Posts Tagged Dan Rather
The Quest for The Truth About Trucking with Dan Rather Reports
Posted by Max4health in Politics, Truck Stops, Woman Truckers, otr trucking, trucking show on November 12th, 2009
by Donna Smith
Monday evening Nov 9, 2009, Dan Rather Reports videoed part 2 of an ongoing trucking industry investigation at Willies Place Truck Stop in Carl’s Corner, Tx. The objective of this broadcast was to follow up from the Show of October 20th, “Queen of the Road” where Trucker Desiree and Tom Hansen discussed the poor practices going on in trucking, specifically the students in the CDL training mills and the new driver company training programs.
When the drivers first drove up and were entering Willies Place, some were confused, thinking that the show may create a poor image for drivers. After talking with many of them they soon realized that the intention of the show is to actually improve the image of the American driver by confronting the many scams that so many of them have faced throughout their career. The CDL school mills and new driver training programs are just 2 programs which are hurting the image of the drivers. This is because by churning out so many inexperienced drivers, not only are veterans being starved out of the business by newer lower paying drivers, but the lack of experience by these new drivers is not a true symbol of 
the excellent driving skills which so many veterans possess. I personally talked at length with trainer Jimmy Watson of KLLM. Jimmy at first came to Willies Place concerned about the possibility that his reputation would be damaged by exposing poor training tactics of other companies. It wasn’t until I explained that by exposing and eliminating the poor training practices of other companies, that his company would not have to endure any kind of negative stigma which may result from them.
In this week’s follow up, “Truck Talk “, Dan Rather visited the big truck stop at Carl’s Corner, Texas, to hear from others within the trucking Industry. Truckers from across the country were encouraged to attend the live videoing of the follow up program so they could witness first hand the questions and discussions going on among Dan Rather and the stage panel: Todd Spencer ( executive VP of OOIDA), Michael Belzer ( Economics Prof of Wayne State), Miles Verhoef ( O/O), Derek Leathers (COO of Werner ENT), Tom Dean( Veteran Driver for Werner Ent) and Guest audience speaker Allen Smith of AskTheTrucker.com. Many Truckers were in the audience including Desiree Wood from the first Dan Rather Reports trucking Video, along with owner operators, company drivers, company trainers, and even a student who came to Allen for help regarding a wrongful statement on his DAC report which has ended his short lived trucking career of less than 1 year.
As you will see after viewing the Dan Rather Truck Talk video, the greatest part of this program has been the fact that it has brought truckers, blogs and organizations together, discussing the problems and issues within the trucking industry. As you are aware, Allen Smith has been an advocate for students and drivers and has been talking about the scams within trucking for quite a number of years now. TruckerDesiree and Allen, AskTheTrucker, for the last year have had a synergistic relationship, fighting for the rights of students, new drivers, the harassment women in trucking trainees, and even the veterans who are being starved out. Other issues only being addressed by Allen, are the DAC abuse and the Trucking Lease Scams,which hopefully will gain the attention of others as they are crucial topics which must be addressed.
Now, we have agreement with Todd Spencer of OOIDA, who personally told TruckerDesiree what a great job she did in the first video. Also notice in the video that Todd Spencer brings up how there never was a driver shortage, but the problem is the 125% turnover rate, something which Allen has been trying to explain to people for years and actually devoted a chapter to in his book, “The Truth About Trucking.” When I heard Todd say that, I wanted to jump out of my chair and personally hug him!! I did mention it to him later, although I didn’t hug him… 
I want to say that this meeting/forum at Willies Place has given me a hope that I have never felt before. I felt unity and comradeship, people standing around discussing problems together. I had a great talk with Norita Taylor, media spokesperson for the OOIDA, as we discussed things like the importance of Jason’s Law HR1256 and the CDL training problems. Norita told me also that her boss Todd Spencer said that Desiree’s depiction of CDL training was right on, and how great it was to be able to meet and speak amicably on all these important issues.
