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Yellow | What Happened To The Freight In Columbus

Same for us too...

oldyellow said:
Looks like the bottom fell out in Columbus, the bottom of the board not working again.:duh:
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It is almost like the middle of winter again! Hard to believe the gas prices and economy are having this much of an effect this time of year.... ?

~ Fight the good fight ~
 
oldyellow said:
Looks like the bottom fell out in Columbus, the bottom of the board not working again.:duh:
Click to expand...
The freights still moving, its just that foreign drivers come thru and take freight that our drivers would normally pull. One of the yard guys told me last week that in his 8 hour shift 46 foreign drivers either passed thru Columbus or came out of bed. And unlike LCP and other terminals, (which send you home with empties), Columbus gives them our loads to pull home. Which not only strands our bid drivers, but also the extra board!!!
 
We aren't getting it.

No matter what you think.

And drivers don't "take" freight. They comply with the terms of the contract and work rules that are negotiated for their benefit by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the industry signators of the National Master Freight Agreement and its regional suppliments. Parts of this contract says that management tells you what to do and you do it. If there are parts that YOU feel are contrary to said agreements, please and by all means file a grievance as provided for in the contract and (if you are correct) get paid.

And while you are at it, ask yourself why CDO is deliberately slighting your terminal.

I'll give you part of MY opinion on some of the problem. Locals can't pick and choose what and when they decide to protect their lanes and work rules. I have personally called local union halls and told them of work of theirs that I was being directed to do. In EVERY CASE the local BA really didn't give 2 craps. Well, guess what? Times are hard now, and that work that your BAs couldn't be bothered to chase after would be real nice to have now.
 
Kingralph2,

I do agree with you that a lot of it the National and Local Union leaders are to blame!
And yes, there are "Foreign Courtesy" rules in the NMFRA Contract. HOWEVER, some of it is also the "Senior Drivers Fault!!!" And from other posts on this site I know that isn't a popular view!!! But, lets place the blame where it belongs!!! When Senior Drivers do things such as: resetting their hours, Take bids Knowing that they will be retiring 1 or 2 weeks into the bids, Continue drawing full paychecks, Social Security, and Teamster retirement Benefits!!! Just to name a few. I know this is going to step on toes. But, most in this country are worried about being PC, and not taking or placing the blame where it belongs!!! And yes, I know its not all Senior drivers. But, it seems to be becoming more of the norm anymore.... With both Social Security and Pension funds in danger, SOMEONE, needs to wake up and change the rules and laws. NO ONE, should be allowed to receive ANY Social Security or Retirement Benefits UNTIL, they are fully Retired!! In the Government this is called double dipping! And everyone gets ticked and all blown out of shape over it when it happens there! And all of these rules or laws and Contracts became allowable because SENIOR Union Members either voted for them or just didn't give a crap and allowed them to take place out of laziness. Junior drivers do need to earn some of the benefits with time. I'm just tired of hearing about the "Old Timers" complaining about how hard they had it!!!
They created this mess not the Junior Drivers!
 
Profjt,
We covered the resetting thing awhile back.....did you take my advice and file for the run they took if they reset?
Taking bids and then retiring....don't you guys have a bid replacement option? In STL, if a guy is retiring, going to be off for medical reasons or taking more than 3 weeks vacation, his bid is put up fot the Extra Board to bid on and run until he returns or the 6 month bid expires.
I agree that guys should retire and not hang on forever, but there's nothing illegal about them hanging on. My opinion is that after putting in all of the years to earn retirement, if they can afford to go, choosing to stay shows me that they haven't balanced their lives very well, in my opinion only. It's sad to think that a guy works all of his life and then when he should retire and enjoy the so-called golden years, he feels that his best option is to keep working.
As far as the Contract goes, junior men also get to vote.
I knew when I was hired that I wouldn't start at the top of the seniority list and knew that I'd have to wait to be able to work all the time. That's the way it was and I accepted it.
I wonder if you'll continue to blame the senior men for all of the worlds woes once you become one?
 
