Trucks Blocking the Highway

​In a recent article, about 75 "independent" truckers stopped on a highway in Texas forcing police to close the road.  They were escorted off the highway and given tickets, one was arrested.  Why?  You can't block the highway, that's why.  The protest was about rates and how much brokers make on the loads.  Apparently the rates are very low right now which can prevent an owner operator from making money.  Here is the issue.  People buy a truck and think it is going to be fat city.  That might not be the case.  You aren't buying a truck, you are now running a business.  That business can actually lose money.  You are not guaranteed to make any certain amount of money or any money at all.  You might lose money and go broke.  You want to make money on each load?  Become a company driver.  This kind of stuff just aggravates me to no end. Do these owners give back money when the load price is high?  I doubt it.  Life isn't fair and you might go broke.  I said it.  Right now rates are down and this will force some out of the industry.  Those that remain will get the higher rates that are sure to come.  The driver in the article was lamenting the fact that he doesn't get any detention pay.  Who's fault is that?  The government?  No.  Company drivers (at good companies) get detention time.  A business owner gets the amount he agrees to when he takes the load.  No more, no less.  The government should only step in to enforce whatever contract the two parties agree to when they enter into the contract.  Nothing more.  There are no guarantees in life or in business ownership.  More people need to understand that before they go in business for themselves.

​See you on the road!