OOIDA tour

[LDB]

I've passed by their building several times and this morning while passing with extra time available stopped in. I was given a very nice tour and got to meet some of the folks working there on our behalf. They know what they are doing and are truly working with out best interest in mind. The only thing missing is your support.

Many reading this are not members. There's plenty of hand wringing and gnashing of teeth and calling for strikes and yet many of those folks are not OOIDA members. At 150k+ members they have a presence and get listened to but they don't always get heard. If we could get that number up to 500k+ members they would not only be listened to, they'd be heard. They do a good job now and accomplish quite a bit. They'll accomplish a lot more when everyone gets off their behind and joins. The old saying "there's strength in numbers" is never more true than it is here.

Membership is less than $1 a week and if you use a current member's ID number to sign up it's $20 off the usual rate. Whatever you've been waiting for, with $4 fuel and 8 hour split log requirement, NOW is the time. Join and be part of the solution or remain a non-member and stay part of the problem.

 

[Jack_Berry]

leo i have one question. why does their website show roughly 160,000 members and i have number 889911? is it that only 160K are still active? david hall is 750something so there have to be new members applying.

 

[LDB]

I have no idea how their numbering system works. Considering we are in a 100% plus annual turnover profession it's possible they are going through them that fast however I just don't know.

 

[nightcreacher]

leo,, my number is 263839,and Ive been a member for awhile.Great post by the way

 

[Jack_Berry]

ledo,

i hope i did not come off confrontational. that was not my intention. i have heard one of the open road guys bemoaning the lack of members. when i look at passing trucks i definately see a lack of members.

its not just renewal members with a discount. i think anyone can get it. i called mine in and got tyhe renewal telling the lady i heard on the bozo show.

 

[LDB]

No, not at all. I just didn't have that answer and gave the only guess I have on it. I renewed mine every year at the truck show and got the discount then as well, until I went life member. Even if the discount was only available the first time I'd still consider membership a must have.

 

[CharlesD]

OOIDA membership really pays for itself. They helped me out so much when I decided to get my authority and they have given me a lot of information that has helped me be more profitable. Maybe I'll make a point of stopping in the next time I'm in KC. I've always wanted to.

 

[Crazynuff]

leo i have one question. why does their website show roughly 160,000 members and i have number 889911? is it that only 160K are still active? david hall is 750something so there have to be new members applying.

Simple math shows over 700,000 decided the membership wasn't worth renewing . I'm one of those and I'm not going to bash OOIDA . What works for some doesn't work for others . I'd say a $20 trial is worth it .

 

[LDB]

Simple math shows over 700,000 decided the membership wasn't worth renewing.

Actually it shows how many people leave trucking and no longer retain membership. Considering they've been around since 1973 that's not all that many leaving. Anyone that can't get their money's worth between a lot of good information in the magazine and discounts on tires and other necessities is passing over the small amount of money they spend on the membership. That much can easily be recovered. More importantly, far far more importantly, is what you are doing not only for yourself but for everyone else in the industry by pushing the membership total to a number that has to be heard.

I really don't understand how anyone can't see that it's not a you/me thing. It's an us thing. OOIDA is the voice for us. IF there is a solution at all to our problems it is OOIDA. Nobody else out there is working on our behalf. So, I'll say it one more time, you are either part of the problem or part of the solution. I'm a member. I'm part of the solution.

 

[Crazynuff]

I respect your opinion but see things a little differently . What is more effective , an organization saying they are speaking for 160,000 people or 160,000 people individually contacting their representatives ? The representatives have no idea where those 160,000 people are or if they even bother to vote or keep track of how representatives vote . Why do we need an organization to speak for us when we are capable of speaking for ourselves ? The OOIDA hasn't been very effective in those areas (fuel surcharge , split sleeper) . As far as that goes I don't agree with them on the split sleeper (but team drivers I do see your point of view on it ) When I start at 6 a.m. running until 8 p.m. is enough . If I have some down time I don't want a dispatcher expecting me to run until midnight because they know I had a chance to take a for hour break . So on that issue OOIDA is fighting against me , not for me . But that's just me and my opinion . For others OOIDA is benefiting them .

 

[LDB]

Out of 160,000 maybe 1,600 make those calls. I'd prefer every single one of the 160,000 make frequent and repeated calls. Since that's not going to happen, the next best thing is to have a strong group pushing for us. It's up to you to tell dispatch yes or no. For all our safety I'd like to see OOIDA strong enough to push through a legal 5/5 option. Again, one may not see the results that most benefit them, but they see the best overall results. Would you rather have OOIDA's sensible solutions or the ATA's 63mph speed limiters? There may be no solution. There may at best be only a partial solution. Whatever there is, OOIDA is the solution and one is either part of the solution or part of the problem.

