Comments By Karl A.

Have you ever wondered why the CPI, GDP and employment numbers run counter to your personal and business experiences? The problem lies in biased and often-manipulated government reporting.

So the entire website is dedicated to digging up the truth in all of the Government's economic statistics. For instance, look at the chart that shows what the unemployment statistics would be based upon different ways of collecting and analyzing data:

Unemployment Statistics Based Upon Different Reporting Criteria.

Anyone who's ever taken a basic Statistics class knows that data can be manipulated. The unemployment rate is a tool for politicians and is not a true picture of what is going on in the real world. The unemployment rate doesn't tell you of those who no longer qualify for unemployment benefits but are either still unemployed or under employed.

I could not agree more.. This site though I knew about before Brett mentioned.. This guy is famous for using large amounts of data to show what the government is hiding or manipulating.. Good site if your into that stuff

Well I just dotted the "i's" and crossed the "t's" .. I am leaving for school next weekend for a few weeks (company training) then I go on with a trainer for a little over a month.. Got my Dot medical card, cdl permit, bags already packed haha.. So yeah anyways I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that has been helping me along the way it has been very much appreciated.. O BRETT I would not have passed my cdl permit without this site!! Thank you for setting this thing up and maintaining it with your time..

The reason unions worked so well back in my grandfathers day was because that generation was steadfastly united on many issues. The governments and corporations were checked by a generation of united men. We have not been united on anything since the late 80's. The only thing America almost universally agreed upon then was keeping communism checked. You could see the unraveling of our united front everywhere else though. I am not pessimistic about our future though, I am a glass is half full type of man.

I consider myself optimistic as well but I am also a realist.. I agree with your perspective on unions since the 1980s.. I also think some of the corporation are as powerful as small nations.. Whose to stop one from accumulating a fortune and leaving with all the money? Unions are needed to spread the wealth.. Why do you think less people stand together these days?

We are in a depression, you said it yourself, government assistance is more abundant than back in the 30's. There would be massive soup lines if it was not for food stamps, corporate welfare, and the biggest one, social security/medicare. I get red flags from prophets Brett. Know one can or ever has predicted the future. Sure some get lucky. I am keenly aware of the rise and fall of empires and I know America is a empire. Know one can say for sure if, when or how America may decline. I too show a strong affinity for the WWII generation. I was lucky to be heavily influenced by them.

American empire is in it's decline.. Historically a country remains on top for a 100 years in modern times.. 1700s England,1800s France, 1900s USA, 2000s China.. The boom of the Indian and Chinese economies is moving the wealth of the world from America and Europe to the far east.. This isn't predicting the future this is fact.. The good thing about truth is you don't have to believe it or know it for it to be true.. It just is

I am starting to feel like unions are needed right now to help fight against income inequality.. Even though there are possible negatives that might effect me in a negative light at least IM finding an organization that can fight for seekers rights.. Look at the fast food industry or the people protesting outside the Walton family members flat.. If they had representation it would slow the growth of these godlike corporations until one of these super pacs can limit money in politics..

Unions Bad.

I hate their rules and regulations they create for a job. They are as bad as our federal government.

Union members do not think for themselves, "whatever the union decides on I will do".

Worked over a year in a union environment, just was not a member myself. Thank God I live in Texas.

What made you feel that unions are bad? I can think of a ton of people whom are not union members and have an inability to think for themselves hahaha... Sooo yeah not defending unions just pointing that out.. What were the issues you had being around a union environment for a year?

Woody I have to say representation of the middle class (which is being destroyed) is at an all time high in my lifetime for sure... I agree with that perspective... I also agree with your POV on the income inequality.. How long have you been a union member Woody? How much did you know about unions before you joined one and what are the downsides you could admit to being that you are a union member?

Ive been a teamster for six months so I keep my eyes and ears open everyday to learn about whats going on..

My previous experience with unions was not great. I had been involved with two others. One when i was young and already had my job in construction. Due to working on some union projects i was forced to join. While i wont go into details it ended up with the union BA and I standing toe to toe ready to throw down when my boss kicked me off the job site. My boss had no issue with me or what i was saying but he had to cool things down and it had no effect on my job going forward. The other was a manufacturing job where the employees had the option of joining or not joining the union. I would have to write a book to cover all the issues with this setup.