You see, we all need to have the same agenda, the same common goal….THE SUCCESS OF DRIVERS AND TO” RAISE THE STANDARDS OF THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY.”
Watch Both Dan Rather Reports Videos ( “Queen of the Road” and “Trucker Talk” on the right side column!
© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.
: allen smith, carl's corner, cdl training mills, company training, Dan Rather, ooida, truck drivers, TruckerDesiree, trucking, willie's place, women in trucking
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Trucking Abuses Against Drivers Gaining Attention
Posted by Allen Smith in Truck Driving Jobs, dac report, otr trucking, truck driving schools, trucking, trucking companies, trucking life, trucking show on November 11th, 2009
Dan Rather Reports Episode 2″ Trucker Talk”
I have said many times that there exists good trucking companies and CDL schools within the United States. There are also many success stories by both company drivers and owner operators. When you have large numbers such as nearly four million active truck drivers and about eight million CDL holders, you are going to have success stories. These successes, however, can and do not automatically strike out the fact that many scams and abuses exist within this industry. Abusive programs that are specifically designed for the driver to fail.
If the truck driver is the company’s greatest asset, as which they are always advertising, then why are the “handful” of trucking companies and CDL schools which operate in these abusive manners, allowed to continue? If maintaining the integrity and upholding a positive image for the industry is a primary goal, would bringing a stop to these abusive systems against our drivers not be upholding integrity and improving the industry’s image?
For the past several years, we have been working to expose such scams and abuses being imposed on many of our nation’s drivers. Suddenly, we are hearing from a few industry leaders that they have been “saying these things for years.” Where? Where have these things been specifically fought against and more importantly, if so, why do these abuses continue? Specific scams and abuses such as:
- The abuse of CDL students and new drivers as a means of cheap labor.
- The starving out of veteran drivers by those companies who continually maintain the rotation of newer, less paid drivers into their system.
- The driver shortage and driver retention problem that have been purposefully created by the companies themselves.
- The Owner Operator Lease Purchase Program that is used by those companies as a means to a driver’s failure.
- The truck drivers DAC Report which has become nothing more than a retaliation tool by companies against drivers.
I recognize that issues such as the lease programs have seen support by way of utilizing The Truth in Leasing Law for drivers, but where has it ever been exposed before that the leasing program, in many cases, is nothing more than a scam and abuse used against drivers? Where? It’s not difficult to find information on how to get a copy of your DAC Report . . . but where has it ever been mentioned that the DAC Report is a tool often used to ruin truck drivers careers? Where? Before we publicly exposed these scams and abuses . . . where were these issues being raised? Furthermore, if so, why after “so many years” do they continue?
Talk is cheap. Let’s see action . . . action such as bringing it to the public as in the Dan Rather Reports . . . action away from just cheap talk and action that can and will eventually bring change to rid the trucking industry of these scams and abuses that have been going on for years against our men and women drivers in trucking. Finally coming together, as drivers and industry leaders alike, for the sole purpose of raising the standards of the trucking industry.
Allen Smith
© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.
: abuse, abuses, CDL schools, dac report, Dan Rather, dan rather reports, driver retention, driver shortage, drivers, good trucking companies, media, owner operator lease purchase, Scams, truck drivers, trucking
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Truth About Trucking “LIVE” Talk Radio Airs Dan Rather Controversy
Posted by Allen Smith in Talk Radio Show, trucking, trucking companies on November 5th, 2009
Earlier this evening our BTR show, Truth About Trucking “LIVE” aired a 90 minute show discussing the Dan Rather interview with TruckerDesiree. Thanks to the callers and listeners and those in the chat room for tuning in . . . show has already been downloaded nearly 100 times within 1.25 hours.
I had some phone trouble during the last 5 minutes of the show and lost all connection, so was unable to “close” it out like I normally do, but the show focused on Desiree’s story and the real purpose of exposing these scams, lies and deceit within certain segments of the trucking industry.
