June 19th, 2008 . by Dan
“Certificate of Appreciation” plaques were issued & mailed today.
We will allow time for the postal service to deliver these plaques before we release the names of the two.
So, the question is “Who is getting one of these plaques & what did he / she do to earn this award” ?
From the plaque’s
This certificate is awarded to
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
” In recognition of outstanding service and commitment to Owner-Operators United Inc. and in paticular for assistance and leadership in promoting the ideas and agenda of this association by serving as an OOU Inc. representative”
The plaques also have a letter with them.
Thank You
Dan Little
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June 19th, 2008 . by JM
Mark Kirsch suggests we listen to sirus radio lockredge report at 3 eastern time.
He also said the rally was 6 1/2 miles long bumper to bumper.
Stay Tuned: reports from todays rally are still coming in…
Here are a few links with information about the Truck Rally going on today.
http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S482894.shtml?cat=300&v=1
http://www.cbs6albany.com/video/?bcpid=1137806146&bclid=1143371293&bctid=1618618444
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June 13th, 2008 . by Dan
OOU is Taking Action
We want to let the growing number of members in OOU to be aware of what we’re doing on behalf of our members and the trucking community. Out most most recent initiative was to forward proposed federal legislation to Representative Cliff Stearns (R – Florida) seeking a reduction of the federal diesel fuel tax to equal that which is paid for gasoline. This proposed legislation will amount to a reduction of $.06 cents per gallon for diesel fuel if it is passed.
We recognize that this is not an earth shattering amount, but it is a start at reducing at least a small portion of the financial burden that we are experiencing. The current diesel fuel tax generates approximately $9.8 billion dollars in revenue for the government. This tax reduction if fully implemented will result in decreasing the federal revenue from that tax by about $2.45 billion dollars annually.
Congressman Stearns office is interested in sponsoring the legislation and we have discussed the proposal with his representatives. We are aware that there are other legislators who are interested in this proposal and in fact there appears to be at least one other bill that addresses this issue which is in the preliminary phases of consideration.
This is an election year and every elected Representative is paying close attention to the thinking of their constituencies. As we work to help you, it is always of great importance for each OOU member and trucker to be in contact with their individual elected officials. Letters, emails and phone calls to elected officials are important. They clearly send a message that you vote, pay attention to issues and can influence others in their votes.
At this point our discussions are in the initial phases, but we do have the ear of those that can make it happen. You can help.
Here is a proposed note which you can cut and paste and send to your Representative. If thousands of emails were received by Representatives, this action could be accomplished quickly
I have recently learned that the potential exists for legislation to reduce the federal diesel fuel tax to equal the tax that which is levied on gasoline. This will result in a $.06 cent reduction in the price of diesel fuel. Many over the road truckers drive about 100,000 mile or more every year and this reduction could save as much as $1000 dollars annually. That money could be used in a variety of ways to improve the quality of life of truck drivers who provide a critical and essential service to America. Additionally this money will be injected back into our economy to help propel the United States out of any possible recession. I urge you to support any initiatives in this arena and I look forward to your response.
You can contact your representative via this link.
OOU is working on a variety of issues to benefit truckers. We’re focused on you. We invite you to join with us in contacting your representative. If you are not a member of OOU please consider becoming involved. You can join here.
Wishing the best for you and yours,
Dan Little
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June 11th, 2008 . by JM
Discount on Justin Brands Boots Exclusively For OOU Members
Owner-Operators United announced today that a special arangement has been made with Justin Brands, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway Company.
Justin Brands, Inc. outlet store will offer a special OOU discount on boots bought through their outlet store in El Paso, Tx.
Sergio Lopez told Dan Little, Pres. of the OOU that any OOU INC. member wanting High quality boots can pick up the phone and order his/her boots, and will receive the OOU discount. The boots will be shipped direct to your home, all boots are shipped in a timely manner. Justin Brands,Inc. manfuctures and sells the following brands. Justin, Tony Lama, Nocona, Chippewa. All colors, styles, and sizes are available.
To pick your new boots click this link, Justin Brands, decide what style and brand you want. Then simply call Sergio Lopez and place your order. Heres The phone number to order your boots,
Justin Brands Outlet
Sergio Lopez
1-915-858-0124
You will need to know the following,
Your OOU membership number
Your OOU Exp date.
