Trucking Advocate and Activist Allen Smith of TruthAboutTrucking.com : Articles Current News and Information for CDL Truck Drivers and Truck Driving Students…"Raising the Standards of the Trucking Industry"
The U. S. trucking industry has seen a serious rise of cargo theft over the past few years and the problem is growing rapidly. So much in fact, that stealing truck freight is becoming the“signature crime of the early 21st century.”
The September, 2010 issue of Truckers News Magazine has taken an in-depth investigation into the growing and dangerous problem. On September 1st, 2010 Truth About Trucking “LIVE” talk radio discussed, not only the problem . . . but the solutions to this ever-growing crime.
Our special guests were:
Todd Dills, Senior Editor for Overdrive and Truckers News magazines
For many CDL students and new drivers, owning your own truck and becoming an owner operator is a dream. Running your own business and placing yourself in charge of your financial future is the ultimate goal for many newcomers to the trucking industry. As tough as OTR trucking can be, there are still those owner operators and independent contractors who are successful in this business. Understanding the keys to running a business will most likely always be the number one advice you will receive from a successful truck owner operator.
I have often discussed the cons of going through one of the trucking company lease-purchase programs. Thousands of truckers have fallen prey to these scams, and many are participating in our on-going survey about this huge scam in the trucking industry. You can check out the most recent data here . . .
When I started Truth About Trucking, LLC, it was not meant to be just another trucking website, blog or forum which pours out meaningless content or discussing the same topics that everyone else was discussing. The purpose was to actually be active, get others active and work together to bring change to an industry that often abuses drivers. Futhermore, our goals include to perform real and viable research into the industry and share with all interested parties, those factors that will improve the quality of life for truck drivers and those issues that can help lead to success.
We have accomplished this on several occasions by informing CDL students about excellent truck driver training schools such as:
We have helped out-of-work truck drivers find work . . . by informing about Trucking Careers of America . . .
We are gaining ground on our fight to Stop False DAC Reporting against our truckers. ( Update coming . . . )
We are giving truckers a voice to be heard, through our Blog Talk Radio program . . .
When we first launched the original Truth About Trucking across the world wide web . . . it was not about us . . . it was and is . . . all about helping those who wanted or needed help. Exposing the scam of the trucking company owner-operator lease programs, was high on my priority. My research has led to a greater alternative . . .
Lone Mountain Truck Lease
Lone Mountain Truck Leasing is based out of Pacific Junction, Iowa and offers one of the best truck leasing programs in the industry. There are no extra fees or hidden charges and there is no huge balloon payment at the end of the lease. They will assist in finding you the needed financing and with your down payment, you just make the monthly payments and when the final payment is made . . . you get the title to the truck. It really is that simple.
One of the biggest problem drivers face when entering a lease purchase program through a trucking company, is they are not able to take the truck with them if they choose to leave the company. So is the truck really theirs? Lone Mountain Truck Leasing offers affordable truck leasing for the wanna’ be owner operator. I receive many requests from individuals and companies for endorsement purposes. They find that I do not simply jump on board with anyone.
I research . . . I study . . . I investigate . . . after all, we are recognized as the “truth” about trucking. Only those programs I find to be honest and reputable will be made known publicly through our site(s). Lone Mountain Truck Leasing is one I highly recommend. Check out their truck leasing program . . . and get started in the best way to becoming your own boss in the trucking industry.
Listen to our recent talk show: The Owner Operator Spirit
The Obama administration“will hire 100 more enforcement personnel and the IRS has begun auditing 6,000 companies” in order to crack down on the misrepresentation of truck owner operators as true independent workers. As reported by Today’s Trucking, “The Labor Department estimates that up to 30 percent of companies misclassify employees, many of which are in the trucking (industry).”
