Posts Tagged truth about trucking

Truck Driver Training Solutions

Posted by Allen Smith in Safety, Talk Radio Show, trucking on December 4th, 2009

Donna hosted this evening’s Truth About Trucking “LIVE” talk show on Blog Talk Radio with special guest, TruckerDesiree, focusing on solutions for the problems in truck driver training. Second guest, Tom Hanson did not make it, but the one and a half hour show brought in many listeners and finally addressed solving the problems within the trucking industry.

To date, Truth About Trucking “LIVE” has regular listeners in seven countries and brings in 100,000 plus listeners, once placed through out the world wide web.

If you missed the “live” show, you can catch it here:

: solutions, talk radio, truck driver training, TruckerDesiree, trucking industry, truth about trucking

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Health Care Reform for Truck Drivers

Posted by Allen Smith in Talk Radio Show, Truckers Health on September 24th, 2009

With premium costs spiraling upwards and no end in sight, health care is a big concern for truckers and the trucking industry as well. Join hosts Allen Smith and Barry Szczucki, with special guest Mike Johnston scheduled, for an in-depth look into possible solutions to reforming health care. Even company provided health care coverage is seeing increases as high as three to four times the premiums from a year ago.

Trucking talk radio show, Truth About Trucking “LIVE” on Blog Talk Radio, will air Health Care Reform for the Trucking Industry, Thursday, October 1st, 2009 at 3 PM EST.

Come join the conversation . . .

Allen

If you are in need of affordable and guaranteed health care coverage . . . you owe it to yourself to check out Access Health Care. Top rated company that provides affordable health coverage for as little as $99 per month for single, and $249 per month for family! Check it out for yourself, and be sure to join us on our next show.

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NAFTA Could Cost Drivers Two Million More Jobs

Posted by Allen Smith in Politics, Talk Radio Show, otr trucking, trucking on September 22nd, 2009

Opening Mexico’s border under the NAFTA agreement could cost professional truck drivers in the U. S. as many as two million jobs. With an estimated four million active U. S. truck drivers, that would equal cutting half of the work force. With an industry that already uses new student and CDL drivers for cheap labor to haul the cheap freight, should the Mexican border be opened completely would be devastating to the United States truckers’ vocation.

Listen to Truth About Trucking “LIVE” talk radio show which recently discussed this important issue:

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Trucking Lease Scam Perfect for DAC Lies

Posted by Allen Smith in Truck Driving Jobs, otr trucking, trucking, trucking companies on August 11th, 2009

The trucking company owner operator lease-purchase scam. I’ve talked about it … I’ve written about it … I’ve done talk shows about it. Truth About Trucking was established with one goal in mind: to provide the answers to the insider secrets of the trucking industry for new CDL students and drivers. All those things that every veteran driver knows about, but, for whatever reason, few would discuss. Four years ago, we changed all that.

Suddenly, there was someone actually talking about the scams of OTR trucking. Scams, that every newcomer to the industry should be aware of, in order to know exactly what they are getting into when it comes to long haul trucking. Furthermore, by understanding and realizing the Truth About OTR Trucking . . . they would be better prepared to face those situations head-on and know what is to be expected of them in order to survive and make it in the OTR trucking game.

Being available through email, phone and from our Truth About Trucking “LIVE” talk radio show, I have received thousands of questions from students and new drivers. It is the best part about being involved with an informative on-line format. Still, I find that trucking companies continue to prey on drivers’ hopes and dreams and wanted to reiterate in this post about one of the BIGGEST scams in the trucking industry: the Owner Operator Truck Leasing Program.

Here is a comment that was just made from our online petition to stop false DAC reporting:

“I RECENTLY SIGNED A TRUCK LEASE WITH A COMPANY CALLED XXXXX , THE TRUCK PAYMENTS WERE OVER $1000.00 PER WK. BUT I WAS TOLD MY TRUCK WOULD BRING IN OVER 4500 PER WK AVERAGE. THIS NEVER HAPPENED, SO AFTER STARVING FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND LISTENING TO THEIR BULL, I FINALLY TURNED IN THE TRUCK. BUT NOW MY DAC REPORT IS NEGATIVE.”

