Saturday, September 26, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Steve Prater With TruckerTwotimes
I enjoyed meeting with Podcast Listener Steve Prater from Ft Payne AL today, Steve and his Wife drove up to the Pilot in Rising Fawn GA to meet up with ole TruckerTwotimes
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Unsafe Driving Conditions Promoted By Trucking Companies
Unsafe Driving Conditions Caused By Trucking Companies as they cut the road speed back on their trucks in order to save a little bit of fuel are dangerous on the highways, by not having an ability to accelerate past other slower vehicles and merge into faster lanes of traffic for other merging traffic, the absoulute chances of accidents are increased due to many factors as TruckerTwotimes talks about in his Podcast Episode 411 Have You Ever Dreaded Going To Work?
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Two More Trucking Companies Bite the Dust
Two More Trucking Companies Bite the Dust
May 21st, 2009
Truckers go weeks without pay; company under bankruptcy
Boyd Logistics is one of two more trucking companies that closed their doors for business, due to the economic situation. Many drivers for Boyd had been working for weeks without pay, and now after filing bankruptcy, there is very little chance that the drivers will ever receive that much needed paycheck.
The other one, Eagle Express Trucking, cited state of the national economy, slow consumer spending and stalled manufacturing activity as the prime reasons for shutting down their trucking business, founded in 1981.
A long-established Elk County-based trucking company closed its doors at midnight Wednesday.
Owner Albert A. Prechtl said multiple factors led to his decision to phase out Eagle Express Trucking, the trucking portion of his business. Those factors included the state of the national economy, slow consumer spending and stalled manufacturing activity in the local area that "really took a toll on the trucking industry." Other factors included declining freight rates and his desire to retire. At 78, he said he felt the time is right to finally relax and spend time with family.
The closure of Eagle Express Trucking will add about 120 workers to Elk County's jobless rolls.
May 21st, 2009
Truckers go weeks without pay; company under bankruptcy
Boyd Logistics is one of two more trucking companies that closed their doors for business, due to the economic situation. Many drivers for Boyd had been working for weeks without pay, and now after filing bankruptcy, there is very little chance that the drivers will ever receive that much needed paycheck.
The other one, Eagle Express Trucking, cited state of the national economy, slow consumer spending and stalled manufacturing activity as the prime reasons for shutting down their trucking business, founded in 1981.
By ABC-7 Anchor/Reporter Celina Avila
EL PASO -- In the midst of our nation's economic turmoil, it's impossible to imagine working without pay. But that's the harsh reality for some borderland truckers who say they've been working for weeks - essentially for free.
For years Boyd Logistics -- or B-L-I trucking -- has been hiring truck drivers to deliver loads all across the country. Recently, the company filed for bankruptcy and forgot to tell everyone they do business with, including all of the drivers who say they need their money.
"I have high blood pressure and don't have money to buy medicine, " said Fernando Razo, who says he's been struggling for the last few months. "The first check they gave me, it bounced."
"I pay child support, I owe money to the IRS, what am I going to tell them?, " and it hasn't gotten any better, "The last check they gave me it bounced."
Many who work for BLI tell ABC-7 they haven't been paid in weeks. They're not the only ones.
The ABC Seven I-Team found Boyd's Logistics filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy last April and their list of creditors is four pages long.
"They knew it was coming but they hired more trucks and I was one of them. They knew their checks were bouncing and they still hire more trucks," said Christian Simental.
Despite the bankruptcy filing, Simental he was hired last month. "I have no money to feed my daughters, I have a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old."
Despite working for free - the owner, Keith Boyd is demanding they keep delivering loads. "He wants me to start working and if I don't, I'm not going to see a check on Monday when we're supposed to get paid," said Simental.
Royal Jones, president of Mesilla Valley Trucking says he's had dealings with Boyd. "Check your calendar, what's next Monday? You think he's going to be there? I know this because I went through this last year trying to collect for truck payments," said Jones.
Now, BLI has a $300 thousand debt with Mesilla Valley Trucking. "You would think he could pay the truck drivers since he didn't pay me or them," added Jones.
Meanwhile these men say they just want to be paid for their hard work. "I've never been in this situation, where I'm basically driving for free," said Simental.
ABC Seven repeatedly tried contacting Keith Boyd, the owner of B-L-I Trucking but he never returned our call. Finally, someone who answered the phone in his office said quote--"no comment."
A long-established Elk County-based trucking company closed its doors at midnight Wednesday.
Owner Albert A. Prechtl said multiple factors led to his decision to phase out Eagle Express Trucking, the trucking portion of his business. Those factors included the state of the national economy, slow consumer spending and stalled manufacturing activity in the local area that "really took a toll on the trucking industry." Other factors included declining freight rates and his desire to retire. At 78, he said he felt the time is right to finally relax and spend time with family.
The closure of Eagle Express Trucking will add about 120 workers to Elk County's jobless rolls.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Breaking Free
I completed my tour with Knight Refrigerated on March 8, 2009 after becoming tired of working harder than the truck, although they did have a great volume of freight I became fatigued from having the Cummins engine which was rated at 400 horse power at 1800 rpms the top cruise control speed was set at 62 mph and top pedal speed was 64 mph
the power was actually decreased electronically as the truck started into a hard pull up a hill or mountain, all these things were good fuel economy for the company but harder on the driver, also, the limited idle time to 10 percent was a hard one for the driver i.e. me
the bunk had an oil fired heater made by Webasto which blew very hot dry air on full blast and did o.k. on not too cold of a night, I don't know how drivers will handle the heat in the summer
seems that trucking is taking a turn for the worst, the fun has about all gone from it, the get er done on these large run of the mill companies solely relies on the driver working harder than the truck does, of which I am not interested in this kind of extra slack taking up on my part
I am going to be starting work with a small carrier next week that only has about 36 power units, I believe that America needs the smaller Mom Pop type stores and Trucking Companies as well, we have already seen what kind of shape Corporate America has got this great Country in, over population is only the base root of the problems, Big Corporate is the rest
the power was actually decreased electronically as the truck started into a hard pull up a hill or mountain, all these things were good fuel economy for the company but harder on the driver, also, the limited idle time to 10 percent was a hard one for the driver i.e. me
the bunk had an oil fired heater made by Webasto which blew very hot dry air on full blast and did o.k. on not too cold of a night, I don't know how drivers will handle the heat in the summer
seems that trucking is taking a turn for the worst, the fun has about all gone from it, the get er done on these large run of the mill companies solely relies on the driver working harder than the truck does, of which I am not interested in this kind of extra slack taking up on my part
I am going to be starting work with a small carrier next week that only has about 36 power units, I believe that America needs the smaller Mom Pop type stores and Trucking Companies as well, we have already seen what kind of shape Corporate America has got this great Country in, over population is only the base root of the problems, Big Corporate is the rest
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