The argument states that “In many of these cases, companies treat independent contractors the same as payroll employees, who perform many of the same functions. Both types of workers are frequently given similar instructions and duties and have access to the same equipment and facilities. Companies that pass off employees as independent contractors may do so to avoid paying Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance taxes. The attention federal and state officials are now paying to the issue is significant on another front, as it could bolster unions that are attempting to collectively bargain for owner-operators contracted to for-hire fleets.”
According to a report today from the N.Y. Times, President Obama’s 2010 budget estimates that such measures would yield at least $7 billion over 10 years.
Sounds like another attempt for the administration to bring in more cash, off the backs of our owner operators.
As summer gets closer, the Federal Energy Information Administration is forecasting that price of gasoline and diesel fuel will increase slightly, but still remain much lower than seen in the previous year.
Nationwide, gasoline this summer is predicted to average $2.23 a gallon compared to $3.81 last summer. Diesel fuel is expected to average $2.27 a gallon compared to $4.37 a gallon last summer, nationally. According to authorities, there has been less demand for all refined products, due to the recession. They also noted that they are seeing a slight increase in demand for gasoline, indicating consumers are driving more as prices have moved lower.
In other recession news, trucking firm, USA Truck Inc., have reduced employment and other operating expenses. USA Truck showed a first-quarter net income loss of $1.88 million, according to their statement released on April 16th, 2009.
If you’re considering becoming an owner operator, obviously the most important decision you will make is in the purchase of the truck. Many drivers will look for that truck with all the shiny chrome and “toys” that come with it … and that’s fine, as long as they know they can move the freight they need in order to make the payments.
However, always keep in mind that when entering into trucking as an owner operator, you must face the situation as a real and viable business venture. There are many good, used semi trucks that one can purchase for around the $15,000 mark, that will get the job done.
Here’s a great post by Trucker Jim giving valuable insight into what you need to know when buying a used semi truck ….
Residents of Greenwich, Connecticut continue their fight to prevent truckers from parking along I-95 and other various places. Weeks after the state DOT placed 26 signs along a 1.5 mile-long stretch of I-95 from the New York state line to just south of exit 3, there have been fewer trucks parked along that stretch of the interstate.
Largely due to the effort of one local area man, truck drivers, once again, are faced with meeting deadlines as well as meeting Federal standards when it comes to trucking regulations. Mike Riley, president of the Connecticut Motor Transport Association Inc., a Hartford group that represents 1,000 commercial vehicle firms that carry freight in and through Connecticut, said more rest area space is needed statewide to solve the problem.
“Frankly truckers are not welcome in Greenwich. They [Greenwich residents] want their arugula delivered but they don’t want to see the vehicles that deliver it,” he said.
Are you wanting to become a truck owner operator and considering the trucking companies lease purchase program? Have you been told you can make $100,000 plus per year as an owner operator? No credit check, no money down, own your own truck through one of the trucking lease purchase programs?
Monday, April 13th, 2009 – 7:30 PM Eastern Standard Time – Truth About Trucking “LIVE” talk radio looks at these lease purchase programs and explains the facts about truck ownership through lease purchase and wants you to fully understand the Federal Truth in Leasing Law.
Join Allen for this important discussion and call in and join the conversation.
Update: 4-13-09 @ 21:54 hours : Had a great show about these lease purchase programs this evening. appreciate all the callers and chatters. If you missed the live show, we have posted it here for you to listen to at your leisure ….
Most professional truck drivers contend that in many areas, finding a safe and secure place to park the big rig is a big problem. The general motorist population can see it to, by the dozens of trucks parked along the road ways stretching out from many rest areas, to the 18 wheelers sneaking in on commercial retail lots.
Why then, would NATSO and various organizations disagree? NATSO performed an independent study and concluded that there is plenty of parking spaces available, and provided this information to the appropriate Governmental bodies. The study was conducted by counting the number of empty parking spaces, taking into account the number of trucks on the road and then divided by the number of days in a week. This is where the problem comes in.
When there was talk about building more rest areas, NATSO lobbied hard against the proposal, eventually providing the results from their independent study. However, the study had two major flaws:
At what time of the day were the parking spaces counted? 5-8 PM or 10 AM?
