And now I finally know what this whole trucker's strike is all about. Nice, neat package. Thank you Alison

The truckers certainly are caught in the ever tightening vice of world trade where those dependant on work for wages and debt recovery are pitted each against the other.

However, the most sickening aspect of this is that the so-called middlemen or brokers (classic free-enterprisers), are free to use and abuse them at will.

These brokers have virtually nothing invested but their time and willingness to squeeze the truckers until they bleed.

I'm sure they blame the ever tightening international pressure to reduce costs on the shippers and manufacturers, but seem to have little or no concerns that they too are screwing the drivers simply because they can.

I am not surprised at all that Walmart is among those shippers who have filed lawsuits.

This is the same company that brought downward wage pressure to the fore in North America as a means of increasing it's own profits at the expense of the economy.

The truckers themselves also carry much of the blame, at least until recently as they had willingly in many cases agreed to cut their own rates in order to screw their fellow owner operators.

That they are now working together does suggest hope. I do find it somewhat delicious that they have been able to get Ottawa to drop the anti-combines laws for a period, something
workers who own and operate their machines have been unable to do thanks to industry lobbying for years.

Frankly, they ought to have been pushing for labour code changes long ago to reflect the reality that they really are dependent-contractors, a realty that even company lawyer Richard Longpre no doubt dealt with when he too was a labour mediator in an earlier manifestation fo the BC Labour Relations Board.

Remember that term because it best reflects what they drivers are, dependants or, if you will, free-to starvers if they say no.

A very informative article.
I can't imagine many people siding with the brokers on this.
The truckers are at the mercy of a system that
can and does abuse them. I am surprised lawmakers haven't addressed these problems already with legislation protecting both truckers' and brokers' rights.

OFF TOPIC: MARC EMERY ARREST:
I am in shock over Emery's arrest yesterday in Halifax, not for breaching Canadian drug laws, but for allegedly breaking US drug laws by selling pot seeds mail order to US customers.
The U.S. D.E.A. approached the Vancouver Police Dept. over a year ago about Emery. I can't belive the VPD would cooperate with the DEA on this. It's frightening that our police would
invite the DEA to reach across the border to inflict draconian US drug laws on Canadians!
If extradited, Emery will face a possible LIFE
SENTENCE!
It's apparent to me that it is the Vancouver Police who are now thumbing their noses at the Canadian judicial system (something Emery has often been accused of). The Vanc. police do not like the fact that our lawmakers and judges view marijuana in a more tolerant way than the police would like (especially on pot growing). They've tried nailing Emery and his business a couple of times before with raids, confiscations, arrests. Our judicial system has ended up tolerating Emery. Apparently, this drives our top cops to distraction. so they welcomed the chance to partner with the DEA so they could do an end run around a Cdn. system they view as "too soft" on drugs, grow ops particularly.
The U.S. practises "rendition", sending Islamist militant suspects to countries that practise torture, for interrogation.
The Vancouver police (with RCMP help) is now hoping to do something similar to punish Emery:
Extradition/rendition to the US where he's likely to be punished severely with a sentence way off the scale by Cdn. standards. Life in prison for pot seeds! I can see Emery's lawyers arguing against extradition on grounds of "cruel and unusual punishment" for offences viewed as minor in Canada.
This could to turn into a p.r. nightmare for the VPD. Thay may rue the day they volunteered to be DEA agents (at Cdn. taxpayers' expense) to further their own agenda that disrespects our Cdn. judicial system in an attempt to satisfy a vendetta against Emery who they'd love to see rot in a US prison.
This presents an incredible dilemna for Martin's Liberals who have been developing more tolerant drug policies (medical marijuana, decriminalizing minor possession). Their proposed new bill is likely to die though because neither the pro nor the anti-marijuana lobbies like it.If Martin's gov't allows Emery to be extradited to face life in prison, a moderate, tolerant Cdn. public will be appalled. Even many of those who aren't fans of Emery will come to view him as a victim and martyr.
There could be a huge political cost to the Liberals if they cooperate with the U.S. on this. This story will become a major issue. Stay tuned.

I drove a tractor trailer at the Vancouver Fraser Surrey docks and surrounding areas from 1971 to 1993.
During this period I was largely employed by a company called Johnston Terminals. It was a teamster company and so we were paid a decent wage with overtime and benefits. It was actually possible to raise a family on the wages. Most of my time was spent at the various docks hauling containers, steel and other goods.
There were very few if any labor disruptions.

Then along came Lyin Brian Mulrooney with deregulation and Free trade. This enabled anyone to buy their own truck and replace employees.

For a while things went well for O/OPs as the standard of the day was being set by the teamster employees. But one by one the companies which paid decent wages and kept good equipment were undercut and forced out of the market.

My company which had been around the west coast for over 75 years went belly up in 1992.

I have a hard time sympathizing with the owner operators who have cut each other's throats until there nothing left.

I have less sympathy for the shippers who are also directly responsible for this situation.

It gives me a great belly laugh to know that if companies with employees like Johnston Terminals were causing this disruption as opposed to private owner operators they would have been ordered back to work by the Federal Gov't. or put in jail.

ALL HAIL FREE ENTERPRISE! HA! HA!

You couldn't give me a truck today
and I woundn't drive a big rig in the Vancouver traffic disaster for twice the take home pay I was making in 1993.

I have to stop writing now I feel anoter big laugh coming on.

I don't think the brokers, despicable as their methods are, are the only culprits. The Federal government and the Bank of Canada have had an aggressive anti-inflation policy since the days of 21% mortgages(1980's) and it is hard to believe that the 60% retail increase in fuel this past year could NOT be inflationary. The consumers of goods too expensive for truckers to haul may have to be prepared for higher prices if the goods are to be moved. It seems a quandary: Doing the fair thing for those who transport our precious consumer goods means bringing more inflationary pressures into the market.
Sounds like good practise for "BUY NOTHING DAY".

A very informative bit! Thank you Alison!

Moony, I've heard your story many times from older ladies and gentlemen who in their lifetime have seen a sharp decline in respect for the bulk of our countries workforce - from bullied nurses to toothless truck drivers.

Hit me with a rubber chicken if there's no validity in the idea that in the decline of "god fearing" folks since the liberating 60's there has also been an erosion in the courtesy and respect we have for one another.

I see savagery in some of our most influential communities that can easily be compared to the sickest sort one might find in an unstable chimp colony.

Bobb999, I share you awe at the VPD's need to suckle on the DEA.

It would suggest the DEA, which already has far too many AMERICAN agents in Vancouver and other parts of Canada and who spy on all sorts of things that are none of their business, has a bit of dirt on someone.

But it may also indicate that our provincial government may have already approved these new measures and that Ottawa, increasingly accepting the Quissling role thrust upon them by Washington is also bowing to or, is it bending to the Americans.

