OOIDA Time for elections

[TeamCaffee]

It is that time once again to vote!

This year OOIDA is allowing online voting for the alternates to the Board of Directors. OOIDA has also sent paper ballots to your home.

Many of you have met Henry Albert at the Expo, the various truck shows or out on the road. He is running for one of the five alternate positions.

There is also a facebook page for Henry where he will answer any questions you might like to ask about trucking.
OOIDA members for Henry Albert

Here is the link to all of the alternates running and also their bios:

http://www.ooida.com/Secure/Online-Voting/online-voting.asp

They have also been playing the alternate interviews on XM and Sirius on Landline. These will all be replayed in December.

 

[Lawrence]

Henry is a stand-out guy! We need 10,000 more like him! Come on people - let's get out the vote for him!

 

[LDB]

I did. Now I'm authorized to complain again.

 

[TeamCaffee]

I am bumping this back up to the top as a reminder if you have not voting in the OOIDA elections you still have time.

If not a member join read the bios or listen to Landline and vote.

Last year less then 1 % of the members voted this year lets change that.

 

[greg334]

Are there any expediters running?

 

[TeamCaffee]

Nope none running which is to bad.

I know that one of the guys running has been to two expos and has a tendency to hang out with Expediter at the Louisville truck show.

 

[TeamCaffee]

12 more days to vote online!

Trucking Association, Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association

Right hand side of the screen click on
OOIDA Alternate Election online ballet and read the bios of the candidates.

 

[Yesteryear]

Checked with OOIDA to see if it is something independent drivers (not truck owners) should join. Got a reply that yes it is also for independent drivers that are driving for someone else. They also said they are having a special rate for 2 weeks starting Dec 6th for sign-up. 25.00 for 1st driver with spouse for 10.00. K and I are going to join. Might be a good idea for everyone.
Found out they have lots of benefits as well, such as, health and life insurance. WOW! We pay almost a hundred dollars a month just for our life insurance. May be able to get it cheaper through OOIDA.

 

[TeamCaffee]

OOIDA is for anyone driving a truck. Their benefits are huge with a lot to offer.

The one thing I found out on voting was that you have to be a member a spouse cannot vote.

 

[Yesteryear]

Well, guess I am a little on the slow side. I went to OOIDA once before after reading about it here on EO and started to sign myself and my husband up but once I started reading it I thought it was only for the drivers that owned a truck. Now that I know it is for ALL drivers we are signing up. Guess I should go do it now. Been meaning to "get to it" ever since I got the e-mail back on Monday. lol

 

[TeamCaffee]

I feel as if one of OOIDA biggest faults is that they do not get the word out very well to drivers or really even Owner Operators!

 

[TeamCaffee]

We are down to 5 more days to vote online or to get your paper ballot post marked!

 

[greg334]

Actually I think they do a great job getting the word out, but I think the message is lost sometimes with the call for action and other things on their website.

As for the election, I don't see any one person that can represent what this profession does which is a concern for me and others. Expediting is not mainstream trucking and there are issues that are unique to this which is not with mainstream trucking. Even with people who seem to be 'stars', the lack of any practical experience may not even be worth the effort to get them involved with any 'expediting specific issue'.

Maybe Linda or Phil can run?

 

[TeamCaffee]

I do know that of all of the candidates Henry is the only one that has been to the Expo and has spent hours on the phone learning about Expediting.

He cracks me up because he calls himself a EID - Expediter in Disguise

 

[TeamCaffee]

What I find odd or disheartening about the board is all of the "Board Members" have their own authority and there is not a women driver on the board.

 

[greg334]

See you made two good points, I offer this comment.

First you know Henry, we don't and most likely won't. He can do what I suggested to Phil, get in a truck and learn. Just because you hear about deep sea diving doesn't mean you know what it is like.

Second, I agree with you, there is a disconnect between the board members and reality of a lot of drivers/owners - gender being one of them hence my suggestion for YOU to run. The other is the business structure they represent. I think this is not a closed industry where men rule, but rather there may be an issue where women don't want to bother to put an effort into it because they don't see the rewards. I wonder if they have had a woman on the board?

 

[TeamCaffee]

Many of the Expediters do know Henry since he has been to the Expo twice and he hangs out with the Expediters at MATS. You are right though that until you drive it you do not know it...

There is no women on the board that is a driver. A women is on the board that works at OODIA and has never been a driver.

I have considered it Greg and have not decided against it.

 

[greg334]

Well.

You would have my vote.

About Henry, most expediters don't go to these shows <<**gasp**>> hence don't know him. Meeting someone at a show or having them be part of the world we work in are actually two different things. I would rather see you or even Phil (yes I am saying that and I know I didn't include Leo or others because it would be a long list) to run because both of you know what it is about due to your experience.

I may even vote for Phil

 

[ATeam]

What I find odd or disheartening about the board is all of the "Board Members" have their own authority and there is not a women driver on the board.

Having read about the candidates, I find it encouraging, not disheartening, that the would-be board members have their own authority. A common theme seems to be that they worked other positions like company driver or leased owner-operator for many years and got their own authority. It's like they have punched all their tickets and are well-equipped to speak for large numbers of drivers in all circumstances.

Keep in mind that expediting is but a tiny slice -- actually a very, very tiny slice -- of the greater trucking industry. If an expediter were to run for the OOIDA board, he or she would do well to have a broad background in trucking in addition to expediting to compete with the resumes of other candidates.

 

[TeamCaffee]

You took what I said wrong.

I wish that more O/O who are leased to companies would run for the alternate positions.

I agree that Expediting is a very small small segment in the trucking industry and the chances of getting elected to the alternate position would be tough.