Your boot size
Style of boot you want
Brand of boot
Address where you want your boots shipped
All orders require payment prior to shipping
For your OOU Inc. Member number and Exp Date please call Dan Little at 660-542-8784. Once membership cards are printed you will have all membership info on you cards.
Thank You & enjoy your new boots
OOU Inc
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May 31st, 2008 . by Pat
| Today was the last of 3 days of working with the wonderful people from ARD. That is the German Radio & Television Network I had the great privilege of working with.
They were kind, and very considerate people that talked and filmed me for the last 3 days here in Florida. The compassion these folks showed to the truck drivers they interviewed over the last few days was as genuine as it gets. The stories the drivers told them were hard to listen to at times. How they are all trying to keep their business’s going and feed and care for their families, has become a real challenge for many. |
Let me tell you how all this got started. Dan Little received a call from Ms Audrey Stimson from ARD. She told Dan they were making a documentary about how the truckers of the USA are doing during these times of outrageous fuel prices. Dan told her about me and my situation and it was the next day that Audrey called me. She is a kind woman with a good heart. We talked for a while and after hearing her explain the interview, I agreed to do it. |
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The crew arrived in Orlando Sunday <May 25th>. We met for the first time on Monday. I met Audrey Stimson, the boss lady, lol. She was the woman that put this all together. A beautiful woman with a soft spoken voice, that got things done. She spoke several languages and probably has a passport thicker then the grease on a fifth wheel, lol. She was kind and compassionate and made a lasting impression on me. Even with allof her experiences all around the world, she was a humble and well spoken woman who you’d be proud to know. |
| Then there was that crazy Frenchman, Matthew who was the camera man. A man with a great sense of humor, and a head full of stories to tell. A worldly traveler and a man that promised me my butt wouldn’t look big in the pictures, lmao! Such an interesting job he had. The only draw back I could see was holding that 35-40 lb. camera on his shoulder all the time. He would often use the tri-pod to give his poor shoulder a break. He had the patience of a saint. Thank God for that, cuz he had to work with me, a truck driver from Florida, lol. I know how I am sometimes, lol. |
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Last but not least was Stan who hails from Maryland, on the sound equipment. A big man with a gentle heart. Stan was the man that had to hook me up with a wireless microphone. He’d make me laugh every time he said he had to “turn me on”. lol. Then I’d laugh again when it was time to turn me off, lol. He was so darn nice. He had a smile a mile wide, an a deep voice that reassured you were doing a good job, even if I didn’t know what I was doing, lol. A good man for sure! |
| The crew consisted of Udo Lielischkies, the correspondent, and producer of many films. He had a soothing voice and a way about him that totally took the fear out of me in an instant. I feel most honored to have met him. He rolled his own cigarettes with a style and speed that was unequal,lol. He was a man that could picture things before they’d happen. We rode together a lot during those 3 days, and we talked about anything and everything. He made me feel at home even with his heavy German accent. Udo is a wonderful man and I am proud and honored to say I worked with him. |
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These were professional people who did their jobs very well. They made me feel comfortable 2 minutes after meeting with them all. I was more then a little bit nervous at the thought of being interviewed. I am also one of those people that hates to have her picture taken, let alone be on camera. All my fears went out of my head, as they introduced themselves to me. These were good folks.
I don’t want to ruin their story, so I will tell you these wonderful people worked with me and many others to get the real view and raw feelings that we are all feeling since fuel has jumped to record high prices. They wanted to see how we, as American’s are being effected by it all. I honestly believe they got what they were seeking. Interviews with hard working men and women of the trucking industry. From drivers, to drivers that carried their families with them in these hard time. They saw the people in the truck repair business that is closing his doors because the lack of trucks to repair is so down. Thousands of O/O parking their trucks because it is no longer profitable to run them anymore. They saw what was happening at the dealerships and even more when I showed them the used truck lots over flowing with used trucks. One company told us that a lot of the excess trucks are being shipped to Russia |
| Even the company drivers are feeling the pinch. Many have all ready been told that the company will no longer hand out bonus’s or be getting a pay raise any time soon.