For all of you new CDL students and new drivers trying to break into the industry, be very leery of these trucking company lease purchase plans. This is a big money maker for these companies and the chances of you succeeding with one of these plans is highly unlikely. I know that many of you would really like to be an owner operator and these purchase plans are so enticing, but the best way to be an O/O is to drive several years, save up the down payment and purchase the truck on your own from a reputable dealer . . . NOT A TRUCKING COMPANY. The only exception to this “rule” is obviously, if you have worked for a company for a good length of time and know for certain that they are a good, reputable company and one you can trust. Until you have some serious background experience with them, stay away from leases!

One of our highest rated shows on Truth About Trucking “LIVE” was about this very subject. I would urge you to give it a listen if you missed it:

Remember . . . there are many fine trucking companies out there to work for, but you will have to build up between one to three years of driving experience before you will be considered for hire. There are also very good companies that offer CDL training other than those we all hear and know about. Keep in mind, with the current state of the economy, companies such as these may not be accepting new students right now.

The point here, is that OTR trucking does work for many drivers . . . but a successful career in trucking does not happen overnight. It can, literally, take several years. Understand the scams that exist within OTR truck driving and know what to be suspicious of when it comes to this industry. One of those things is the Lease Purchase Plan. Not only will they use it to rake in more of your hard earned money, but when you cannot hang on any longer . . . they will turn around and place a negative report on your DAC, hitting you twice and very possibly ruining your truck driving career.

I’ll say it again . . . Until you have worked for a company long enough to know that they are a good and honest employer . . . then . . . Stay away from trucking company leases!

To your success in trucking,

Allen Smith

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Petition to Stop False DAC Reporting

Posted by Allen Smith in Politics, trucking, trucking companies on July 2nd, 2009

We are preparing to submit a letter of proposal to the appropriate Senator(s) and Representatives of Congress concerning the false reports and accusations being placed on truck drivers’ DAC reports by the trucking companies who abuse this service.

The DAC Report has long been an avenue in which many trucking companies utilize in order to falsely accuse a driver for incidents or acts that never occurred. Countless professional drivers have experienced their careers ruined by the abusive system, even though the agency is regulated by The Fair Credit Reporting Act.

We are needing your help to assist in stopping false claims upon drivers and the change needed in order to bring about fair and justified reporting services as described per Federal law. We are asking for your signature to our petition to stop false DAC reporting.

Your signature is greatly appreciated and any comments you would like to add, will only strengthen our cause when the proposal is submitted.

Thanks for your support . . . together, we can STOP the abuse of false accusations on the truck drivers’ DAC.

Forms to receive your DAC report and to report a false claim . . .

Allen Smith

Truth About Trucking, LLC

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Trucking Advocates Discuss Workplace Harassment

Posted by Allen Smith in Safety, Talk Radio Show, trucking on June 24th, 2009

Workplace harassment With the recent news touching on bullying and harassment within the workplace, trucking talk radio – Truth About Trucking “LIVE” aired a 2 hour show last evening discussing these very issues. Guests were JB Shaffner, Desiree Wood, Damien and special guest Yancy Thomas.

Bringing in a record listening audience, the show proved to be an eye opener for many as the purpose was to discuss these issues within the trucking industry, as well as to find solutions for the problem.

Bullying and harassment within the workplace has become a very serious issue and we will continue to broadcast future shows in order to help bring this matter out more into the main stream media.

The next show: Dealing with Workplace Harassment - will air live on Monday, June 29th, 2009 at 7 PM EST.

