Trucking: Sleep When You Can, Drive When You Have To (part1)

This is a video I made for a social inequality class a few years ago. I apologize for the sound quality.

I also need to mention that the reference to Jamaican farmers is my attempt to highlight the similarities between truck drivers in the United States and small farmers/business owners/ workers all over the world.

Truck drivers were once protected by a regulatory structure that prevented destructive competition (from 1934 to 1980 the Motor Carrier Act did this) and Jamaican farmers were also once protected by regulations that prevented destructive competition (tariffs). Both groups now stand unprotected in the global economy and, unlike Jamaican farmers/workers no documentary has been made about the hardships of truck drivers in the US. Given the economic and cultural significance of truck drivers I find this hard to believe!

Statistical evidence indicates that OTR truck drivers, who were once among the highest paid blue collar workers in the nation, have not had a "real wage" (wages adjusted for inflation) increase since 1974 and that working conditions continue to decline. As the pay structure stagnates or declines, state and corporate interference is on the increase for drivers. More and more transport companies use electronic/satellite surveillance devices in trucks to monitor drivers and DOT enforcement is on the rise.

This occupation, this trade is essential for the security and economic well being of our nation . . . and the global economy too!
This film asks the question: "How can such an important and highly skilled segment of our occupational structure be treated so poorly?"


*the activist in the opening scene is there to highlight a question I often ask, "why are we not working on problems in our own communities?" I think it is much easier and safer to march, yell and give opinions about the injustices on the other side of the world than it is to face local issues.

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVBVWwjFeVA

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Trucking
• truck
• driver
• trucker
• peterbilt
• kenworth
• deregulation
• sweatshop
• semi-truck
• big
• rig
• 18
• wheeler