I wonder if you'll continue to blame the senior men for all of the worlds woes once you become one?
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I hope that I will do my share, not screw the guys under me, and try to pass my experience on to the new guys coming up. Will I take the best bid that my seniority gets me? Hell yeah!! But I'll be dammed if I will bust my onions to work OT or cheat on my logs while there are people under me who can't make ends meet or are laid off.

I never blamed "all the worlds woes" on senior guys. Must have some old folks feeling guilty.
 
stldude44 said:
Profjt,
We covered the resetting thing awhile back.....did you take my advice and file for the run they took if they reset?
Taking bids and then retiring....don't you guys have a bid replacement option? In STL, if a guy is retiring, going to be off for medical reasons or taking more than 3 weeks vacation, his bid is put up fot the Extra Board to bid on and run until he returns or the 6 month bid expires.
I agree that guys should retire and not hang on forever, but there's nothing illegal about them hanging on. My opinion is that after putting in all of the years to earn retirement, if they can afford to go, choosing to stay shows me that they haven't balanced their lives very well, in my opinion only. It's sad to think that a guy works all of his life and then when he should retire and enjoy the so-called golden years, he feels that his best option is to keep working.
As far as the Contract goes, junior men also get to vote.
I knew when I was hired that I wouldn't start at the top of the seniority list and knew that I'd have to wait to be able to work all the time. That's the way it was and I accepted it.
I wonder if you'll continue to blame the senior men for all of the worlds woes once you become one?
Click to expand...
stldude44,

Thanks for the sensible response. I don't have a problem with hardly anything you stated.
I was surprised by it in fact. I expected some really ugly responses.
However, this isn't my first rodeo either.
I've been driving for over 25 years. Both Union and non union. I'm also one of those that got hammered at CF.
And I know that the junior members get a vote. However, you must admit that there are many more Senior members. There is a Post on another topic here, that stated a truism... That when the vote came down for the 75% to 100% pay scale...even though some Senior members voted "NO" many others voted "Yes" probably figuring that it wouldn't affect them...Again flouting or flexing their Seniority.
Several of the other points I stated where for graphic examples of the misuse of Seniority. Contrary to what its supposed to mean. And to demonstrate that many Senior drivers (NOT ALL!!!) have lost the meaning of "Brotherhood".
 
kingralph2 said:
I never blamed "all the worlds woes" on senior guys. Must have some old folks feeling guilty.
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KR,
Who's feeling guily? I was talking to Profjt. And FYI.....I only have to even recap my log a few times a year. I don't work any more than I have to.
 
profjt said:
stldude44,

Thanks for the sensible response. I don't have a problem with hardly anything you stated.
I was surprised by it in fact. I expected some really ugly responses.
However, this isn't my first rodeo either.
I've been driving for over 25 years. Both Union and non union. I'm also one of those that got hammered at CF.
And I know that the junior members get a vote. However, you must admit that there are many more Senior members. There is a Post on another topic here, that stated a truism... That when the vote came down for the 75% to 100% pay scale...even though some Senior members voted "NO" many others voted "Yes" probably figuring that it wouldn't affect them...Again flouting or flexing their Seniority.
Several of the other points I stated where for graphic examples of the misuse of Seniority. Contrary to what its supposed to mean. And to demonstrate that many Senior drivers (NOT ALL!!!) have lost the meaning of "Brotherhood".
Click to expand...

Profjt,
I can't argue the fact that some senior men don't miss a trip even though guys are starving below them, and while I think it's a shame it's perfectly legal unless they are violating the Contract and/or work rules. Unfortunately greed and the Me, Me, Me mentality has been around for quite some time now, and it sucks.
Nobody hopes that freight will pick up and stay that way more than me, but that's out of our hands. I know it's no fun at the bottom, especially in this day and age when evrything costs an arm and a leg. I really hope it gets beeter and stays that way soon.
You're welcome for the sensible reply. It does nobody any good to fight among the troops.
 