 

[cheri1122]

Agree with Leo: our professional lives are ruled by the many Federal entities (DOT, FMCSA, etc) that don't "hear" any individual voices, only collective ones - and OOIDA is the only voice we have working for us. Y'all know the old saying "Together we stand, divided we fall", right? Well, I'd rather stand - wouldn't you?

 

[nobb4u]

I have always wondered how anyone could ever think that the ATA has anything thing to do with drivers. It is The American TRUCKING Association. They never have and never will give two hoots about the drivers. I think they feel drivers are a dime a dozen and they treat them as such. The ATA has never done anything that does not help the trucking companies. If it was called The American TRUCKERS Association they might look at the drivers as actually being humans not just something they can use to make money.
So comparing OOIDA to ATA is like comparing pennies to dollars. Guess who has which.
If as drivers and owner operators we all actually joined together we could rule the universe. But because we are our own worst enemies it will never happen. But OOIDA keeps trying.

 

[greg334]

Leo,
The OOIDA is a great thing to join, but they are not a lobbying group, they have little influence without their members getting involved with their Political Action Committee (PAC). For some reason 160,000 members don't all contribute to their PAC but many do take the time to write.

See they, the OOIDA PAC depends on you, the voter to be the voice.

 

[LDB]

When the OOIDA PAC walks in the door they are the voice of 161,551 people. Contributing to the PAC is voluntary and optional. They operate with what they get but they don't walk in the door saying "Hi, we're OOIDA and we represent xx,xxx members who support the PAC". They are counted as 161,551 strong.

I'll tell you, I'm up to there having to explain why everyone needs to be part of OOIDA. So far I've been emphatic but polite, however I think I've used up all the politeness. So before I start telling people that if they don't belong to OOIDA so our number is as large as it potentially could be how short sighted and stupid they are I'll move on to other areas.

 

[ATeam]

OOIDA lifetime member here and contributor to the OOIDA PAC and litigation funds.

While we have enjoyed some help from OOIDA, we know others have enjoyed much more. For those who need it, OOIDA is a great resource in resolving disputes with carriers and/or fleet owners, and in understanding the issues at play. We support OOIDA not only to help ourselves, but other truckers too.

We also appreciate the political action alerts they send. It is a nice assist in knowing what issues are in play in Washington and especially when a call or letter to our elected officials will be timely and most effective.

 

[greg334]

I'll tell you, I'm up to there having to explain why everyone needs to be part of OOIDA. So far I've been emphatic but polite, however I think I've used up all the politeness. So before I start telling people that if they don't belong to OOIDA so our number is as large as it potentially could be how short sighted and stupid they are I'll move on to other areas.

Good Leo, then you and I are just two.

I am absolutely fed up with hearing that one organization represents anyone while in fact they can only do so much.

I say support the OOIDA 100%, give money to the PAC and other funds, become life members when you all can but don't fall into the trap that they are the way to represent an owner or a driver alone.

Unfortunately many do, many think that joining one group or another is the only thing that they need to do to have a voice - it is not the only way or the most important way.

I am glad you are 'up to there' with my comments. Now start asking people if they vote or are even registered to vote - that is what is really is missing in this industry.

 

[arkjarhead]

It's been awhile since I've listened to the Bozo Show, but I used to tune in on my XM everyday. I recall him telling everyone to join OOIDA, and I did. I also recall him telling everyone you can't just leave it up to OOIDA to do everything we have to help by calling and writing.

When my 100% disability claim was pending my family called our Rep in Pine Bluff and some called their Rep in Jonesboro. I had an aunt in Texas call her, and my wife's uncle one in California and a bunch of my military buddies called their Reps all over the country. In 2 months I had my increase. You may think so what? I have talked to guys at the V.A. in worse shape than me who fought the V.A. for 10 years, but never thought to contact a Rep. If enough calls come in they will listen.

OOIDA is a good deal. They helped me when an owner had a company file a false abondment on my dac. That was worth the 25 bucks. Plus the magazine is a good read. I never got my card in the mail so I don't know my number. Actually I think it's time to renew.

 

[Crazynuff]

Agree with Leo: our professional lives are ruled by the many Federal entities (DOT, FMCSA, etc) that don't "hear" any individual voices, only collective ones - and OOIDA is the only voice we have working for us. Y'all know the old saying "Together we stand, divided we fall", right? Well, I'd rather stand - wouldn't you?

Yes , but how many times have you read OOIDA criticizes FMCSA for this or OOIDA criticizes NHTSA for that ? Hearing all that criticism doesn't exactly set the mood for favorable action . I do have to say OOIDA backs its arguments with facts and verifiable data , unlike ATA , Public Citizen , and Road Safe America .

 

[LDB]

OOIDA regularly employs constructive criticism. If they didn't criticize the things that are wrong they wouldn't be doing their job. As you point out, they also have the facts to back up what they say. That's another reason to support them and strengthen their argument.