Truth About Trucking has been working to expose these issues for nearly 5 years now, and with TruckerDesiree exposing a further hidden “secret” of the OTR industry . . . the industry is taking notice. Change for the better can happen.
I have nothing to gain from exposing these lies and scams of the over the road industry. They have been going on for years and the time has finally come that these issues are becoming known . . . CDL students and new drivers have the RIGHT TO KNOW . . . and for those trucking companies and CDL schools who participate in these scams and abuses . . . we will continue to expose them until they are changed and all drivers . . . students, new drivers and veteran drivers alike . . . receive the respect and honesty that they deserve.
The Trucking Controversy – Dan Rather Reports:
© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.
: cdl, CDL schools, Dan Rather, drivers, reports, students, talk radio, TruckerDesiree, trucking, trucking industry, trucking scams
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Dan Rather Reports Trucking Controversy – Here’s Your Chance to be Heard
Posted by Allen Smith in Politics, Talk Radio Show, otr trucking, trucking on October 25th, 2009
Truth About Trucking “LIVE” talk radio will open up the phone lines to discuss the controversy within the trucking industry from the recent Dan Rather Reports interview with lady driver, TruckerDesiree.
Thirty two year trucking veteran, Aubrey Allen Smith fights back to expose those scams within the trucking industry . . . Agree or disagree? Here’s your chance to let your voice be heard . . . will you make the call?
Trucking Industry Controversy – Dan Rather Reports - Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 7 PM EST.
Truth About Trucking “LIVE” – ONLY ON:
© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.
: allen smith, Dan Rather, dan rather reports, Trucker Desiree, trucking industry, trucking scams, trucking talk radio, truth about trucking live
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Dan Rather Trucking Video with TruckerDesiree
Posted by Allen Smith in Videos, trucking, trucking companies, trucking show on October 24th, 2009
In every industry there are those “bad apples” that continue to bring a black eye to those who do not deserve it. The over the road trucking industry is no exception. I have made it very clear through out the years, that there are thousands of excellent, professional truck drivers and driver trainers. I have made it known that there are many excellent trucking companies who treat their drivers with the respect that they deserve, as well as many fine and reputable CDL schools across the country. However, this is not the story that needs to be told.
For years, abuse against new CDL students and new drivers have been taking place . . . abuse against veteran, experienced drivers have been taking place. Newcomers to the industry are taken advantage of through violations of their employee rights . . . drivers are attacked by companies by way of the truck driver DAC report . . . drivers are retaliated against by some trucking companies by means of getting no miles or very poor loads . . . students and experienced drivers alike have been “starved out” by many companies in order to keep the “lower pay” driver revolving through their doors . . . and the owner operator lease purchase program continues to thrive, even though the program has an 87% failure rate, designed for failure through many of the trucking companies.
These are fact. Thousands upon thousands of drivers know this. Their reasons for protecting these abuses are known only to them. When those who come out and expose these scams of trucking, they can only expect to be attacked in return. Which industry leaders really want the truth of such injustices to come out? If these scams and abuses are never confronted, nothing will ever change and drivers will continue to be taken advantage of by those trucking companies who practice such injustices.
The Dan Rather Report with TruckerDesiree had nothing to do with the good, professional men and women of trucking. It had nothing to do with the excellent driver trainers who are out there, and nothing to do with those trucking companies who conduct themselves in a respectful and professional manner. It had everything to do with the “bad apples” of the industry…..so we can make things better for all.
When we were going through a rash of pedophile school teachers sexually assaulting under-age school students . . . you did not hear an uproar from the “good” teachers crying, “These stories make all of us good school teachers look BAD!” Those professional teachers did not rise up and whine, “Why are you doing these stories? Did you ever think about how it makes us “good” teachers look?” . . . and on and on. Did the professional and respectful teachers do any of this? Of course not. They understood that the story was not about them . . . they understood the news was about the “bad apples” within their profession, and I’m sure they were more than glad to rid their vocation of such . . . it would help their profession further.