I predict Emery will be back on the street in short order and, yes, the VDP is going to have to start improving it's image, which currently appears to be a bit fascist given the number of police assaults, suspicious deaths and controversial firings going on within that well organized gang.

It's really strange watching some of our more macho elements attempting to curry favour from that terrorist nation to our south by abusing the rights of citizens here.

I guess VDP is just following our neo leader Gen. Hillier who recently mastered the trick of getting his US handlers to fill out the from of their pants.

Proud time to be a Canadian.

Where`s Ron Erwin with another goofy statement telling us that high union wages are lowering our standard of living? Oh, I forgot, these truckers aren`t really union members. But, circumstances that they are living with, ie higher fuel costs are making it harder for them to make a living. This is only the beginning of what will be a very large trend in the planet.

I suspect "Beers" is Ghostmachines' new handle...
I've only ever noticed one Tyee post disappear, presumably after being deemed too abusive by Tyee webmasters.Therefore I have to conclude the Tyee is pretty tolerant re. free speech. There have been other posts that stayed that I felt the Tyee would have been justified in deleting for being too personally abusive of other posters.
The Mayencourt "satire" was likely deemed to have crossed the line in being too abusive, in this case, of Mayencourt. Maybe even libelous.

allan: You're right about the VPD already having serious image problems, and VPD aiding the DEA to persecute Emery is not going help
public perceptions. It would likely be only a small minority of right wing zealots who would actually cheer the VPD if they are successful in getting him extradited, convicted and sentenced to a long prison sentence.
I'd forgotten the DEA already had opened offices in BC to counter drug smuggling, as you noted. This has quickly gotten out of hand.
I agree Emery will be out of jail shortly (he should have money enough for bail). An extradition process could drag on for years,
especially as Emery is hardly of terrorist calibre as a threat to the US. It will become a headache and embarassment for many of the powers that be.Any politicians collaborating with Bush's war on drugs won't win many points with Canadian voters.

Bob999:

I am also disgusted with the Mark Emery arrest. I think the Tyee should open a thread on that because it's a significant and dangerous step the Canadian authorities are taking. The VPD in particulat should be ashamed of themselves. Not only are they mired in "vigilante" justice scandals but they appear to be whores to the U.S. Sad day for Canada.

As an aside, I find it amusing listening to Const. Howard Chow talk about this case in the media. I played hockey with the guy a few years back and he often stayed in the dressing room afterwards when a few of his "teammates" we're firing up doobies and drinking beer in the room. He didn't partake but he sure wasn't rushing to his car in search of his handcuffs.

Canada and the VPD in particular should let the states know that we can handle our own issue in our own way. What's next? Are Bush's buddies going to start extraditing our doctors for performing abortions?

I don't condone everything Emery has done but I appreciate the point he has been trying to make by even entering the political arena. When our federal government has even talked about the legalization of the stuff, we have no business letting Dubya take one of our own to his prison camps.

Good luck Mark. Hope you dont get sent to Guat-Mo.

My apologies for using this thread as a soundoff for the Emery matter. I hope there is something forthcoming in that regard soon.

As for the Truckers dispute, I support their cause though I'll never condone the violence. It should be interesting. It appears that despite Mediator Reddy's proposal, the employer(s) have said they will vote against it.

Diesel fuel is almost as expensive as standard petrol. This used to be the truckers advantage. With the cost of crude and diesel getting on par with the standard, it's no wonder they are forced to do this. Who wants to work for nothing or free?

It's funny how BC Ferries and David Hahn can wave a magic wand and get a surcharge added to the already high "highway tax" and when the truckers express their concerns, they're labeled as "union thugs" and "greedy".

Jeeves:
When I logged on to the Tyee today I hoped there'd be a story on the Emery arrest. It's not often I get as riled as I did yesterday on hearing the news.This is despite that I am neither a pot activist nor even a user anymore.But I sure wanted to comment on it. 'Fraid I couldn't resist commenting even if there was no Emery thread on the Tyee yet, 'cause I agree, there should be one.
I didn't hear Const. Chow's comments.
I guess he's toeing the party line even if it makes him a hypocrite.
This story will have serious implications and ramifications.

The author comments about the 1999 shutdown. Fact is that the Vancouver Port Authority are the ones who killed that agreement by reneging on the "fair wage" part of the letter of understanding. Prior to the shutdown in 1999, there were approximately 600 truckers hauling cans to and from the ports. After the ports did the dirty deed and allowed companies who hadn't agreed to the licensing agreement onto the ports, that number increased almost 3 fold, based on the numbering system used by the ports for their permit system brought in as part of the 1999 accord.

The price of diesel was merely the catalyst to a systemt that's fundamentally flawed. Under the 70/30 split, a company can cut their rates to steal business and make it up on volume. However the trucker can't make it up on volume due to the lineups at the ports and other facilities, traffic conditions, and other factors of being a professional driver.

Someone on here talked about the "violence" during this dispute. While I agree that violence has no place in a labour dispute, neither does the word "violence" here. No one wound up in hospital or in the morgue. I remember a time when to cross a line and steal someone's work while they were out on strike was not only shameful and disgusting but actually harmful to your health.

One company in particular (who's name I won't mention due to Beers post) has been quite blatant in using rental trucks and SCABS to run with impugnity during this dispute. However, in the same breath, I must admit that I've practically strained both my vocal chords and almost sprained my middle finger, telling these lowlifes what I think about them. I see them on almost a daily basis, and well... as a union guy it makes me sick.

I realize that there has been intimidation tactics abound, and save for one unfortunate incident in which the wrong company was targeted for the wrong reason (on Annacis Island) most of the incidents have been pretty much provoked by people doing stupid things during a labour dispute.

Mooney: I am a teamster, 2nd generation, son of a former Johnston's / Public Freightways guy, and totally agree with EVERYTHING you have said. It seems, starting with the dump trucks and now the can haulers that the tide's turning the other way finally.

From following this dispute, I wouldn't necessarily say that the ratification on the part of the truckers is a slam dunk either. Independent owner operators are a fickle lot.

And don't think that fuel prices alone were the sole cause of this fight, nor in my opinion based on the Vancouver Sun report of elements of the deal, does the fuel surcharge language actually address the immediate concerns over the price of fuel. Something called TAX RELIEF might do the trick. We'll see what happens. I'm I suppose, extremely cautiously optipessimistic.

kegler:

It was me who used the word violence. I agree with everything you just said except for one point. Sure no one got hurt, but what do you say if someone accidentally takes a bullet?

People can moan and whine about the effects of this dispute on their interests, but I'll always support fair pay. These guys driving the containers are bearing the cost of rising fuel. Gordon Campbell, David Hahn and every airline can gouge for high petrol increases. Why can't these guys adjust their compensation to acommodate a steady income like the rest of them?

