Item (1) A fellow company driver wanted to talk. His is fighting with his dispatcher. He is a lease operator and "can't take it anymore." He claims to have been lied to, verbally abused and "screwed" out of detention and layover pay. I asked him whether he called the operations supervisor. He said "no." Why the hell not? "I just can't, I'm just not comfortable doing it." So, you just want to quit, turn in your truck and get on another Greyhound bus for two days, take another road test and physical? - without - even taking the next (small) step and make a telephone call that might solve all your problems? "No." YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!
The driver continued: "Listen, I was in the military. One time I complained and I lost a stripe. I just don't feel comfortable making the call. Going somewhere else is just easier." Did you even say to the dispatcher, you have a problem with him? "Yes." And? "He said I must deal directly with him and he wouldn't give me the extension of the operations supervisor." Listen, here is the name and extension of the person you need to talk to - make the call! No wonder there is 135% turnover with drivers. Drivers, stop being wimps and talk!
Item (2) Why is the speed limit on I-40 westbound from Needles, CA (still) 55 mph? This is pure bull. Where are the old farts at OOIDA on this? Where is the lobbying effort to force that idiot Schwartzenegger to change this law!? You drop from 75 mph in AZ to 55 in California. Do you think the big companies would have any balls to fight to change this law. I don't think so. Just the like the crap that is surrounding the "black boxes." CA statewide interstate speeds should be 70 mph for ALL vehicles - 60 mph within the city limits. On the big hills leave the speeds as they are now.
Item (3) Why did I have to stop at the eastbound AZ weigh station to show my registration and IFTA card? I have Prepass and I want to know why I didn't get the green light? What a complete waste of time! Prepass is another organization that chooses not to answer e-mail.
Item (4) When is OOIDA going to change their name and mission to attract company drivers? I have called them twice and spoke to some old lady who doesn't seem to like company drivers. Did you ever pass their headquarters? No truck parking! I've said this before, but I think that Idle Aire should install their nonsense in their employee parking lot. I think they should be called the National Professional Drivers Association. I hope NASCAR isn't using the name.
Item (5) Advertisers - as long as you think of me in stereotypical terms - meaning that I'm some dumb redneck driving a truck listening to Jerry Reid - I will NEVER buy your product. I will never buy Mobil Delvac. Their commercial features the retired driver telling me how great his truck ran for 30 years on their oil. Who cares? This is 2006 not 1976.