The scams of OTR trucking is not an “I” or “me” story. It’s bringing out the story of hundreds, if not thousands, of abuses that have been and still are being perpetrated upon over the road truck drivers . . . students and veterans. For those who have close ties with trucking industry leaders, of course you are going to “attack” back … it is to be expected. It does not, however, change the fact that these abuses are taking place and have been taking place for years.
Thirty two years in the trucking industry. I’ve lived it . . . I’ve seen it . . . what sets people such as myself and TruckerDesiree apart from others, is that we are not afraid to expose the truth about various aspects of the trucking industry. Exposing the scams and abuses against CDL students, new drivers and even many veteran truckers can, hopefully, bring a positive change to this vital industry.
Have a story to tell? Dan Rather Reports direct email: viewer@hd.net
It is only a shame that so many see this as an “I” and “me” story and cannot get out of the shallow tunnel vision and see the real story . . . the “bad apples” that continue to bring down the honor and respect that so many of the trucking companies, CDL Schools, professional drivers and trainers have earned and so rightly deserve.
Dan Rather Reports with TruckerDesiree:
© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.
: askthetrucker, cdl trucking school scams, Dan Rather, Dan Rather video, desiree, Scams, trucker news, TruckerDesiree, trucking, Trucking industry news
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Dan Rather Interviews TruckerDesiree-Queen of the Road
Posted by Max4health in Woman Truckers, truck driving schools, trucking, trucking show on October 20th, 2009
by Donna Smith
Tuesday October 20th at 8PM EST
Also Available on iTunes as a download: Listen from your computer
Join Dan Rather from Dan Rather Reports as he interviews our dear friend and fellow trucking advocate and activist TruckerDesiree. The theme of the show will be the inadequate CDL schools and the exploiting of new CDL drivers and trainees.
Almost 10 years ago my better half, Allen Smith ,wrote the book “The Truth About Trucking”, advising people on the correct paths to take and those avenues to avoid, specifically CDL school mills and trucking companies. The motive? To help folks achieve success within trucking and to prepare them for the lifestyle they would be facing.
Allen literally has received thousands of emails from people, but none so memorable as the one in September of 2008 from a new CDL driver who had just gone through the mill……CDL Mill if you will. The name of that Student? Desiree Wood, affectionately known today as TruckerDesiree.
Desiree had written Allen and I numerous times, asking questions about trucking ( as so many do). She had just been through some of the most difficult and stressful experiences during her CDL school training and her CDL company team driver training…and her descriptions were quite vivid and graphic! She would write us long detailed emails describing her encounters…some of them making me cringe. I finally asked her if she would like to share her experiences with our Blog readers and Newsletter subscribers. She said yes she would and thus “ A Day in the Life of a Lady Trucker” and TruckerDesiree was born, and the trucking industry would never be quite the same!
Well, it’s exactly one year today that TruckerDesiree made her debut in “AskTheTrucker” with the first post in her journal, ” A Day in the Life of a Lady Trucker”.
A lot has happened since then for Desiree; Talk Radio Shows, Trucking Magazine interviews, documentaries, spokesperson for the iPhone Trucker App, blogger, twitter queen, facebook diva, and most of all a very good friend and advocate for truckers … She’s made a lot of friends and many enemies (goes along with popularity) By far her interview with Dan Rather will be her biggest accomplishment to date, but we expect to see even more achievements in the future.
We’re so Proud of you Desiree!! You Give a new meaning to Women in Trucking
Allen & Desiree Oct 2009
@ Petro i75 in Florida
© 2009, AskTheTrucker. All rights reserved.
: a day in the life of a lady trucker, allen smith, cdl drivers, cdl training schools, Dan Rather, truck driving schools, trucker desiree dan rather video, TruckerDesiree, truckerDesiree video, trucking tv news show, women in trucking
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