In response to multiple replies and/or posts on here...
Seems as though everybody is in an uproar over everything -
Wait in line for hours for ice, go without TV, without radio, without air conditioning, refrigerators, ceiling fans, cars, trucks, water, bread, clean clothes for days on end.
For us, the drivers that move America in all different forms...
Our main concern should be Fuel.
In my opinion... Things could get solved real quick.
IF:
Owner/Operators and/or Large trucking Co.'s simply stopped moving.
***With the exception of those involved with Hurricane Relief.
No rocket science, just lay down the laws. We, none of us, whether we're co. drivers or owner operators, can make a decent living if the costs of everything from bread and milk to oil and diesel continues to skyrocket.
Costs are driven up easily, Diesel goes up, the trucker/trucking company charges more to pay the fuel and survive themselves.
The middle man charges more to make money themselves, since they've just shelled out money for Diesel that is 2.79+, not to mention the mileage rate just shot up on them.
Then the grocery store or Travel stop has no choice but to charge more for the items since it cost them so much just to get it to the shelf.
The storm hit Monday into Tuesday. The Jackson, MS Convention Center parking lot was nearly full late Sunday nite/early Monday morning with utility and bucket trucks... ready to go in. People want to point fingers because there were so many effected and so many organizations involved in the rush to get in to help. Tuesday the storm was still hitting areas in MS and AL. Tuesday Nite into Weds. morning the ABA (American Bus Association) was sending out faxes with the title "Bus Industry Alert"... asking any and all bus co.'s that if they can spare even one bus to send it down to New Orleans. The pay was 3.50 per loaded mile, 2.25 DH, Fuel was promised at all staging areas, Fuel was not there. Neither was Food or showers.
None the less, Weds. PM we had 2 of our 5 coaches go into New Orleans. The other 3 were on the road elsewhere in the eastern part of the U.S.. These 2 drivers drove all nite from SC to New Orleans, then proceeded to move literally hundreds of people over the course of the next 3 days. At one point there were over 800 busses inbetween Houston, TX, and New Orleans area moving out people. Some of these busses were moving with very little sleep, along with countless expediters and semi trucks moving supplies into the area. Busses as well were being utilized as freight movers in parts of Texas and south western Louisiana. Busses are down there right now being utilized as field hospitals, sleeping quarters for news and media crews, moving utility crews around the clock, military and police personell, EMT's, search and rescue teams, even acting as mobile command centers for different organizations and companies.
These busses and trucks came in from all over the US to help who? Why none other than our fellow American.
People are online griping about levees and Senate leaders and FEMA and Military.
Hand a cold bottle of water to somebody and watch as they break into tears because it's the 1st thing they've had cold to drink in two and a half days...
One week ago that person was a waiter with a job and apartment and car.
Today they're in a convention center, sleeping on a cot. Their workplace was wiped off it's foundation, their apartment is mostly under water, and their car is nearly completely under water. No Home, No Job, No Car... unsure of what lies ahead for them and their family.
People down there are homeless, and 2 weeks ago most of them had jobs, places to live, and cars... even computers to go on the internet and view awesome websites like ExpeditersOnline.com.
What would they think if they saw all this argueing going on within the internet community?
There are truck drivers, including but not limited to fellow expediters, who have interrupted their "normal operations" and what they're doing and turned to help. There's trucks down there delivering anything and everything one can imagine to assist these people.
Wait in line for 2 hours... for one bag of ice, maybe then many on here griping will see things differently.
Yes, the help was late, but it's there.
The help is there, and it's there now.
People down there are no longer griping,
they are happy as happy can be for the moment, they're safe...
they are being fed, they are sleeping better...
why?
Because of the American People. Because of us that have stayed up all nite on phones to get the help in the areas it's been needed, because of us that have driven all nite and sat all day in a line moving 50 feet every 15 minutes.
FEMA and the Red Cross can not DO everything,
Nor can they solve every problem.
There's alot more that goes into a disaster area than just FEMA and the Red Cross.
Look at CNN and MSNBC and watch the news tickertape at the bottom the TV screen and look at all the different agencies and organizations asking for help. There are radio stations all over the country attempting to fill not one, but sometimes as many as 5 (five) 53 foot trailers with supplies and sending them down there. Trucks are still rolling down there, moving supplies in, moving supplies around to effected areas. Reefer trucks are all over down there. Chances are, if it's got tires or tracks, it's going to be down there soon.
The busses have gone in, from all over - California charter bus co.'s to the New York City Transit system, Ohio to Florida, have gotten the people out of harms way, gotten them away from dangers of looters and criminals and high waters, away from the insects and disease that is spreading (though trying to be contained).
They've gotten them out, so that workers can go in...
rebuild, and get them back in.
We have worked together, while it did not look like harmony from the outside views... consider for a moment...