I have no issue talking about the downsides of a union. There is good and bad, in a good union the plusses far outweighs the minusses. In a poor union you get little value for your investment. Unions go by seniority so workjng your way up can be harder. As guy mentioned to get a premium run in a union shop you have to have your time in. That being said i got a bid run after being in my company for 3 weeks. This does NOT normally happen and i expect to run the extra board after the next bid which i wont mind. When things are slow the senior drivers will be dispatched before lower drivers which i dont have a problem with. There are safeguards in place to make sure junior members still get out and we have plenty of freight.

Being in a union does not mean we get everything we want or get a say in EVERYTHING that goes on. Guyjax saying they all voted to let other trucks pull the freight is wrong. Thats like saying because you voted for a congressman you have agreed to everything congress does. ABF says that the extra board must be exausted before shiny wheels pull yhe freight. YRC says that if based on a 4 week average one of our drivers loses money and was available when hired transportation moved our trailers we get paid for the discrepancy. This does not mean it never happens it just means it has to be caught and a greivence filed agaisnt the company.

While its true a union may make it harder to fire an unmotivated worker it does not totally protect them, which it shouldnt. That still can be a frustration when you see someone that may not have your work ethic.

Vacation time scheduling also goes by seniority so that can be a minus, but again i do not have a problem with it. To me its a form of respect. All of my paid holidays, which includes my birthday, my benefits, my sick days, my pay rate, and the backing i have if i have an issue with my company i have because of the union and the workers that fought for those things before me. So i have no issue giving senior workers their fair place in line.

At first the biggest issue most people would have is with that seniority. But once your time is in its also one of the best advantages. There is a strange thing happening right now in union companies or at least in mine. Just a short time ago i would have had to have at least two years experience to even have a chancd to get hired. But because of so many people retiring and the company regaining freight after the merger they are hurting for drivers. This gives an opportunity to get i. Sooner and move up faster.

I try not to be union biased on these boards. But i also know that I'm 45 and have the best job of my life because of a union. Our middle class is taking it up the keister and people need to stand together even if they are not in a union. We are in an industry that is vital to our country, extremely dangerous, and workers give up time with family and friends to do this job. Yet the pay is way to low for most considering what they do and whag it costs to live on the road. I wish i had a simple answer but there isnt one.

Woody

Thanks Woody for the insight, I am curious about something... I met a guy who was hauling a crane that was attached to his tractor.. He told me that once he had his cdl he had joined a union and the union paid for his training to become a crane operator.. Does a union typically train people in this manor.. Also what do you call individual unions , uhm "locals" right? I had this idea after talking to this crane guy to contact the local in my area, which happens to be a teamster i believe.. I couldn't find any numbers I could reach anyone and no one returns messages.. I wanted to ask if they would do this crane thing I am interested in and I would be wanting to do this in a year or two, so I wanted to understand what I would need then so I can be prepared to apply... suggestions?

Woody I have to say representation of the middle class (which is being destroyed) is at an all time high in my lifetime for sure... I agree with that perspective... I also agree with your POV on the income inequality.. How long have you been a union member Woody? How much did you know about unions before you joined one and what are the downsides you could admit to being that you are a union member?

Hahaha Guyjax you had me cracking up.. Didnt know you were so passionate about unions lol.. Hey Brett as in regards to the decline of the American economy, I am sure you have heard all the rumors about china saying it was going to go onto a gold standard... That the B.R.I.C.S. (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) economic union has been rumored to be having talks of all going to a Gold standard to destroy the American economy, If that happens how far we fall wont matter bc any answer to that question would be a disaster.. Now i doubt that will happen but its a possibility.. Also in regard to the comeback of the unions due to economic inequality, I personally feel the corporation and the the upper elite of rich are to powerful from profits to let that happen.. I mean all they would have to do is start passing legislation and paying people to pass it to destroy unions.. If that didnt work there is always illegal activity the could finance.. So in that regard I have always grown up in the south understanding unions were a thing of the past and dying out, only to be left in parts of the country where they grew out from and are a part of the culture.. I have always wondered why people abide by strict rules and pay someone to work somewhere, always wondered what the perks were..

I don't know much about this subject honestly. But Guyjax is the go-to guy for information regarding unions. Let's hope he sees this!

:) lets hope, I know he has been around trucking for awhile