They included Saturday and Sunday in the week division – the two days when parking is at its least capacity
The study should have counted the spaces during the heaviest times for parking and then, only divided by 5 – Monday through Friday – the heaviest days for traffic. By figuring in Saturday and Sunday, the parking space average would drop drastically. There would be a big difference in the number of trucks parked at 10 PM compared to the numbers parked at 10 AM. Another factor that would drop the average way down.
Naturally, NATSO does not want truckers parking at rest areas. They want the drivers at their truck stops spending money. Although I do believe economic times for state government is now playing a role in the proposed shut downs for rest areas, it would also force truck drivers into the truck stops, one way or the other, and consumer spending could get rolling more.
The NATSO independent study was easily manipulated by the two factors above, in order to produce the required result: “there is plenty of parking spaces available at truck stops for our drivers” – which many of us know, is just not the truth.
\”Allen Smith-Rob Canyon Audio\”
We are happy to announce the 2 CD set Audio CD’s are available. There has been an overwhelming request for these and we’re glad to finally have them here for you. The CD’s can be played and listened to at your leisure. We do strongly suggest however that you read the book ( which comes with them) because there are many links to various trucking companies and schools as well as other important references and resources that you may need. The CD’s and the book work together so you can get the most out of the information we supply for you. Also included with the CD’s are 6 Bonus Reports which will be beneficial to everyone in trucking, including truck driving students who are investigating the thousands of CDL truck driving schools across the country. We believe you are going to be very pleased, to say the least.
There is so much more that needs to be done. Our book, bonuses, and audios are just the “tip of the iceburg.” We believe that if we all stand together, the scams within the industry will be abolished. The trucking industry, including the schools and companies, will be held to the highest level of integrity, treating their drivers with respect and giving them the recognition they deserve.
Equally important, truck driving schools/ cdl training facilities will have one main priority: Teaching students how to drive safely and thoroughly. One day the CDL mills will be replaced with the finest training sites available.
All this can be achieved if enough people join the cause. It only happens though when enough people are enlightened to the truth behind the scenes. Sadly, too many drivers discover the truth after they have been tested and tried for many years. Many times they become bitter, angry, and just give up on the industry, not believing that their voice will change anything. They are wrong…. It can….and it will.
Soon we will have our first BLogTalk Radio show. We plan to have guests on the show who can help aid in our cause and to offer information of importance to everyone. We would like it to be a gathering where truckers and students can feel confident that the information they hear is that of credibility and authority and can be trusted whole heartedly.
Another goal we would like to achieve is to create an extensive list of truck driving schools throughout the country which can be given the”stamp of approval” so to speak. This will not be an easy task however as a fair amount of research would need to be done before just “any” school would be recommended to our clients. Right now there are many reputable schools scattered throughout the US and Canada, offering quality training at affordable prices. Unfortunatley the schools with less than adequate training have made it difficult for many of these worthy trucking schools to be recognized as the excellent training facilities which they are. Locating and reporting ALL of them will be quite a challenge.
To sum it all up, we would like to change the standards within the trucking industry. We believe students should not have to worry about being scammed or ripped off from a school that they just paid thousands of dollars to for their training. We believe that truck drivers should not have to worry about being taken advantage of or lied to regarding the promises that were made to them when they were hired. We believe this can and will be changed. We believe you can help. By voicing your opinions and experiences here and to all the other trucking blogs and forums, you will be creating a viral voice for all truck drivers and truck driving students everywhere.
Glad to see that a few of you have joined Twitter and are following us. Start writing your own posts too and get involved.
Finally, hope you enjoy the interview in the beginning of the post. Allen was indeed honored to be chosen for this.
Thanks to everyone for their continued support and we wish you the best in trucking and your life.
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ear as an owner operator? No credit check, no money down, own your own truck through one of the trucking lease purchase programs?