What can you do if ever faced with an abusive situation at your workplace? What steps can you take to protect your rights as an employee and to insure that the correct procedures are followed so action is taken against the abuser? Just because trucking is far different than the average workplace, you still have rights and you do not have to accept any abuse or harassment by the trucking company, trainer or anyone else within the industry. How to deal with workplace harassment … Allen continues the discussion …

: bullying, dealing with harassment, harassment, industry, solutions, talk radio, trucking, truth about trucking, workplace

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Bullying in the Workplace

Posted by Allen Smith in Safety, Talk Radio Show, trucking, trucking companies on June 13th, 2009

Bullying in Trucking As elementary as it may seem, intimidation by the workplace bully has actually become a silent epidemic . . . not only in this country, but worldwide. A recent study on bullying in the workplace, showed that 37% of the population is or has experienced being bullied while performing their job duties. It is believed that many cases go unreported, and worse yet, many companies do nothing about it once reported.

Often told to “just gut up and handle it” – bullying has become so overwhelming for some, that in recent years a new term has been coined: bullycide. In recent years, kids as young as 13, as well as adults, have taken their own lives due to the cowardly acts of these still-existent bullies. The trucking industry is no exception.

Many CDL students and specifically, female drivers are finding themselves being “bullied” by some driver trainers. Many of these trainers are known convicted felons, still hired by the trucking company. With the lack of professional women trainers, female students are placed in a truck with a male trainer and are finding themselves harassed, assaulted and even raped. Many male students are being “thrown out” of the truck in the middle of nowhere by these bully trainers and left stranded . . . yet, the trucking company will terminate the student, and do nothing in response to the trainer’s actions.

Even when an act as violent as rape has occurred, the situation is turned around in order to place the fault upon the female driver. When one female driver was recently raped by one of the felon trainers, the trucking company simply asked her, “Well, did you keep your curtain closed?” This driver was terminated from her job and the felon male driver trainer remained with the company, receiving no repercussion of any kind. There are hundreds of cases like this one playing out within the trucking industry today, yet, they remain to be reported by the main news media.

Most trucking companies and driver trainers are professional and respectful individuals. Still, there are a handful of trucking companies who continue to hire known felons and place them in a position as a driver trainer, and simply turn the other way when acts of bullying and violent crimes take place . . . punishing only the victim. We are taking a stance to reporting this type of behavior and to push it out into the main stream media in order to let it be known. It has got to STOP!

There is a massive difference between bullying and rape. Recently, one trucking company received 265 complaints by female drivers and very little was done. Now facing 35 counts of sexual harassment, the other 230 reports were “thrown out” by the courts because they were not filed within the 45 day reporting deadline. Another tactic used by these trucking companies that allow these acts to take place.

Truth About Trucking “LIVE” will begin bringing this epidemic to light on Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 at 7:30 PM EST. Host Allen Smith, will present a one hour commentary on the trucking talk radio show, setting the stage for the main broadcast which will be on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 at 7:30 PM EST. With a special guest panel, the 2 hour show will reveal the truth behind the bullying and violent assaults that many CDL students and new drivers are facing within the trucking industry. Future shows will be slated, as we continue to push forward in order to stop these acts from occurring, and to demand that the trucking companies who knowingly allow these acts to continue, STOP!

Solutions to the problem will be a major focus for the show. It’s time to report these acts of violence and let it be known that the correct measures must be put in place to prevent them from happening.

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 – 7:30 PM EST - Bullying in the Workplace

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 - 7:30 PM EST – Hostile Training and Work Environments within Trucking

Join us as we report on Truth About Trucking “LIVE”

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Student Truck Drivers Often Face Hostility and Abuse

Posted by Allen Smith in Safety, Talk Radio Show, Woman Truckers, otr trucking, trucking, trucking companies on June 8th, 2009

Harassment, verbal and physical abuse, sexual assault and even rape is being reported within the trucking industry on student drivers by their driver trainers. Though most driver trainers are highly professional and respectful to their student trainees, there are those who are committing these acts of violent crime. The trucking companies who employ these known felons, (and all of us veteran drivers know who these companies are), simply look the other way and usually end up terminating the student, taking no action against the criminal trainer.

