Over at Indianapolis’ Examiner.com, there’s an interesting read by Timothy Irby in an article entitled, “Are Trucking Transportation Brokers Breaking Owner Operators?” Seems Mr. Irby went out into the real world to check into rumors of an increasing freight business.
He found that rumor to be true – there is more business, but it’s what he’s calling “cheap freight” since payment for services isn’t keeping up.
In his interviews with owner operators, he found out some interesting information, too: they’re telling him that brokers are overcharging them for loads — bringing down their take-home income to a point that they can’t make their needed expenses for fuel, truck loan payments, and costs of upkeep.
Someone Needs to Wake Up Here – These Truckers Need to be Protected
It’s part of the American dream to be your own man (or woman), owning your own business, going your own way. For many folk, driving a semi along U.S. trade routes, picking up and delivering product for a profit, fits the bill. Independent owner-operators of big rig trucks are a vital component of our society today.
However, they aren’t as easy to control with things like driving past the legal hours of service (HOS) limits as drivers that work for The Man. It’s no surprise that the independents are being bullied yet again.
For powerhouse trucking companies, a perfect world wouldn’t have these pesky independent truckers anywhere but in the history books.
Something needs to be done. And thanks to people like Timothy Irby, hopefully someone with the power to stop this … well … WILL.