profjt said:
Kingralph2,

I do agree with you that a lot of it the National and Local Union leaders are to blame!
And yes, there are "Foreign Courtesy" rules in the NMFRA Contract. HOWEVER, some of it is also the "Senior Drivers Fault!!!" And from other posts on this site I know that isn't a popular view!!! But, lets place the blame where it belongs!!! When Senior Drivers do things such as: resetting their hours, Take bids Knowing that they will be retiring 1 or 2 weeks into the bids, Continue drawing full paychecks, Social Security, and Teamster retirement Benefits!!! Just to name a few. I know this is going to step on toes. But, most in this country are worried about being PC, and not taking or placing the blame where it belongs!!! And yes, I know its not all Senior drivers. But, it seems to be becoming more of the norm anymore.... With both Social Security and Pension funds in danger, SOMEONE, needs to wake up and change the rules and laws. NO ONE, should be allowed to receive ANY Social Security or Retirement Benefits UNTIL, they are fully Retired!! In the Government this is called double dipping! And everyone gets ticked and all blown out of shape over it when it happens there! And all of these rules or laws and Contracts became allowable because SENIOR Union Members either voted for them or just didn't give a crap and allowed them to take place out of laziness. Junior drivers do need to earn some of the benefits with time. I'm just tired of hearing about the "Old Timers" complaining about how hard they had it!!!
They created this mess not the Junior Drivers!
Click to expand...


Very well said there in your post. I too am tired of hearing about the way "it used to be" myself. That seems to be a power play more then anything. The younger guys cannot rewrite history and the older guys will always that to hold over their heads. Not for the good of the union, but for the good of special intersts. WOW, we have now come full circle. The union is dying.
 
Bird-Dog said:
Very well said there in your post. I too am tired of hearing about the way "it used to be" myself. That seems to be a power play more then anything. The younger guys cannot rewrite history and the older guys will always that to hold over their heads. Not for the good of the union, but for the good of special intersts. WOW, we have now come full circle. The union is dying.
Click to expand...
When most older guys talk about how it used to be they're probably referring to how this job used to be fun because of the comeraderie among the workforce.....when you couldn't go 10 miles without another freighthauler calling you on the radio and everybody waved at each other and stopped at the same places to eat and visit. The days when 95% of us were all pulling for the same thing....that thing was the betterment of the collective group and seldom was there a thought about individualism. Somewhere along the way in the 90's the real oldtimers were retiring and retiring with them was the cohesiveness that made the time spent at work alot better than what we see today. For several years now we've seen a different type of driver come along. Not all, of course, but many who didn't want to blend in and get to know the others or learn the true ways of being a good Union man.....no.....these guys were out for one thing only and that was themselves. Alot didn't carry a radio so that they didn't have to run with the others. Alot saw the good work rules as holding them back....after all, why stop and eat like normal human beings when they thought they could sack a senior man and get home faster and get out again ahead of senior men.
These guys wanted the benefits and pay of a Union freighthauler but wanted to run like chickenhaulers at the same time. These jobs were not meant to be high paid chickenhauler-in-a-daycab jobs. It was the oldtimers who fought and sacrificed and even went on strike to create these jobs....good jobs where guys could make good money and still have a life away from work.....a balance which provided for the best of both worlds, so to speak. And, to be honest, there were always a handfull of oldtimers who weren't good Union men too, and they were pretty much shunned by the 95% who didn't subscribe to the "ME" agenda.
Power play? I'm not sure what you mean by that. Maybe you can explain it.
Rewrite history? I'm sure we'd all like to see your version of doing that. Keep in mind that back in the 90's when the true oldtimers were retiring, the Companies were just sitting and waiting for them to go so they could try to break down the good work rules and conditions that the oldtimers demanded. History has been rewritten, to a certain degree, and it hasn't been all that positive for us as a group.
Finally, I'll say again that when I was new here I didn't expect to work every day on the bottom of the board. I was happy to know that soon I'd be able to make a very good living and not have to spend my life in a truck. I was patient and the steady work came just like it will for you. I had no interst in rewriting history and was glad that the oldtimers had already written a bestseller.
 
