get very little exercise, so I know this will become a factor in being able to drive a truck or not. According to this chart I bet most truck drivers today would be disqualified... Now before my "fan club" starts making their "crude remarks" I will say that I am "overweight" and am probably not a good source to telling drivers to watch what they eat. I like Mcdonalds the same as everyone else does. But, today I decided that was going to change. No, I am not going to change to Subway, but I am changing my eating habits... I started last week actually, as I quit drinking any kind of pop. I changed to "Green Tea" and or water. I mean, I smoke a pack and half of cigarettes per day, and I am over weight. Does this mean I am NOT healthy? No, it doesn't mean that. I do not take high blood pressure pills, nor any kind of pills for that matter. I have never had a trace of high blood pressure... The reason for this article was brought on by something I saw today on the internet at a trucking companies website. PRIME Inc. started as one of their many requirements, a BMI requirement, Must be less than 39. This got me to thinking, if MORE trucking companies follow suite as so many do. There is going to be a LOT of OUT OF WORK truck drivers... So don't be surprised within the next year or so, you don't see most companies following suite and adding this to their requirements... (Image: BMI chart, better learn to live by it)Labels: truckers' stories
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