Funny thing is that business organizations are demanding that the truckers be ordered back to work bu governments, as if the truckers weren't businesses, but not a word about the skyrocketing thievery of the oil companies, with their profits doubling in the past year. In other words, small businesses are welcome to go broke, but as long as the giants can rake in their disgusting, excess profits, everything is A OK. Ed Deak, Big Lake.

I appreciate hearing on this thread from all of you who have walked the walk. You supported, I think, what the reporter was presenting.

Alison Bate did a stellar job on this piece, like an old-time labour reporter.

I know that, or we'd have heard otherwise from you guys.

I urge her to provide more of the same for Tyee's readers.

The work world is undergoing enourmous and rapid change and no one seems to be paying attention to what happens to the workers until they are faceless statistics, tidily crunched into a computer file and left in the dark until the next third Thursday of the month.

Bobb999

I was really peed off. About seven hours ago I responded to your posting on the Marc Emery arrest. I hit the "Post Comment" only to have the "Page cannot be displayed" come up.

I reconnected with that abortion of a service, Sprint, only to lose not only the message but the Tyee board. They try to grind you down but they won't win.

Thank you for going "off topic" to relay the story - stopping the presses, if you will.

I had read details in the Vancouver Sun which seemed symathetic to Emery's plight after his arrest in Halifax Nova Scotia at the instigation of the U.S. The DEA that wants him extradited to face trial in the U.S. for selling marijuana seeds to U.S. citizens and, reportedly, laundering money.

Columnist Ian Mulgrew referred to an "outrageous infringement of Canadian sovereignty" in this U.S. action.

I agree. Somebody is kissing Uncle Sam's butt in this affair.

The Emery arrests, I suspect, are in retaliation for the cross-border tunnel incident. Americans must've viewed this unlawful incursion as an "outrageous infringement of their sovereignity" and rightly so.

Can you imagine the conversation that took place when the trap was sprung. I'm pretty sure that Martin was issued some sort of challenge to demonstrate how serious we are about respecting the border. Certain freedom of access to other Canadians probably depend on it. How do I feel about someone who violates an international border and throws the burden of responsibility for his private actions onto all Canadians?

In what way was Emery not selfish and shortsighted?

If fuel is a variable cost, and one that the shippers and vendors must pay, why not take less money on an hourly rate and a per mile rate for fuel? Truckers could bill a certain number of litres per mile.

By pricing it in litres per mile, truckers would also have an incentive to keep their rigs running well, rather than letting them become inefficient.

The per mile rate in dollars could include a small stipend for maintenace

Of course, truckers would then watch their income drop, but so would their expenses. I have no doubt that this is a part of the problem - like city dwellers who complain about not making any money, but own $600/month cars that they drive everywere they go...

I always thought from what I heard about this dispute and the fundamental demand was that of an hourly rate, not just an increase in rates in a compensation system that just invites brokers to cut rates.

In '99, there was a secured hourly rate provision in the letter of understanding. The problem came when not all the brokers signed on the dotted line agreeing to the terms and conditions of that agreement. Those who didn't sign, were not supposed to be allowed on the port. Things were good down there for about a month, until the port authority let the "fair hourly rate" part of the agreement slide, by not enforcing it, and issuing permits to any carrier that wanted to come onto the docks and haul cans.

That's when the number of container haulers increased dramatically, as I said previously by their own count on the ports, 3 fold. There were a number of companies who signed on to play by the rules on a legal and binding document, who the port hamstrung, by allowing the ones who didn't, to come in, hack the rates down, and drive those companies either to the edge or over the edge of bankruptcy. In effect it was a short term repeat of what happened in the late 80s under de regulation.

When people talk about trucking and owner operators, everything is in terms of gross revenue. So its seductive to hear that you're going to make 80 to 100 thousand a year or more. But the difference is not everyone has a sound mind for business or understands the costs involved in operating a truck. And when someone goes broke, or can't make a go of it, there's always someone else lining up to take their place. When I took my Class 1 course, there was no mention in the class about the industry itself.

In terms of compensation. The brokers have relatively fixed costs. Under the 70/30 system, they can cut the rates on a contract to secure the work, and make up their 30 percent on volume. Meanwhile the trucker is forced to absorb a larger cut, with no opportunity to make it up on volume, unless they want to become a total slave to their truck, and even then fall short.

While brokers have costs associated with the insurance, maintenance and upkeep of chassis' (though if you have seen some of them you would wonder just how much $$$ goes to that) rent for the office and salary for a few people called staff, plus a few other things, those costs are for the most part FIXED costs.

So a cut in rates made up by volume still allows them to operate their end. Without naming names, the company named in the story by Alison Bates in the paragraph 'Bottom Feeding Bunch' has been grown to a huge size by doing exactly that, while grossly underpaying it's drivers/owner operators. But it doesn't speak highly of the industry that there's always people willing to work for the substandard rates that some of these companies offer.

The costs associated with an owner operator are the variable costs. Not just the cost of fuel, but maintenance and truck parts, insurance, etc have skyrocketed higher than the rate of inflation. For example the average heavy duty mechanical shop rate for fixing a truck is $85/hr. How many hours can you afford to get work done on your truck when you're making $350/day? Then you have fuel, which is lets say $1/ litre (lower if you have a commercial fuel card). Let's say you're "burn rate is 5 litres/ mile, and you put on 100 miles a day. A 500 litre fill up would last you 3 days approximately. So you have approximately $170/day in fuel. Then there's the tires, insurance, licensing, truck payments etc. (those numbers are an extreme approximation by the way).

Then after all that, what's left is your take home pay. lol. If there's anything left. And that net income is what's left to pay for your rent, car, hydro, phone, food, basic living neccessities. These are things that they don't teach you in driving school.

But then again, that's the industry. I did my due diligence when I started, and fell victim to someone cutting the rate and stealing the contract I was working on. I went broke shortly afterward, learned my lesson, and now drive, much like my father did in the past, by the hour with benefits etc for a union company.

The other problem with the brokers is that if they had to pay an hourly rate, they would have to compete on service, and not be able to hack the rate down to steal contracts without taking the money out of their own pocket. That's why they are so against paying by the hour.

As I said previously, its not a slam dunk that this deal will be ratified. I've already heard on another site that the brokers are going to vote against it. And, as is stated in the story, 70/30 system doesn't work for the owner operator. We shall see.

Even if the brokers were not skimming, I think that the 70/30 split is unconscionable.

With the many thousands of transactions that occur, despite the secrecy maintained between the brokers and their clients, I believe resourceful investigation would reveal the true picture.

If, following this, any skimming of fees was discovered I hope that the cheated truckler/s would not settle out of court but allow all to see.

kegler, I think you ought to review your numbers in your last posting.

If you drive 100 miles per day in a rig burning 5 litres-per mile and paying $1 per litre, you are spending $500 a day on fuel.

I'm in no way involved in this dispute but it would seem to me the greatest problem is the inefficency built into the system, where a trucker may be sitting idle for two, three or four hours waiting his turn to pick up a load.

