History of Trucking
The Trucking industry can play a role in both political and can affect the economy, many decades ago most freight was moved by train or horse drawn buggies, just imagine your customer hearing you say: “see you in five months.”
During World War 1 the Military used trucks quiet frequently, During the 1930s smaller trucks began to use the highways and the government began to put regulations on trucks in 1935 our government put into effect hours of service to work twelve hours within a fifteen-hour period, requiring 3 hours of breaks and 9 hours of rest, within a 24-hr. period. 60 hours total in a seven-day period. A few years later the Interstate commission hours of service was reduced from eight hours a day in a 48 hour weekly, then in 1962 the ICC changed the rules again to drive 10 hours in a 15 hour period, they soon found out drivers would run our of hours within four or five days, so in 1962 the split sleeper berth provision was added for team drivers, basically so they would not run out of hours, Had the ICC ever driven any trucks? I doubt it!
By the late 60s there were many truck crashes supposedly from scientist saying driver fatigue played an important role, nevertheless these people didn’t know the truth but just speculated, then in 1995 the hours of service were changed again, then in 2003 another change was made.
Trucks today are built for comfort, air-ride, cruise control, back in the day most trucks were spring ride and very uncomfortable, do you know what puts any driver to sleep is driving 55 mph in California, we recommend boycotting that state all together as well as the east coast, it is not worth the headache of higher fuel cost, tolls, and traffic.
On July 29th, 1956, Dwight D Eisenhour signed into legislation and funded the Interstate Highway System, Prior to them years it was very difficult to move freight or for the military to move their vehicles across unpaved roads.
Not to get sidetracked, ask yourself, what is the most unreliable part of a swift truck “the nut keeping the steering wheel in place.”
The government also has a few nuts loose as well, when it comes to trucking regulations, we have got an idea, why don’t some of the government officials ride along with some of the truck drivers for one week, they would be crying wanting to go back to their sit-down jobs, behind closed doors.
During the 1980s truck drivers made around 110,000.00 annually, now over 25 years later trucks drivers make on the average of 25,000.00, what’s wrong with that picture?
Their use to be a truckers union which was great because trucking rates were good at one time, most drivers today spend longer hours on the road to try and make up for the down side of wages, lots of paperwork, time filling up the tanks or waiting at the customers home or at the docks, a lot of trucking companies must increase the wages and pass on these to customers in order overcome driver shortages, which will help retain their drivers.
Many Trucking Companies would rather hire someone with no knowledge of small business, how to handle their cash flow, there are many unfair labor practices that go on in the trucking industry. If you would figure all your hours spent out on the road it is equivalent of a rate pay of 10.00 to 20.00 per hour
Many trucking companies have very little retention when it comes to keeping their drivers, Corporate trucking companies are the worst with very little room for profits for the independent contractors
Say No to cheap freight.
Compliance with C.FR. 376.11
With out Trucks AMERICA HAS NOTHING.
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