Letters: Oak Harbor Strike, Freight Brokers, Mexican Trucks, Cap-and-Trade

These Letters to the Editor appear in the March 23 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today.

Oak Harbor Strike

Teamsters International Vice President Al Hobart brags that “due to the effectiveness of the [union] strike,” Oak Harbor Freight Lines has been forced to cut its workforce by more than 50% (3-9, p. 18; click here for previous story).

Is this something to be proud of?

Only 277 of the 538 Teamsters will return to work; what happens to the other 261 brothers?

It is no wonder that eight union terminals have filed petitions to decertify. Eventually, all 12 will petition — and with good reason.

Dennis Stave

Senior Vice President, Operations

MTS Freight

Helena, Mont.

Freight Brokers

A letter written in the March 9 issue regarded freight brokers

and said they were “absolutely driving trucking companies into the ground because of the cheap rates they offer.” (Click here for previous letter.)

I have been in this business for 45 years — the last 17 of those years with my own company brokerage. This company has its own rate level and published tariff, which is above the carrier rates. I mostly use regulated carriers for my customers, because we mainly haul refrigerated food products. The letter said the brokers were the ones cutting the rates.

Let me tell you that it’s the carriers cutting their rates and the brokers having to cut theirs. Most brokers out in the field today are what the letter said — just out to move freight at any cost — and the carriers sufferthe consequences. This type of brokerage hurts my business because people think they’re all the same, which is not true.

I have five trucks of my own, and I know the costs associated with owning them. We also depend on some owner-operators, and believe me, we take care of them because they are the ones who make our revenue.

In the letter, the writer said the company couldn’t afford to move freight for “less than a dollar a mile.” Let me tell you that there are regulated carriers moving freight out to the West Coast for less than a dollar a mile, pulling a refrigerated trailer.

If the writer’s company is having such a bad time with the brokers, they should make it policy to move their own freight versus brokered freight. Maybe they would come out ahead of the game. Or maybe they should get acquainted with the Transportation Intermediaries Association, and TIA could direct them to good brokers who don’t cut freight rates.

Al Martineck Sr.

President

All Together Transportation

Joliet, Ill.

Mexican Trucks

The article saying the Mexican truck program was being ended was welcome, but now I’ve read that the president is looking to start it up again (3-16, p. 5; click here for previous story).

I hope common sense will return to people making decisions affecting our nation. As a nation, we are in deep trouble because of past actions taken by public officials.

Huey Campbell

Fleet Specialist

Alabama Power Co.

Eufaula, Ala.

Cap-and-Trade

In an effort to stifle the process of free trade and open markets, the liberals have come up with a marvelous plan to do just that, as described in the March 2 article headlined “Obama’s Call for Cap-and-Trade a Concern for ATA Chairman” (p. 2; click here for previous Premium Content story).

Having shown that “global warming” is a lie, and climate change is something that always happens, why would we allow a government bent on running capitalism into the ground to shove a program like this into our faces? Now is the time for all corporations to unify on a single purpose — no more taxes.

At a time when the nation is in financial turmoil, more taxes are just what we do not need. History has always shown this point to be true. Spending is not a stimulus unless the consumer is the entity doing the spending.

As Americans, we have the right to prosper. We have the right to eek opportunities for growth that are not hindered by those who would pervert the very system that has made this country great. We can build businesses without the help of government and special interests, both of which already have created too much interference in the free market.

When will we learn that “big government” is not the answer? When will we learn that liberal means “give away the farm?” When will we stand up for what is right? I can provide jobs if I don’t have to give away all my resources to the government. That is what America is all about.

Leigh Cromleigh

President

Cromco Transport Group

Clinton, Ohio