Prayer Breakfast for Port of Seattle Truck Drivers

[TheErik249]

I've been haulin cans in Seattle since November 1997. I've witnessed "The African Invasion" as I call it. This really ramped up in about 2002. Somali's,Eritreans and Ethiopians. They all get the gravy runs,but at a severely CUT rate. Pacer cartage,Edgmon & sons,Seattle frieght and Western Ports lease them on to haul whats called dock to rail. The ship to the rail yard. As an owner operator,the standard pay is 80% of the rate. They need to stop taking that work and hold out for the real rate.

[NightriderXP1]

I was a driver in Wyoming. It wasn't glamorous. They ran us into the ground. A 10 hour shift would have been great. We were expected to drive around the clock & if we refused a run because we were too exhausted, the dispatcher would starve us on future runs. We had to maintain 2 log books, 1 showing our actual hours for the company & 1 for the DOT, manipulated to appear legal. There was no insurance or benefits of any kind. That was 27 years ago & it appears that nothing has improved...

[SuperAlula]

Indeed, we are not protected by any state or federal government. Our voices are weak in the community we choose to exisist. Look at us, we don't have the usuall look, accent as well as the usuall protection from the government.. We are voulnerable for any thing. we are the easiest pray for any one. The only governmental intity interested in our soul, body and mind is the IRS. How come? is that the only coverag we bought when we got out to pursu our American dreams. Is the IRS profiling?