stldude44 said:
When most older guys talk about how it used to be they're probably referring to how this job used to be fun because of the comeraderie among the workforce.....when you couldn't go 10 miles without another freighthauler calling you on the radio and everybody waved at each other and stopped at the same places to eat and visit. The days when 95% of us were all pulling for the same thing....that thing was the betterment of the collective group and seldom was there a thought about individualism. Somewhere along the way in the 90's the real oldtimers were retiring and retiring with them was the cohesiveness that made the time spent at work alot better than what we see today. For several years now we've seen a different type of driver come along. Not all, of course, but many who didn't want to blend in and get to know the others or learn the true ways of being a good Union man.....no.....these guys were out for one thing only and that was themselves. Alot didn't carry a radio so that they didn't have to run with the others. Alot saw the good work rules as holding them back....after all, why stop and eat like normal human beings when they thought they could sack a senior man and get home faster and get out again ahead of senior men.
These guys wanted the benefits and pay of a Union freighthauler but wanted to run like chickenhaulers at the same time. These jobs were not meant to be high paid chickenhauler-in-a-daycab jobs. It was the oldtimers who fought and sacrificed and even went on strike to create these jobs....good jobs where guys could make good money and still have a life away from work.....a balance which provided for the best of both worlds, so to speak. And, to be honest, there were always a handfull of oldtimers who weren't good Union men too, and they were pretty much shunned by the 95% who didn't subscribe to the "ME" agenda.
Power play? I'm not sure what you mean by that. Maybe you can explain it.
Rewrite history? I'm sure we'd all like to see your version of doing that. Keep in mind that back in the 90's when the true oldtimers were retiring, the Companies were just sitting and waiting for them to go so they could try to break down the good work rules and conditions that the oldtimers demanded. History has been rewritten, to a certain degree, and it hasn't been all that positive for us as a group.
Finally, I'll say again that when I was new here I didn't expect to work every day on the bottom of the board. I was happy to know that soon I'd be able to make a very good living and not have to spend my life in a truck. I was patient and the steady work came just like it will for you. I had no interst in rewriting history and was glad that the oldtimers had already written a bestseller.
Click to expand...
:clap: :clap:
Great Post !!!!!
 
stldude44 said:
When most older guys talk about how it used to be they're probably referring to how this job used to be fun because of the comeraderie among the workforce.....when you couldn't go 10 miles without another freighthauler calling you on the radio and everybody waved at each other and stopped at the same places to eat and visit. The days when 95% of us were all pulling for the same thing....that thing was the betterment of the collective group and seldom was there a thought about individualism. Somewhere along the way in the 90's the real oldtimers were retiring and retiring with them was the cohesiveness that made the time spent at work alot better than what we see today. For several years now we've seen a different type of driver come along. Not all, of course, but many who didn't want to blend in and get to know the others or learn the true ways of being a good Union man.....no.....these guys were out for one thing only and that was themselves. Alot didn't carry a radio so that they didn't have to run with the others. Alot saw the good work rules as holding them back....after all, why stop and eat like normal human beings when they thought they could sack a senior man and get home faster and get out again ahead of senior men.
These guys wanted the benefits and pay of a Union freighthauler but wanted to run like chickenhaulers at the same time. These jobs were not meant to be high paid chickenhauler-in-a-daycab jobs. It was the oldtimers who fought and sacrificed and even went on strike to create these jobs....good jobs where guys could make good money and still have a life away from work.....a balance which provided for the best of both worlds, so to speak. And, to be honest, there were always a handfull of oldtimers who weren't good Union men too, and they were pretty much shunned by the 95% who didn't subscribe to the "ME" agenda.
Power play? I'm not sure what you mean by that. Maybe you can explain it.
Rewrite history? I'm sure we'd all like to see your version of doing that. Keep in mind that back in the 90's when the true oldtimers were retiring, the Companies were just sitting and waiting for them to go so they could try to break down the good work rules and conditions that the oldtimers demanded. History has been rewritten, to a certain degree, and it hasn't been all that positive for us as a group.
Finally, I'll say again that when I was new here I didn't expect to work every day on the bottom of the board. I was happy to know that soon I'd be able to make a very good living and not have to spend my life in a truck. I was patient and the steady work came just like it will for you. I had no interst in rewriting history and was glad that the oldtimers had already written a bestseller.
Click to expand...
Very well said stl!!!!!!! i just hope they see it before it's to late. i know just 10 years ago it was a lot more fun. just need 2 .6 more years and the young one's can have it!
 