While O/Os might be at fault for chasing their income into the net loss zone, it seems to me the entire Vancouver port system is a bottleneck and that responsibility rests with the port's owners.

Amazing, and they keep trying to pump it into kid's heads that the capitalist system is the most productive and rewarding.

For who?

No one is going to take the risks of running their own business for less than what a Walmart greeter gets paid.

And Mr. Emery: Didn't he know what he was doing was illegal in both Canada and the US? Here is a guy make millions in illegal trade. If he wanted to change things there was other ways of going about it, but he was merely greedy. If someone was shipping bomb making equipment to the US, I don't think anyone would make a big stink about the extradiction process. I can't feel sorry for a guy who brags about how much money he makes and then gets in his car (under the influence) and puts people's life in danger. I don't see mainstream Canadians getting upset over his arrest; and therefore, Mr. Emery will become another "victim" of the war on drugs.

On Emery:
Skepticool: Thanks for mentioning the Vancouver Sun's coverage including the Ian Mulgrew column
that's critical of the police on this.(I missed it since I boycott CanWest products). I'm glad some media are covering this story as the serious injustice I believe it is.
Te Aro: I doubt there's a connection to the tunnel. The joint investigation of Emery began before the tunnel was discovered.
I've never been an unreserved supporter of Emery. Maybe it's his somewhat loud ,self-righteous manner. I wouldn't call him selfish. He's courageous to have been on the front lines for years in his campaign, risking and experiencing arrests and jail time.
I find it ironic that he is rich because his mission hasn't yet succeeded fully. His seeds command high prices because the end product is still illegal. If pot is legalized as he hopes,he'll need to find a new livelihood. Pot seeds prices will equate to prices of bird seed. In fact, hemp seed was once a common bird seed.
The US has no legitimate gripe about their country being unequally "victimized" by smuggling from Canada. I'd argue the reverse is true:
The US gets our pot. What do we receive smuggled from the US? Illegal Cocaine, hand guns, and assault rifles. There are many more Canadian casualties stemming from contraband from the US than vice versa. Which is worse?
If there was some US gun dealer shipping mail order automatic weapons to Cdn. customers,
do you think US authorities would agree to arrest and extradite the dealer to Canada to face Canadian gun laws when what the guy was selling was legal in the US? I doubt it.
In Canada, pot seeds, if controversial, are deemed to be legal or at least are tolerated by our justice system.
So,is it right for our country to help send Emery to the States to face a possible life sentence? Te Aro, you seem to think he "has it coming" or "he brought it on himself". I disagree. Canada should not be collaborating with the DEA's and Bush's draconian and hypocritical war on drugs. Hypocritical, because deadly legal drug dealers (Big Tobacco)
have a lot of paid off politicians in their pockets, as well as having made "friends" among members of the Bush administration.
Indonesia's and China's drug policies/laws are even more insane, but the US rates a close "runner up" rating. Should Canada collaborate?

I have no sympathy for either side in this dispute. The drivers have undercut each other while the brokers have maximized profits. A classic example of the folly of a free market system, which is really at the heart of the problem. An owner operator of a rig 'hauling cans' has bad choices to make in order to increase his take home pay. Neglect maintenance - at $85/hr this would seem to be a significant expense. Drive longer hours - a safety hazard, as well as a lousier life. Demand a better rate? Nope, these guys have undercut each other to the point where the pay is abysmal and really have nobody to blame but themselves.
I would argue that a collective agreement involving unionized workers negotiating fair wages, benefits and working conditions would introduce efficiency and transparency. At the same time, standards of vehicle safety would be increased.
A new fuel cell technology is being developed at UBC involving an aluminum/saline hydrogen producing system - why are we not running with this innovation? Fleets of non-polluting trucks using a reusable source of power? The depleted aluminum (aluminum hydroxide) can be re-smelted back into elemental metal by electrolysis. Surplus hydroelectricity would fuel this fleet, which we have in abundance here in BC. Smog would be reduced. Of course, oil profiteers and electricity brokers making massive coin might be negatively impacted. Aww.

These truckers' idle time should be everyone's concern. There have been 2-hour waits or more at border crossings plus the waits inside and outside the terminals.

Particularly in cold weather, those engines are going to be running. Added to the time lost will more costs to the trucker, consumer and the environment.

Convoys of trucks idling at borders are a windfall for the oil industry. If governments, too, were not getting their pound of flesh they might be moved to get off their butts and raise a stink to help resolve the situation.

tommymoore:

I sympathize with those who 6 years ago, stood up and fought the same fight being fought now, achieved something, and had it pulled out from under them by the ports, the brokers and the guys who thought "I could do it cheaper." or "I can make a go of it even if you can't." A good proportion of the guys involved in this dispute, weren't involved in 1999.

Allan: you're right, my ratio is backwards, it should be miles per litre, not the other way around. From my experiences working in town, a full tank on the average tractor lasts a work week (5 days). So you're looking at approximately $100 a day in fuel. That's approximately 30 percent of the average revenue brought in a day. Add in an average of one hour of maintenance (average $85) and there's 50% of your revenue shot right there. That leaves you approximately $180 (all working on averages here) to pay for your insurance on the truck, tires, truck payment.

Then after all that, that's whats left to pay for groceries, mortgage/rent, utilities, health care, etc. Such is life in a deregulated trucking industry, where the sector is solely owner operator. The employers aren't happy with the recommendations of Vince Ready (gee, probably because that would require them to actually manage their business rather than go around cutting rates and stealing businesses) and I would be willing to say that the majority of guys who have been off work for the past 5 weeks, won't be too happy to see NO HOURLY RATE, no matter what their committee recommends.

Ratification is definitely not a sure thing.

On the issue of fuel cell technology... it's kind of hard to "run with this technology" given the cost of the technology itself, the limited access to the actual fuel, and the fact that the technology has to be incorporated into the trucks themselves as they're being manufactured, the minimum window for implemention of this technology is at least 10 years away, assuming there's the will and wherewithall within the industry or industries (not just trucking, but other industries that use diesel or fossil burning technologies currently) to convert.

As well, we're currently in a political environment thats not in favour of subsidies or grants to reward companies or industries that take part in things as tommymoore suggested. Industry changing is like trying to turn a supertanker on a dime. It just doesn't happen right here and now. It takes time. tommymoore... if you can, get a hold of a magazine called ProTrucker Magazine. Within it, there's monthly articles on technology by a company called Otto Innovations. But these are years away.