One O/O in Tampa told us that he talked to a friend in the banking business. He, like myself was interested in knowing just how many trucks had been turned back in to the dealers, or were repo’d or broke leases because they could no longer afford to run their trucks. He told us the bank person told him that 91,000 trucks had been given back! I can’t say if that is a true figure, but just by looking around and seeing trucks parked in yard after yard, it could bear some merit. I am working with my local Kenworth dealer to get a figure from him. I’ll let you know what I find out when he gets the list compiled. |
Audrey & Udo spoke with truckers pulling every type of trailer out there. We are all in the same desperate situation for all of the same reasons. When I was asked who I was mad at, I told them there is plenty of anger to go around. The oil companies, the government, congress, every elected official that pretends they don’t hear us. The states, the cities, the list goes on & on. There is no ONE place to place the blame. Not even that knot head that lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, in Washington DC. Don’t get me started on that dumb ass! GRRR! |
Regular people in restaurants would walk up to us and ask what the story was about. Udo & Audrey would tell them fuel prices. That’s all it took to get these every day people involved in a conversation. Telling of the hardship they were enduring on a day to day basics. Construction workers that were drowning in debt because their heavy equipment ran on diesel fuel too. Angry customers that didn’t want to pay a fuel surcharge, but had no choice. Every single one of them had a story about how the high gas & diesel prices are hurting them & their families. Large
trucking companies that didn’t want to go on camera and talk about their dire situations, maybe because they were to embarrassed or was it because they had something to hide. I don’t know? Does it even really matter now? Not to me. I just want to find a job so I can pay my bills. |
I try my darnest to keep a positive attitude, but even that is becoming a task lately. I did my best to get the crew to buy my horses and horse trailer, lol, but they said it would be to hard to get them on the plane, lol. I told them every thing I have is for sale! That’s exactly what it has come to with me. My house is going to be one big yard sale here pretty soon. I hate it too!
Okay, I can’t give anymore away about the film, but as soon as they tell me when it will air, I’ll be glad to pass that info along to you. I was blessed to have met these fine people that are truly interested in what is happening to people all over the world. They too are looking for a solution. I to have met these fine people that are truly interested in what is happening to people all over the world. They too are looking for a solution. I them all. I miss them all ready!
The last thing I am going to say is directed to Matt, the camera man. If my butt looks big, buddy, I will hunt you down! <wink>
Thanks y’all for a fun 3 days of working with super good people. God bless y’all! A special thanks to Dan for making this all happen. It has enriched my life more then you could ever know. Thank you Dan!
Pat |
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| ARD German Radio & Television Network. This is us after finishing up another hard day of interviews and filming.
From Left to right..Audrey Stimson, Udo Lielischkies, Matthew, camera man & Stan the man doing the sound. Yeah, that empty seat with the Bud on the table is mine, lol |
Here we are at the end of the day. Looking for that cold brown bottle. My kind of friends! We had stopped at a restaurant in Polk City that I used to work for after Jerry passed away. It’s called Country Angels. It was worked into the story as me going there to ask if they needed any help, cuz I was looking for a job. It was a lot of fun. I got to see a lot of my old customers while we were there. It was really nice. Too much fun! |
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May 28th, 2008 . by ownerope
While it’s not the cover of the Rolling Stone it’s a great start. Owner Operators United Executive Board Member Jessie Hendley was quoted in yesterday’s New York Times.
As his logging business expanded in the pine and hardwood forests of eastern Georgia, Jesse Hendley got into trucking. He scraped together the cash gradually to acquire seven tractor-trailers so that he could not only sell timber to mills in the south, but also charge the mills for delivery.
Today, though, all seven rigs are parked. The soaring price of diesel fuel — over $4.50 a gallon from $2.50 a year ago — has stripped the profit from hauling.
Read The Full Article Here
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May 26th, 2008 . by ownerope
OOU looks into new Program
The OOU is looking into a new program that if made into law could help the entire trucking industry.
The program would help to raise rates as well as bring about a better understanding of our industry.
Heres a sneek peek at the program outline.
Please Note,
This program was written using the pork checkoff and the beef checkoff as models.
This is simply a rough draft of the program and has a long way to go before being presented to any govermental agency.
Please send your comments on this program to Dan Little at The OOU inc.
dlittle@owneroperatorsunited.org
Truck Checkoff Program
Trucking has always faced a variety of challenges, but it’s probably more important than ever to study and communicate with the organizations working to keep the focus on merchandising our service. The truck checkoff is the one industry controlled program seeking to build markets, promote truckings essential role in the nation and deal with dramatic changes in how the industry needs to be presented.