Unlawful harassment is a form of discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other federal authority. Any employee wishing to initiate an EEO complaint arising out of the alleged incident of harassment must contact an FCC EEO Counselor or other EEO official within 45 calendar days of the date of the incident. The employee should not wait until the trucking company’s internal harassment inquiry is completed to contact a counselor if waiting will allow the 45-day time limit to expire. Thus the reason many complaints fail to ever get resolved.

Furthermore, as a student or newcomer to trucking, needing a job and a paycheck . . . many reports go unreported because of fear of losing that job that is needed so badly. Therefore, these criminal driver trainers continue with their crimes as some of the trucking companies keep looking the other way. Many also, fear being ridiculed and made out to be the culprit instead of the victim . . . all thanks to savvy attorneys who will turn around and “attack” the victim of the crime.

Recently, more and more female drivers are banding together and filing lawsuits against these trucking companies who did nothing when the crimes were reported. There would have been many more, if they had not let the 45 day limit to pass, unknowingly. Let’s be clear . . . most trucking companies do not tolerate any type of employee harassment and will take the proper actions required. However, there are a handful of companies that allow this type of activity to continue and a few of them are now being taken to court. I hope the driver trainers who committed these crimes are brought to justice as well. I can only wish they spend many years in prison.

Trucking talk radio, Truth About Trucking “LIVE” will be confronting this issue in its upcoming broadcast on Monday, June 15th, 2009 and Tuesday , June 23rd, 2009. Not only will we be discussing these crimes taking place within the trucking industry, but we will have several special guests appearing on the June 21st show to further discuss why these crimes take place, how they occur and most importantly, finding solutions to resolve them.

This behavior by some driver trainers and the trucking companies that keep them employed, is nothing new. The problem is that this “little secret” has been swept under the rug for many years. It simply has not or does not get reported. We are going to change that.

Mark your calendars for Monday, 6-15-09 for: Bullying in the Workplace – Part 1 for 7:30 PM EST and Hostile Training and Work Environments within Trucking for Tuesday, 6-23-09 for 7:30 PM EST.

It’s time to lift the rug and report these crimes being committed by these driver trainers and the trucking companies who allow them to continue.

Only on:

: bullying, crimes, driver trainers, female drivers, harassment, hostile training, student, student truck drivers, talk radio, truck drivers, trucking, trucking companies, trucking industry, truth about trucking, work environments

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Take the “Truth About Trucking” Survey

Posted by Allen Smith in trucking on May 27th, 2009

With so many issues within the trucking industry today, here at Truth About Trucking, we are working on ways to better
assist students, new drivers and all drivers in general. For that, we would like to ask for your help by participating
in our “Truck Driver and Student” Survey.

The best way for us to know what you need and want in order to help you better, is to take 5 minutes and complete this
very short, 20 question survey. We will also send you a free, downloadable gift just for taking the time to do so:

Thanks for helping: Truth About Trucking Survey
Allen

: drivers, students, survey, truck driver, trucking, truth about trucking

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Jason’s Law – H.R. 2156

Posted by Allen Smith in Politics, Safety, trucking on May 10th, 2009

Truth About Trucking “LIVE”, internet talk radio program, will be discussing Bill H.R. 2156, best known as Jason’s Law, on Sunday, May 17th, 2009 at 4 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Show Description:

Jason’s Law, otherwise known as Bill H.R. 2156, was introduced on April 28th, 2009 and has been referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The Bill, named after truck driver, Jason Rivenburg of Fultonham, NY, who was found shot to death in his truck, would implement a pilot program to establish safe truck parking facilities. We will discuss this Bill in depth and propose what you can do to help its passing.

Sunday, May 17th, 2009 at 4 PM EST : JASON’S LAW – H.R. 2156 – Come join the conversation and let’s fight together for this very important bill.

Send this letter of support to your State Representative . . .

Send this letter of support to your State Senator . . .

FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE. . .

FIND YOUR SENATOR . . .

Allen Smith

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