MORE ON EMERY:
Our Canadian Justice Minister/Attorney General, Irwin Cotler, signed off on the search warrant.
He therefore is cooperating with the DEA/VPD/RCMP actions against Emery.
A Conservative gov't with a Randy White as Justice Minister I'd expect such actions from, not from the Martin Liberals who have been developing moderate drug policies.
I would urge those who feel strongly that a serious injustice is occurring here to e-mail Mr. Cotler:

, as I did.
I also plan to write my MP, Libby Davies.
The NDP's policy is to legalize pot. With the Libs in a minority gov't, the NDP may be able, if they can get the Bloc and some LIBERAL Liberals on board, to perhaps even introduce and pass legislation that would prevent extradition to face excessive punishments, in cases like Emery's.
If you too are appalled by the situation, it might help to voice your views to some powers that be. Here's the police :

.
I plan also to find addresses for Jack Layton, the PM's office, the Vancouver Police Board.
I wonder how innocent the BC Fibs are here?
I bet they can claim it's the Feds' and the police's jurisdiction - and out of their hands.

Maybe all these people that devote their lives to legalization of marijuana should just grow up. Of course with Emery it was more about the money than anything else.

nemesis:
If it was "all about the money" for Emery, he would have made himself less visible. Instead he's been on the front lines,payinf for and running political campaigns, starting non-profit organizations,organizing events, giving news conferences, getting arrested, serving jail time.
Someone interested only in the money would not provoke the right wing police which he does simply by being so vocal and visible and committed to the cause of bringing sanity to our drug laws. He probably deserves credit for partial success: It's legally much less risky nowadays to smoke pot. Perhaps Emery can take some small credit.
I understand he gives a lot of money away to non-profit organizations, some promoting a pro-pot agenda, medical marijuana, others involved in alternate treatments for helping hard drug addicts kick their habits. I believe he helps out with finacing legal defences of some people facing pot charges,and assists compassion clubs that provide low cost medical marijuana to needy ill people.
By the way, here are a few more e-mail addresses for the PM and for Jack Layton:

and

if anyone feels compelled to make their views known.

Back to the main story in this thread... the owner operators (surprisingly in my view) voted to accept the mediated settlement of Vince Ready by roughly 90 percent. However... the brokers unanimously REJECTED the offer. The voluntary withdrawal of services continues.

tommymoore,

You talk about fuel-cell technology. The automakers love it. It's promise, as a replacement for the internal combustion engine to move vehicles, has been spoken about for 20 years and has provided the excuse to less vigorously pursue other options.

It is a motherhood project that has garnered much public funding. From the outset I believe the priority has been stock promotion. I'm sure that those on the inside have done well but many "green" investors (in both senses of that word) have been badly burned.

Coincidentally, a negative market report on the industry appeared in today's Province.

Its the same with bio diesel. Great technology, but cost is a huge issue. In reality, increases in transport rates result in inflationary pressures on the market. Stuff like groceries, home improvement goods, basically anything you go to buy for consumption, the price rises, and the increases needed to convert to the technology to which you refer to tommymoore, would result in double digit inflation of prices on most if not all consummable goods.

It's hard to say that's acceptable when people's wages are averaging 2 to 3 percent increase a year (approximately), and at double digit inflation, wouldn't be able to keep up to the rate of increase of the consumer price index. People would be drastically left behind.

kegler, that is too bad, but certainly not a big surprise.

Maybe it's time the ports authorities and truckers find a means of cutting out the intransient middle-man here or, at least, put those brokers on salary plus commission where they can still chase their tails without wrecking the place for everyone else.

That's an effort the currently hurting import-oriented businesses ought to be joining in droves to ensure they aren't so badly hit by this event again.

They have been the most vocal about the impact on retailers etc., so they too should be looking for cuts that least impact the supply chain.

You need ports and you need trucks, but do you need private brokers?

Hey, I'm just a dumb consumer on the wrong end of all this.

Allan:

You don't know how close to the ideal "fix" of this situation your idea is. Unfortunately, there's not the stomach or wherewithall to have the ports "direct dispatch" the container rates. That would be an additional expense that would take a little bit of money away from their continuing year over year record profits from port activity. In their minds, its better to pass off that work onto someone else (the brokers aka the pimps).

By eliminating the brokers, the ports would have to either have the can haulers provide their own chassis' (of which there are varying types depending on what type of container, the weight of the can etc you are pulling) which would add an additional pressure onto the rates with maintenance, insurance etc not only being applied to the truck but now also to the chassis'.

If the ports were to supply the equipment, that would be a burden on their resources in terms of maintenance, licensing etc. The only alternative to that is to have the shipping lines themselves contract directly with the owner operators, but the same problems exists.

I'm going to be interested to see what the next step is, in terms of government intervention. Clearly there's a willingness on the part of the drivers to get back to work, under Ready's Recommendations. The government (as Mooney so eloquently pointed out) caused the problem in the first place by de regulating the trucking industry. I'm not quite sure what the next move is going to be.

I was banking on the owner ops rejecting the recommendations based on the talk of trip rates as opposed to an hourly rate. I hadn't quite banked on the "pimps" saying no. It puts the dispute into a different public perspective, as people will now believe that its the brokers who are at fault (which is actually mostly true.)

2 companies were quoted as saying that Ready's recommendations equalled at 65 to 90 percent increase in their rates. Those 2 companies are known as the 2 worst cut throat pirates in the industry. That speaks highly of the some of the brokers that exist in the industry, that they would cut their rates so bad, just to steal business. (that is said in tongue in cheek.)

And listening to the excuses coming from the brokers (the shippers flatly rejected the rate increase) is laughable. How else is Walmart, Zellers and Superstore going to get their imported sweatshop goods into their distribution centres, by going through Seattle or Tacoma?

Don't they think that there's a premium for running containers up from those ports given the current situation? And what's more, do they not see the future. Higher prices for importing/exporting goods is inevitable. Such as what happens when you go from domestic manufacturing to offshore manufacturing. I think that people better wrap their heads around the fact that the days of playing one company against another in terms of the movement of marine containers is rapidly coming to an end, and inevitably, rates are going to increase dramatically.

Dear Mr. Beers;

I realize it's a long weekend, and the likelihood is that you're out in the sun someplace, but I, and I think some others would appreciate some confirmation that the rather odd and somewhat amomolous posts that have shown up on this site recently under the names "Beers" and "redparty" in fact originate with you.

The language and attitude displayed there seem unlike what you have shown in the past. When you have expounded your perfectly reasonable policy of requiring posters to adhere at least to the laws of Canada as regards slander, libel and fraud, you have usually seemed more temperate.

For these reasons, there's been some speculation the posts I mentioned might be a hoax. So I thought I'd just ask. Did you write that? Or is it some long weekend prank by somebody else?

kegler, I see in today's Globe&Mail that some are now looking at completely realigning the stars to overcome the broker hurdle.

It was also telling to read that Vince Ready, a man who will normally keep his substantial ire in-house, is now suggesting strongly the brokers had better have a new proposal to keep talks going.

Not surprising when the brokers' bargaining team accepted the deal and then the membership rejected it unanimously.

That must have been one hell of a powerful endorsement the brokers' reps gave that agreement.