Ours is a diverse and complex industry, but it’s never been more important for us to understand how to bring various segments together for a common cause. Today that shared purpose is building demand for better rates by addressing the specific needs of our changing consumer target.
Economics in the trucking industry have led to lots of questions about every aspect of our industry. Concerns about what the checkoff can do to address various problems that have arisen.
The bottom-line reason for a checkoff is to understand and communicate with our customers. It’s an ever-changing marketplace, and the service we offer must meet changing demands.
The checkoff acts as a catalyst for change. The checkoff doesn’t own trucking companies. It can’t single-handedly turn around low freight rates. Nor does it create good rates by itself. Trucking companies never intended it to be in the business of hauling or handling freight. What is wanted is a way to stimulate shippers and recievers to raise rates. This can be done through direct advertising, cooperative marketing, public relations efforts, education programs and assistance.
Where would truck checkoff dollars be invested?
Research provides the foundation for checkoff funded activity. All information and promotion projects are developed based on marketing, trucking safety and development research.
Promotion encompasses advertising, merchandising, and point-of-shipping programs that enhance the appeal of trucking to the customers.
Consumer Information creates a positive image for trucking by repeating and reinforcing the trucking industry’s messages through news media, teachers, and other influential audiences.
Industry Information improves perceptions and understanding of the trucking industry through programs aimed at key thought leaders. Information programs create a positive view of the trucking industry by helping to manage misleading publicity concerning safety and environmental issues.
Who would control the checkoff monies and how they are spent?
A board would be set up to oversee all monies funded thru the truck checkoff program.
This board would be made up of 10 trucking co’s from each state, each with small one truck operations thru large fleet operations.
Who would pay the checkoff money into the program?
The checkoff money would come from the shipper and the receiver.
How much would the checkoff fund be per load?
It would cost both the shipper & the receiver .50 cents each per load.
The checkoff program has been succesful in othe industry’s thru out the nation.
It has provided education, research, and media attention that benifited everyone.
Would the checkoff program cost the trucking industry anything?
No, again the shipper and reciever pay for the program.
Would the federal or local goverments be allowed access to the money?
No, the only funding to go to the goverment would be for inforcement of checkoff rules.
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May 20th, 2008 . by ownerope
OOU Members Overseas
The OOU, has members that are at this very moment serving overseas in war zones.
Daniel Kupke from Paris, IL is serving overseas as a contractor. {please note, Daniels location is being with held to assure his safety}
I have been in email contact with Daniel over the past few days. Here is a direct quote from Daniel on one of those emails.
” I’m no hero I’m just a truck driver helping the real hero’s (our military) out n trying to make their job easier !!!”
I and everyone here at Owner Operators United Inc. take our hats off to Daniel for doing his part to make this world safer for everyone.
I will ask Daniel if he wants his email address made public, so that everyone can contact him directly.
Till then Please keep Daniel and his family in your prayers.
Daniel say’s email him here ash_ca_la@yahoo.com
OOU Staff
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May 11th, 2008 . by ownerope
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April 24th, 2008 . by ownerope
Dan Little, CEO of the newly formed Owner Operators United Inc. announced today that The OOU Inc has employed one of the country’s largest law firms to oversee and handle the corporations legal issues. Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP is one of the country’s largest law firms. They have corporate and litigation experience in every aspect of business and commercial enterprise.
Headquartered in the heart of the Midwest, They have offices in Kansas City, Jefferson City, Omaha, Overland Park, St. Louis and Wichita.They also reach east and west with offices in Phoenix and Washington D.C. With more than 360 attorneys and 420 trained support staff, They have the resources, state-of-the-art technology and depth of practice expected from a national firm, as well as the personalized client service characteristic of smaller firms.
Their client base is as diverse as their practice areas. From Fortune 500 corporations to small businesses and individuals, publicly and privately-held companies, as well as not-for-profits and municipalities, They represent clients of every description and on every level – local, national, and international.
The OOU Inc Exec. Board of directors, felt that the OOU Inc needed a law firm that would give its members strength, and with a firm such as this, we will have.
The Best Lawyers in America® 2008 Edition Lists 77 Attorneys from Stinson Morrison Hecker
Firm Ranked in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
Firm Listed in National Law Journal’s Top 250 Survey
Financial Services Division Recognized by American Banker’s Leading Legal Advisers’ List
The OOU is planning to have several members from this law firm speak at upcoming events held by the OOU Inc.
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