Ozzy/Volleyball,
Thanks guys. I know that 10, even 8 years ago I looked forward to work....now I'm just doing time. I know it'll never be like it was and I know that I'll never see it any differently than what I posted above. Be careful out there.
 
stldude44 said:
When most older guys talk about how it used to be they're probably referring to how this job used to be fun because of the comeraderie among the workforce.....when you couldn't go 10 miles without another freighthauler calling you on the radio and everybody waved at each other and stopped at the same places to eat and visit. The days when 95% of us were all pulling for the same thing....that thing was the betterment of the collective group and seldom was there a thought about individualism. Somewhere along the way in the 90's the real oldtimers were retiring and retiring with them was the cohesiveness that made the time spent at work alot better than what we see today. For several years now we've seen a different type of driver come along. Not all, of course, but many who didn't want to blend in and get to know the others or learn the true ways of being a good Union man.....no.....these guys were out for one thing only and that was themselves. Alot didn't carry a radio so that they didn't have to run with the others. Alot saw the good work rules as holding them back....after all, why stop and eat like normal human beings when they thought they could sack a senior man and get home faster and get out again ahead of senior men.
These guys wanted the benefits and pay of a Union freighthauler but wanted to run like chickenhaulers at the same time. These jobs were not meant to be high paid chickenhauler-in-a-daycab jobs. It was the oldtimers who fought and sacrificed and even went on strike to create these jobs....good jobs where guys could make good money and still have a life away from work.....a balance which provided for the best of both worlds, so to speak. And, to be honest, there were always a handfull of oldtimers who weren't good Union men too, and they were pretty much shunned by the 95% who didn't subscribe to the "ME" agenda.
Power play? I'm not sure what you mean by that. Maybe you can explain it.
Rewrite history? I'm sure we'd all like to see your version of doing that. Keep in mind that back in the 90's when the true oldtimers were retiring, the Companies were just sitting and waiting for them to go so they could try to break down the good work rules and conditions that the oldtimers demanded. History has been rewritten, to a certain degree, and it hasn't been all that positive for us as a group.
Finally, I'll say again that when I was new here I didn't expect to work every day on the bottom of the board. I was happy to know that soon I'd be able to make a very good living and not have to spend my life in a truck. I was patient and the steady work came just like it will for you. I had no interst in rewriting history and was glad that the oldtimers had already written a bestseller.
Click to expand...

I see where your coming from and embrace that view too. I just feel the future is not a concern to most of the people in the union. Once again, great post and I agree with all that you said too.

~ Fight the good fight ~
 
Well I've ovly been a freighthauler for about five years now. before that I was a Beverage driver for a Union co. I have to be honest this is the best I have ever had it but STL is right it has change even in the five years since I started. Guys don't talk to you on the radio anymore nobody want you to know what their doing or where they are going. I don't understand it. When I started in this business there was still some type of comeradery amongst the drivers and that was something I had been searching for since I became a teamster while working for Coca Cola. I left there because they had a barn full of drivers that would stab each other in the back any chance they got. When I came here I found it was different your fellow drivers still cared about each other. Maybe not all of them but quite a few did. They were willing to help a new hire out and show him or her the ropes of what this was all about. But it seems today that hardly anybody wants to take the time to help the new guys out. I still have hope I know it can turn around but it is going to take a lot of effort on the the part of all the experienced drivers to lead the way and show the new hires what is expected and the rewards and benefit that can be attained in a job like this. It seems like the companies have done a pretty good job of dividing us and keeping us fighting over tha scraps that fall off the table. Until we all decide to pitch in and stop all this petty B.S. then things will continue the way they are . I still have friends in at Coca Cola and I am incouraged by the news that this year they are close thatn ever to a national Beverage agreement the would not only cover the Employees at the union Coca Cola distributors but also the union beer driver and Pepsi drivers nation wide. If they can do it I now we can because I think there are still enough guys around in this business that remember what it meant to be united and strong.
 
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