I do know that if union reps negotiated and then agreed to recommend such a deal to their members they would be roasted in media hell if couldn't talk even one member into voting yes.

Can you say bad faith bargaining?

I suspect you are bang on about alternative shipping routes. Even if there isn't a minute spent waiting in Seattle, drivers still have a long run down there, including a border crossing wait and then the same thing returning.

More fuel, more time and more costs all around.
Seems like smart people would bite the bullet and deal with this issue here rather than spreading the chaos over ever greater road systems.

Te Aro Arahi: The Emery arrests, I suspect, are in retaliation for the cross-border tunnel incident. Americans must've viewed this unlawful incursion as an "outrageous infringement of their sovereignity" and rightly so.

On what basis is this an infringement on American sovereignty and not Canadian? What evidence was there Canadians were alone responsible? I have not paid much attention to the tunnel as frankly I think the story is overblown, and I know it can only make matters worse. Personally I wish they would just seal the border until the fascists are finally out of office in the US.

For me the Emery arrests speak to the increasign infilitration of Americans and American interests in Canada, and a long history of Canadians burying their heads in the sand. We have evidence back to Diefenbaker of American control -- ie they made certain he was not re-elected.

Actually however I mainly logged on to stress that I to see the Tyee as having a responsibility to report on the Emery arrest and Vancouver raid.

Allan:

The brokers now simply don't have a choice. For along with the 90 day exemption from the competition act, now the Vancouver Port Authority has stepped in, and said that they will issue 90 day interim permits to companies who agree to abide by the Ready report. Mind you, this is the same port authority that did exactly the same thing 6 years ago and kneecapped the entire process a month later, so I'm somewhat leery about the entire thing.

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. But clearly, the ball is in the pimps err brokers court now. Will they play, or will they continue to act like a child having their dessert being taken away.

And to quote a Bob Dylan tune from long ago, "the times, they are a changin."

This just in.. the pimps are now considering legal action against the Vancouver Port Authority. Hopefully someone comes to their common senses, and freezes the brokers out. Let's hope that the Port themselves take over the container hauling end of things. Now, instead of it being a "voluntary shutdown of independant businessmen" we're now dealing with a lockout on the part of the brokers. The perfect storm just keeps howling along.

Don't have it at hand but recall an item in yesterday's news regarding China bidding for a fair-sized Canadian shipping line.(Sad ain't it? Canada once had the world's third-largest mercantile fleet.)

Ultimately, this is probably good. If that bid is successful, China then may go on and get into trucking, and with the many Asian businesses already operating in B.C. - and no doubt many more will be added to - we may look forward to great stability, with Asian control from the manufacture in China to the B.C. consumer.

Ahhh. Can it get any better?

yammer, smuggling is a direct violation of another country's sovereignty. It's a crime in Canada, too.

Bobb999, I think if Canada is going to arrest Emery in order to hand him over to the US, it's a very good idea for our MPs to insist they arrest gun-runners and hand them over to Canadian jurisprudence to stand trial. This would be a very good thing to email in protest to said Canadian MPs, an excellent response for when Americans get too sniffy about our lax enforcement of pot laws: "Alright, we will hand over Emery. You hand over the CEO of Lockheed."

An excellent article. I've been emailing the local Global TV outlet regularly trying to point out the fact that most of the truckers are independent operators and therefore not on strike, but alas, they too have an agenda. This situation is exactly why degregulation and unfettered free enterprise is such a boondoggle. People have a right to decent working conditions and a fair wage--all that is lost in the race for the bottom. Problem is, Ottawa is populated by spineless politicians who love to rub shoulders (and who knows what else) with the capitalists and I doubt anything short of a revolution is going to change that. Don't hold your breath for a lasting settlement any time in the near future.

kegler, "considering legal action" is a poor last refuge no matter how strong the thunder accompanying it.

I'll actually be quite surprised if Longpre allowed that brokers' vote to take place without at least cautioning against outright rejection, as did occur.

But I do imagine we are talking of a head-strong group that doesn't like change or loss of control.

It's kind of hard for them to try to turn their rig around now and get back to discussions with smelly stuff all over them and not many jovial friends in site.

As I said before: bad-faith bargaining.

Can't you just feel the trust at the next encounter?

If there is one. The port authority and drivers and those trucking firms ready to go along, are quite able to work out an arrangement.

I know what would happen if an organized union did what the brokers group did. Editorial comment and focus would burn holes in this issue and the business community would call for union heads to roll.

Gordo would have legislated them back and, or jailed them already if they refused.

geeeez....i think mr emory is a bit of the subject, but, if he wants to flaunt the yankee law, give him 20 or 30 years...he knew bloody well what he was doing and that the americans don't like games!
and now, to the subject at hand...the east indians were gung ho to truck containers from the dock and they accepted a sub standard wage to do it, even under cutting their own brothers. Now, they don't give a damn who they hurt to get their way so i'm glad the fleet owners are balking at their victory

HEY ALLAN WAY UP THERE...how does wal-mart fit into the trucking issue, you ****. What about the Real Canadian superstore ! They brought the unions to their knees right here in good old Vancouver a few years ago. Remember when stockers were getting 24 bucks an hour? Was that a fair wage? Real said "no way" and basically broke the union. I guess it's okay for one big box to cut wages but not another...give us a break on wal-mart. if you don'y like them, stay the hell away.

it is rather elementary. if the truck drivers want a decent income then they have only to co-operate rather than compete against each other.

Netscaper2:

There's a rather interesting story pertaining to superstore. Google the name Hugh Finnamore, and read all about it. In terms of MalWort, I choose not to shop there for a variety of reasons, but primarily because I like to think I make a decent enough of a living that I don't have to go in there and buy their cheap crap.

Allan: These so called brokers don't trust anyone, not even themselves. They don't accept change too well, as alot of them have been ripping off the owner operator and getting away with it for so long, that they simply cannot accept the fact that the system as they know it... is finished. It's time to pay the piper. Fact is that its a customer driven business. Until the shippers/receivers are willing to go 24/7, or at least extend their hours, there will always be huge lineups at the ports.

Those lineups, combined with traffic congestion are what make the 70/30 split so unworkable, in my opinion. If you're paid by the hour, then traffic congestion, port lineups, waits at customers etc, are no longer the owner operators problem, they become the shipper's, port's and broker's problem.

As I stated before, in regards to this "port licensing agreement".... I've seen this show before, and I wouldn't put my faith in the Vancouver Port Authority to hold up their end of the bargain.

They screwed over the truckers before, and all they care about is getting the freight moved off their docks, though both they and the shipping companies are making a good buck in storage revenue right now.

kotto: if only it were that simple. However you're talking about independent brokers contracting to independant owner operators. Co operation requires trust, which as we've seen over the past few weeks, there's very little of in this dispute.

