Mama's don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys

Nov. 19, 2013 - PRLog -- In April of 2013, the “Titans of Transportation” along with members of the U.S. House of Representatives got together to discuss the future of freight movement in United States.  The discussion includes the safe transportation of goods and their direct affects the economy.  They also explain the car one drives, the shirt one wears, and the food one eats was at one point in the back of a truck.  They expel data and predict increases for the demands of transporting good from manufacturers to the masses.  Calculating every move and labeling the move with a number or a dollar figure.  The “Titans of Transportation” and the elected members of the House seem to have it all worked out except for one small detail.  Those trucks ain’t gonna drive themselves!

The little guy, Owner Operators, built this country by working long hours, eating unhealthy truck-stop food, supporting unsightly truck-stop waitresses, and drinking gallons of horrible coffee.  I know because, I too, am a driver.  I have loved every aspect of my career in transportation.  One enjoys a certain freedom as a trucker.  No boss breathing down your neck, the office view always changes, and the pride one feels when he or she makes the calls, takes a risk, and reaps the reward.  However, the rewards are becoming less and less as more hands rummage through the little guy’s pockets.

 I am saddened by the state of the economy, the nation’s job losses, and the destruction of the entrepreneurial spirit that made America great.  The Federal Government and the Department of Transportation (DOT) continue passing legislation that discourages Owner Operator and cripples small fleets who cannot afford to operate certain lanes for a loss and then make up the revenue on lanes the “Big Boys” have monopolized with their enormous presence.  Consider this, what happens when all the Owner Operators are gone?  Who will control the nation’s freight lanes?  Who will set the rates, control the freight, and determine the needs of the consumer?  You guessed it, the “Titans of Transportation.”

As if the cost of fuel is not enough, Owner Operators face the new Environment Protection Agency (EPA) laws that add thousand to truck operation with the additional cost of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF).  This affects the cost for purchasing new units and eliminates the use of older equipment.  Of course, for a nominal fee, older equipment can be outfitted with the new, fuel consuming equipment, increasing operating costs by using more fuel, and yet supposedly reducing exhaust emissions by basically burning two fuel commodities instead of one.  Loosing horsepower and lugging the motor during operation simply does not reduce pollution, reduce fuel consumption, or save the environment.  The only creation here is an increase in costs, and we all know who pays for that.

As a broker, a driver, and an Owner Operator, I support the little guy.  I also support and broker freight for companies who support Owner Operators.  Owner Operators have a vested interest in the safe operation of their equipment.  Owner Operators succeed when operating their equipment efficiently to minimize fuel consumption, which saves energy, reduces wear on the roads, and reduces consumer costs.  Let us remember the people who operate these trucks.  They have families, lives, and are out there to serve you.

Even the “Titans of Transportation” agree that transporting the goods of the nation to the people of the nation is imperative to support and repair a recovering economy, but fail to mention the people who make it happen on America’s highways.  Yes, goods are transported by rail, water, and air, but a truck brings it to the dock to be loaded for transport.  More important, a driver brings it in a truck.  A driver who misses his or her family operates that truck.  A driver who chases the American dream of business ownership, job security, and strives to provide a better life for his or her family by working long hours and sacrificing time with friends and family bring it.  He or she gets the items you need and want, to a place where you can load it up in your truck, and safely bring it on home.