Gee von, I didn't know that disagreeing with you meant I was wrong.
I can't speak to 2008, I was unfortunately still in the truckload sector. There was this little thing called a recession going on that prevented me from moving to ltl until 2010. All I know is that our wages are on par with yours. More in fact, dollar for dollar. We get raises every year too. And I can't imagine any non-union leech staying in business over 80 years like we have been, or Southeastern for over 50, hell even Wilson out of Virginia is over 80 years in business if they couldn't attract drivers with decent wages and a decent place to work. I remember seeing a picture of a CF trailer taken shortly before the shutdown advertising I think $.46/mile. JB Hunt was almost that much back on the early 2000s. Their other benefits weren't as good, sure, but their mileage pay wasn't too far off.
Yes, OD should pay their city drivers overtime after 8. I have ALWAYS said that, and have argued extensively with some of my fellow employees on the OD page about that. But where you're wrong is that they DO have start times, and they sit on the clock at full wage if their load isn't ready for the street when it's their time to clock in. Back when I was in the city I remember sitting one particular morning for 2 1/2 hours drinking coffee at $24 per. Wasn't at top pay, that's why it was so low.
Now on to health insurance. Yes, I pay a weekly premium for my family coverage. I cover my wife and 3 kids. My insurance as an employee is free. You had me beat on the family, but I look at it like this: you may not pay premiums but your wages have been reduced a percentage per week. That is money NOT going in your pocket. It may not be directly for insurance but I guarantee you that wage reduction is helping pay for your insurance. That is a variable number. The more you work the more it affects you. My family premium does not change. My wife had her gall bladder out earlier this year, and out of an 18k bill I think the insurance covered all but $250.
I'm not being ripped off. And I'm not brainwashed either. In fact, I am of sound enough mind and body to realize that it's not 1970-something, deregulation did in fact occur and most of the manufacturing done for this country is not done here. Bottom line is that times and business climates change. Most of that can be blamed on the folks in DC that don't have our best interests in mind. Gone are the days of no competition among freight carriers, asinine rules from the ICC and the ability to pass on costs to customers because they couldn't find a better deal from another carrier. It comes down to choice. My job isn't perfect, but it is mine and I'm happy. It's not because of cowardice or stupidity. I have looked and for a total package, I haven't found a better deal. To come over to your side of the street I would be giving up something somewhere. Vacation or retirement. I fall under central states so my defined benefit (there's that pesky word again!) would be nonexistent by the time I get to retirement. Plus, my 401 doesn't decrease when I die. The pension payment reduces to a surviving spouse, but all that money I and my employer invested is mine once I cash out. And I can take it wherever I go. If YRC and ABF go the way of the dodo, what's left? UPSF isn't in CSPF. I apologize for my long winded response, but I felt I needed to fully respond to your allegations.