Skepticool: The company you are referring to is CP Ships. And though the company is or was part of the Canadian Pacific family of companies, its based in Gatwick England.

Netscaper2, I won't call you what I think of you as Tyee will only star it anyway.

But, please don't make me cry about picking on poor old Walmart.

To begin with. The brokers have been playing a game mastered by Walmart.

Give a contract to someone and let them deliver and then advise them if they want another contract they have to drop prices by 10 per cent or so.

Kinda tough either way once you're committed to a mortgage.

But let's get specific. The Real Canadian Superstore did not break the union's back.
The union, I assume you speak of is the UFCW.

I believe that UFCW Local 777 was set up specifically to organize Superstores in BC and was successful. However, it would appear, (at least according to everything I have heard), the negotiators for the local caved in to company demands rather than pushing through to a strike if needed.

I have also been led to believe, and perhaps you know more than I, that Local 777's negotiators didn't have the support of senior union people to accept such a deal.

But once it got onto paper with signatures attached it was a legal and binding contract.

Yes, the rest of the UFCW's BC grocery store worker members have paid dearly for that screwup, but it didn't kill the union, which still has more than 20,000 members in the province.

By the way, Local 777 went on to become known as Local 666 by many who continue to curse that first contract.

I hope I didn't upset your sensitivities over my comments about Walmart. Are you a greeter there or something?

Here's an article on Walmart:

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/08/02/walmart/index.html

http://tinyurl.com/cgjd6

These guys are business people. The VC Truckers association is basically just a would-be cartel that's trying to enforce a price-fixing mechanism on other businesses. This is a free country: truckers aren't forced to work. Any trucker who owns a couple of trucks is richer than most of us. The truckers who can't compete should leave the business and enter a line of business that is more profitable.

That's the beauty of free enterprise. The dollars flow to the most efficient. Welcome to the 21st century. All you socialists can't turn back the tide of progress.

Martin, you call it progress? Really?

Hate to break it to you pal, but the people running the port authority are anything but socialists.

However, it would appear some of them do have enough sense to see that you don't get progress when the foxes are guarding the henhouse.

They've apparently opted for a bit of socialist wisdom and applied some reality to the mess created by your broker buddies who just jammed their own capitalistic greed up their own dirt shoots and are now learning they are a needless pack of bottom feeders who are being replaced by people who work rather than suck blood.

Perhaps you want to volunteer to feed those free-enterprise brokers with your own blood or are you still busy digesting your latest victim.

Martin, how can waiting 3 to 4 hours to load a container ever be efficient? How can any of the truckers afford to be living in the Vancouver area? At $62 per load and a couple of loads per day, it is unlikely that any trucker can afford to buy a second truck and pay someone to operate it.

All you anti-socialists have no brains. This is not progress.

Martin:

By reading your piece, I would have to sit back and chuckle, because evidently, as you say, truckers don't have to work. Of course, if truckers don't have to work, how come there's been over a billion dollars damage done to the local economy, by truckers not working. You're right on one point, the port truckers cluster#### (rhymes with puck starts with f) is free enterprise at its best.

And the system basically ate itself. And now, no one can fix it. The government can't order self employed people back to work, unless they're under the federal labour code, which the non union guys aren't. Free enterprise gave the industry deregulation Martin. And if you're statement about a guy owning a couple of trucks is richer than you or I is true, then why oh why would the owner operators shut down the port, if everyone is as "rich" as you claim they are.

When you look at the gross income, which most of the general public do when it comes to trucking, yeah you would think that the guys are well off. But when you look at the net income (the one that the media never reports on, because it doesn't paint the picture that the right wingers want portrayed) you will find that a great majority of these guys are starving. And they are standing up and attempting to do something about it.

But you're right, they should all get out of trucking. Park their rigs and go home. Ohh wait a minute, that's what they've pretty much done the past 5 plus weeks. And I could easily find you a few people, businesses and employees, who are hurting as a result.

And Sue... don't blame poor Martin for his blissful ignorance. Afterall, he's no doubt a product of the "ME" generation of the early 90s. You know the one..."unions bad.. Corporations good." "Big unions are crippling the economy. Gordo will show us the light." That type.

And of course we have our idiot BC Transport Minister blame trucking woes on our inadequate road system. This way he can justify the Port Mann Bridge twining. Trouble is, most of the containers that travel out of province go by train. and those that actually use the bridge are a small percentage, because the bulk of container use is within the Vancouver area. Plus, trucks make up around 10 percent of the traffic on the bridge. Congestion is caused by the single occupancy vehicle. Stop building bridges for those lazy bums who won't take transit. Spend the 3 billion dollars on a real transit system, not on ToyTrain that goes where the people aren't.

Come on, people. Financially most of these guys are doing just fine. Go for a drive out to Surrey and look at the big houses they live in, assessed at $750k or more, and the rockets their kids drive, parked in the driveway. (Just don't mind the dumptruck parked along the side.)

These business people have been able to pull the wool over your eyes so that they can get sympathy to form a cartel and fix the prices they charge -- and you will pay. They don't mention that the interest payments on their trucks are at historical lows, because hey, that might not play well in the press.

Face it guys. These are monopolists who want to drive out inconventient competition and jack up the prices we'll pay. Fortunately the natural law of the free market will always prevail over time. Business will move to where it is most efficient and nothing can stop it.

Come on, Martin. Face it, you should read the article before you post comments. Don't be so lazy.

Why would a container trucker have a dump truck in his driveway?

EMERY: Te Aro: Right. First,hand over those US gun runners!
Illegal guns coming into Canada from you know where are feeding a growing gun culture emerging in Canadian big cities. Toronto is now seeing multiple fatal shootings weekly.
I won't be surprised if Vancouver "catches up" in a few years. And US authorities have the gaul to call Emery a danger to America, a major world drug figure. He was on a most wanted list of foreigners they were itching to nail.
I heard Norman Spector on the radio saying he thinks that claims made that the "get Emery" project represents a violation of Cdn. sovereignty are wrong. This is because it is a Cdn., not a US court that will decide whether Emery has committed an indictable offence or not.
Still, the fact that extradition is even a possibility in a case like this I find a frightening development.
I urge those who find the situation appalling to consider writing: Justice Minister Cotler, the PM,your MP,Jack Layton, the VPD, the VP Board to voice your concerns. I've never been a letter writer but this story has riled me enough to turn me into prolific letter writer!

Yammer: I agree cross border tunnels run both north and south, and might just as well be used by or on behalf of US criminals smuggling lethal wares into Canada, as vice versa.

Typo...sorry...a phrase in my prior post should read: "...court that will decide whether Emery has committed an EXTRADICTABLE offence."

Bobb999
There can’t be any illegal guns in Canada, don’t you know that they are all registered by the law abiding smugglers prior to entry. Thank god the Firearms act and the 2 billion $ gun registry is protecting us against thugs wielding prohibited 1908 Lugers, 1923 Webleys MkII’s and the likes. Funny how gun crime in Britain and Canada are going up as the laws get tougher.

