Occupy the Ports

[brinstar]

Occupy activists shut down several major west coast ports yesterday, ostensibly "to send a message to the 1%" etc. now i know we've all been over and over our views on Occupy here, and as much as i feel like more of you would be on board if only i could explain it correctly, that's a tiresome discussion i'm not really interested in recreating just yet

but the reason i started this thread is something that came out yesterday in (pre-emptive) response to critics within the port workers. mindia this is specifically for you:

http://cleanandsafeports.org/blog/2011/ ... the-ports/

as our only (?) resident west coast trucker i am curious as to how this letter relates to your experiences, whether the issues it raises are shared among all west coast truckers or are just specific to port truckers, and finally your general take on the letter itself

[Narrock]

Fucking occutards. For every day they block the ports, they cause a one-week delay in goods delivered. They have NO FUCKING IDEA that their efforts are harming the truckers who are trying to make a living and provide for their families. FUCK OFF OCCUTARDS. Bad, ignorant clowns with their heads up their fucking asses.

[Trielelvan]

Fucking occutards. For every day they block the ports, they cause a one-week delay in goods delivered. They have NO FUCKING IDEA that their efforts are harming the truckers who are trying to make a living and provide for their families. FUCK OFF OCCUTARDS. Bad, ignorant clowns with their heads up their fucking asses.

All that aside, did you READ it?

[Narrock]

Bottom line is that the occutards are doing the country more harm than good, and they are huting the wrong people. Collateral damage to a severe extent.

[Trielelvan]

That still isn't an answer of "yes" or "no," nor is it a viewpoint regarding the article itself.

[brinstar]

dude, what the fuck? seriously? take a deep breath and start over.

how about you read the article and put some actual thought into what i asked?

[Narrock]

I could poke so many holes in that letter it's not even funny. Where to begin.... Ok, first off, whoever wrote that letter is right about that an owner-operator pays most, if not all, expenses. Why? Because the average O/O makes about 240k gross annually, with a net of 90-120k, and the average company driver makes 45-65k annually... Hardly a fast-food part-timer salary. And if that particular group of truckers wants a union so bad, maybe contact the Teamsters... the biggest trucker union in America, although wal-mart will never go on board with a union, understandably so. The more I read the "letter" the more I'm suspicious that this person was either a paid plant to spread propaganda, or it's a rogue disgruntled trucker with his head up his ass. Be happy you have a good-paying job in this bad economy. And if you don't like the working conditions or circumstances surrounding the trucking industry... GTFO and go do something else, OR go haul something else that doesn't require picking up a load at the ports. One of my friends works at Sygma, a division of Sysco restaurant supply. He made 90k last year delivering BK's and Applebees. I have another friend who hauls hot asphalt oil, and makes 65k a year. I have another friend who hauls dirt and rock and makes 70k working 9-10 months a year. Every propane driver I know makes at least 50k a year. Opportunities are endless. Oh, and every trucker I know had nothing positive to say about the occupy movement when the subject came up. Sorry Alex, most people just aren't on board with the occupy movement.

[Tossica]

Way to be against something that could potentially make life better for you and your fellow Americans. Real smart.

[Narrock]

Way to be against something that could potentially make life better for you and your fellow Americans. Real smart.

It's consensus, holmes.

[brinstar]

I could poke so many holes in that letter it's not even funny. Where to begin.... Ok, first off, whoever wrote that letter is right about that an owner-operator pays most, if not all, expenses. Why? Because the average O/O makes about 240k gross annually, with a net of 90-120k, and the average company driver makes 45-65k annually... Hardly a fast-food part-timer salary. And if that particular group of truckers wants a union so bad, maybe contact the Teamsters... the biggest trucker union in America, although wal-mart will never go on board with a union, understandably so. The more I read the "letter" the more I'm suspicious that this person was either a paid plant to spread propaganda, or it's a rogue disgruntled trucker with his head up his ass. Be happy you have a good-paying job in this bad economy. And if you don't like the working conditions or circumstances surrounding the trucking industry... GTFO and go do something else, OR go haul something else that doesn't require picking up a load at the ports. One of my friends works at Sygma, a division of Sysco restaurant supply. He made 90k last year delivering BK's and Applebees. I have another friend who hauls hot asphalt oil, and makes 65k a year. I have another friend who hauls dirt and rock and makes 70k working 9-10 months a year. Every propane driver I know makes at least 50k a year. Opportunities are endless. Oh, and every trucker I know had nothing positive to say about the occupy movement when the subject came up. Sorry Alex, most people just aren't on board with the occupy movement.

try imagining for a moment that every single word of the letter was demonstrably true. would it change your response?

[Narrock]

No, because the letter is a far cry from reality.

[brinstar]

thanks for playing lol

LOOK! A SQUIRREL!

[Tossica]

No, because the letter is a far cry from reality.

Possibly not YOUR reality. There are other people that live in this country too.

[Narrock]

No, because the letter is a far cry from reality.

Possibly not YOUR reality. There are other people that live in this country too.

Definitely not MY reality, and definitely not reality from any other trucker I know. But you're right in one aspect... I don't know every trucker out there.

[Narrock]

thanks for playing lol

LOOK! A SQUIRREL!

Alex, it was MY pleasure, buddy. Hey, what's the squirrel reference all about?

[Drem]

good lord