Ed Page: Company drivers’ edition
It’s not that uncommon when talking to truckers about becoming members of OOIDA that we hear the response, “But, I’m a company driver.” In fact, I had a great conversation with an active member about this very issue as we were heading to press. The caller, an owner-operator, felt powerless to battle back on the dodge to join.
Well, this editor’s page is for all of you who wish you had a better answer.
OOIDA is the only association out there looking out for the rights of all truckers. This issue of Land Line proves just how committed the Association is to that pledge.
First up, autonomous vehicles. If these things get the green light and start being deployed widely, which truck drivers will be the first to lose their jobs? If you guessed company drivers, you’re right. Owner-operators own their trucks and still have options, albeit ones that will be reduced by the cheap freight rates brought on by robotic trucks.
That’s why our cover story on autonomous trucks should be of interest to all truck drivers who depend on actually driving a truck to make money and want to get home safely. It starts on Page 14.
Next up for company drivers, OOIDA’s pressure to improve the National Consumer Complaint Database. It’s a clunky name for an equally clunky program. What it’s supposed to be is a hotline where truck drivers can lodge complaints against motor carriers for things like unsafe equipment and coercion.
Company drivers need the agency to look out for them. Unsafe motor carriers do not. And until those carriers face enforcement for their evil ways, nothing will change. Truckers will quit and move on, and another poor unsuspecting company driver will hop into the seat of the same hell-hole situation.
We have more on a recent audit of the program and OOIDA’s continued pressure to improve it starting on Page 22.
Let’s turn to DataQs for company drivers. This one really irks me every single time it comes up. The appeals process for violations on drivers’ pre-employment screening program profile and motor carriers’ CSA SMS profiles need fixed. It’s needed fixed since before it was deployed.
As it stands right now, cops on the roadside can write a violation for dang near anything, and it’s treated like the gospel truth. There is no legitimate due process in the program. So drivers and motor carriers suffer reduced ratings, artificially lowered without a second thought. This likens back to being black-balled by motor carriers, only this time, it’s the cops doing it.
Read more about how bad the program has been from the start on Page 13 and how FMCSA is proposing to make some changes on Page 25.
Finally, let’s talk speed limiters. I know a lot of company drivers are saddled with the devices. Reducing speed reduces miles, which in turn reduces pay. Imagine if a mandate for all trucks goes through. The option of moving to a motor carrier that does not use speed limiters is no longer an option. So the slow-mo race to a paycheck gets even harder. Read the latest on speed limiters starting on Page 18.
Oh, wait! While I’m talking about driver pay, specifically about company driver pay, how many hours a day do you sit and wait? How many hours a week is that you’re giving your time away for free?
OOIDA is fighting hard to get the exemption from paying overtime to truck drivers removed. Who else is even considering that? You know damn good and well that the American Trucking Associations isn’t and will fight just as hard against it.
Normally I write only about what’s in this issue. We don’t have news on the driver-pay front, yet. Heavy on the yet. It’s coming, and coming soon. So stay tuned.
We’re serious when we mean OOIDA fights for all truckers. This is just a very short list of current examples. Pass this magazine along to your company driver friends. Tell them to join the one Association that is looking out for them. LL