Hey Colin, without the gun laws the police would be unable to seize the illegal weapons they do find.

Sue, then you know nothing about the trucking business. Lots of drivers own multiple vehicles. What they do is simple: they own several vehicles and pay dirt wages to the guys that drive them. That's why they are called "business people". Capitalism 101.

Colin, I had actually thought that despite your pro-war rants you had a brain above those shoulders.

Unfortunately that last post of yours just blew that fog away.

Let's compare the $2 billion spent for Canada's gun registry compared to what - hundreds of billions spend by the US on its laughable "war on drugs."

Funny thing, it's easier to get herion today than it was in 2001 since America has managed to liberal Afghani poppy farmers from the complete drug plant ban imposed and held by the Taliban.

You may well call Canada's gun registry a joke. I call America's "war on drugs" a crime against humanity.

America is so choc-a-bloc full of street drugs that Canadian pot dealers have to take cocaine as trade for Canadian pot.

Of course, if I lived in a country where the president and his top officials lied, cheated and killed innocent people, where the media pretty much accepted the lies as fact and where a third of the population is in deep poverty without access to medical help, I might want to just head down to the corner for a bit of imported relief as well.

jeeeez allan, your'e a prof of everything. we all know that but this column is about the dock dispute ! are you awake yet ?

The Emery is BS. How could he conspire in the states unless he were in the states?

If the Canadian government thinks he has done wrong then we should prosecute him here.

Extradiction can and should only be used when an individual commits a crime and then flees the country.

If Canada wants to change the laws to stop people from exporting seeds to the states, then we should prosecute him here if he persists.

Colin: I enjoyed your gun registry satire. I can hardly believe now that when the gun registry was first established I was in favour. Now, I'm like you in thinking it's a ridiculous, useless waste of $
Dangrice: Right. This Emery case is a travesty already and it's only just bgun in a way.

Several thoughtful articles on the EMERY STORY
can be found at http://cannabisculture.com

Martin:

You choose to try and make the exception the norm, in the trucking industry. I'm not an owner operator (as I believe I had stated previously), but do know a hell of a lot about this dispute, even though I'm not directly involved. It's of interest to me, because I was involved in the fight 6 years ago, back when there were at most, 600 o/ops hauling of the ports, not the over 1500 there is now.

No one goes into business to lose money or go broke, but unfortunately when it has come to trucking, and the can hauling sector specifically, where someone had failed in the past due to rapidly declining revenues, combined with rapidly escalating costs, there were always 5 or 6 people waiting to take their place.

Invariably, thanks to the economics of the industry, there is going to be a vast shortage of professional drivers. With deregulation taking the bottom out from under everyone, the industry has been in a state of chaos for years.

The only time the media pays attention to the mayhem and chaos is when something newsworthy comes along, such as a "voluntary shutdown." Before you think I entirely disagree with everything you said, Martin, I don't. I think you're pretty close on what's going on in terms of cartel building. But back to the public perception of the materials transport industry... the only time you hear anything in the media, it's when someone hasn't checked their brakes and then decided to go down a hill and play "bumper cars" with parked cars.

Or when people are killed in an accident, whether it was the driver's fault or the 4 wheeler. Or of course, as now, when people are starving and they shut off their engines because they can't afford to run anymore.

Since this thread seems to slip into the Emery affair occasionally perhaps someone could tell me why this counter-culture hero is having so much trouble posting his bail? Sounds like all his faithful supporters are all talk. Sounds like people that devote so much time to a recreational drug should grow up and get a life. Really people, get over it already.

Martin, there is no chance in hell that a container trucker could earn enough money to buy a second truck. If there are some exceptions that already had family money (or wealth from other sources) and have fleet of drivers earning $8 an hour, they would still not be making enough money for this to be a worthwhile business. There would not be sufficient return on their investment.

So tell me about the trucking industry. Are there truckers willing to work for $8 an hour?

netscaper2, there you go once again selectively picking postings to blather over rather than following the thread and appreciating context.

You see I was simply responding to your friend Colin who raised the gun registry issue.

I agree it has nothing to do with truckers in Vancouver, but you'll have to address that matter with Colin rather than I.

Stay on thread guy.

Sue:

To answer your question regarding the pay rates of truckers, in terms of company truckers (like I am) the wages go from as low (as I've heard) $8/hr to as high as $32/hr. There is of course a difference predominantly between union and non union wages. In as much as my job, I have extended health and dental, as well as sick pay and weekly indemnity, all of which the company I work for pays. In other words, I'm not scrambling at the end of each month trying to figure out how to pay an ever increasing health plan premium. Being a teamster is a benefit.

The cost of the health and welfare plan (extended health etc.) is approximately $400/mnth. That includes MSP, dental and other things. That's money that I don't have to spend out of my own pocket, whereas a guy working non union, making $10 to $14/hr would probably have to carry that out of his own pocket, as more likely than not he's working non union. Factoring the benefits, I make approximately $20 to $21 an hour. Plus with the job that I do, overtime is inherant. I average about 50 to 55 hours a week. Being paid hourly vs being on commission or on a revenue split has its advantages as well.

If you go to the posting by Mooney way back earlier on this thread, he hit the nail on the head. Prior to deregulation, the vast majority of freight in the lower mainland that moved by truck, was moved by teamsters and the majority of them were company drivers. In other words, they drove someone else's truck. They all worked under whats called a master agreement. The companies bought their motor carrier plates (worth over a million a piece at the time) and those gave you "running rights" into different territories throughout the province. The company that Mooney referred to (Johnston Terminals and a few off shoots like Public Freightways) was one of if not the biggest carrier in the province.

In very short order from 1987 to 1990, (deregulation) several of the large companies that employed predominantly company drivers went out of business, due to the loss of the exclusivity of the territories that they had bought into, and the undercutting of people who boasted at the time, "that they could do it cheaper than any company driver." In short order, company drivers were a rare breed, and the owner operators (independant dependant contractors took over) and the industry has been in a downward spiral ever since. But as we all know, economics swing like a pendulum. That's not to say that owner operators are a bad thing, because they're not. I work in a company that has both company drivers and owner operators. And I would venture to say that most of us do pretty well each year. But its hard to compare sectors of transportation, for example, container hauling and dump trucks. Or full trailer load (t/l) vs less than trailer load (ltl). The economics vary from sector to sector.

This thread has been alot of fun, it's always interesting for me to talk to people about the industry I work in, and express my views on certain things. As well as to enlighten people to what goes on, when the cameras aren't on, or the media's not whipped into a lather calling a voluntary withdrawal of services a "strike." As Hoffa (I believe) used to say, "if you eat it, sleep on it, sit on it, write with it, use it, drive it, ride it, etc... somewhere down the line, a trucker had a hand in bringing it to you."