In 4 days... nearly 100,000 people were moved between 3 states... Nearly an Entire City. With roughly 800 to 1,000 busses that can accomodate roughly 50 people at a time... work in the logistics of making that happen. Some of us on this site know what goes into moving just 2 small pallets of Automotive parts up the road... imagine moving people.
Car parts don't talk, they don't cry,
they don't argue, they don't fight
they don't even have to go to the bathroom!
Now also consider this... at the same time busses were moving people out, trucks of all shapes and sizes were moving goods into the same area's. Thousands, upon thousands of truck drivers were moving freight in... into an area of uncertainty.
They continue to do so. Some were asked, though many were not.
We, the American People, just did.
Nearly entire cities have been relocated, with the help of trucks, busses, helicopters... and more. All that was made with parts brought by trucks at some point in time.
As we did all this, the media doesn't touch too much on the fact that Kuwait offered $5 million dollars, and that other countries are offering money, and equipment to help us. What many countries call the "Worlds Police", The USA, they're offering help!
Bus drivers move people in all the right directions...
Truck drivers move America...
and Expediters roll to keep you rolling...
Be Proud, don't gripe, We're doing a fantastic job through all this.
Walk a mile in their shoes, then you can gripe.
For many of them the losses are too much for FEMA, The Red Cross, and any other organization to handle.
Family photos, family possessions that are priceless, irreplaceable.
Thousands of homes, cars, and furniture will need to be replaced.
Those that can not be replaced...
Family members, from Mom to Uncle Ted to Grandpa to Dog and Kitty.
Be grateful in life for what you have, as many along the Gulf Coast have found, it can all be lost.
What can you do? Call Mom, tell her you love her, some of us are not able to do that. Call that family member you haven't spoken to in awhile, say hi, enjoy their voice. Pet your dog, dig out the family photo album, enjoy it. Sit on the sofa and enjoy it. Enjoy the trees at your house and in your local city park.
Savor the taste of that cold beer or cold glass of sweet tea. Enjoy your microwave in your rig and smile when you eat the meal that comes out of it. Tip your waitress, because you have the money to do so. Whether you like them or not, Say hi to your neighbor, because you know they are there.
Do all those things... why?
Because you can... and others... can no longer.
Sincerely,
BigBusBob
Seems as though everybody is in an uproar over everything -
Wait in line for hours for ice, go without TV, without radio, without air conditioning, refrigerators, ceiling fans, cars, trucks, water, bread, clean clothes for days on end.
For us, the drivers that move America in all different forms...
Our main concern should be Fuel.
In my opinion... Things could get solved real quick.
IF:
Owner/Operators and/or Large trucking Co.'s simply stopped moving.
***With the exception of those involved with Hurricane Relief.
No rocket science, just lay down the laws. We, none of us, whether we're co. drivers or owner operators, can make a decent living if the costs of everything from bread and milk to oil and diesel continues to skyrocket.
Costs are driven up easily, Diesel goes up, the trucker/trucking company charges more to pay the fuel and survive themselves.
The middle man charges more to make money themselves, since they've just shelled out money for Diesel that is 2.79+, not to mention the mileage rate just shot up on them.
Then the grocery store or Travel stop has no choice but to charge more for the items since it cost them so much just to get it to the shelf.
The storm hit Monday into Tuesday. The Jackson, MS Convention Center parking lot was nearly full late Sunday nite/early Monday morning with utility and bucket trucks... ready to go in. People want to point fingers because there were so many effected and so many organizations involved in the rush to get in to help. Tuesday the storm was still hitting areas in MS and AL. Tuesday Nite into Weds. morning the ABA (American Bus Association) was sending out faxes with the title "Bus Industry Alert"... asking any and all bus co.'s that if they can spare even one bus to send it down to New Orleans. The pay was 3.50 per loaded mile, 2.25 DH, Fuel was promised at all staging areas, Fuel was not there. Neither was Food or showers.
None the less, Weds. PM we had 2 of our 5 coaches go into New Orleans. The other 3 were on the road elsewhere in the eastern part of the U.S.. These 2 drivers drove all nite from SC to New Orleans, then proceeded to move literally hundreds of people over the course of the next 3 days. At one point there were over 800 busses inbetween Houston, TX, and New Orleans area moving out people. Some of these busses were moving with very little sleep, along with countless expediters and semi trucks moving supplies into the area. Busses as well were being utilized as freight movers in parts of Texas and south western Louisiana. Busses are down there right now being utilized as field hospitals, sleeping quarters for news and media crews, moving utility crews around the clock, military and police personell, EMT's, search and rescue teams, even acting as mobile command centers for different organizations and companies.
These busses and trucks came in from all over the US to help who? Why none other than our fellow American.
People are online griping about levees and Senate leaders and FEMA and Military.
Hand a cold bottle of water to somebody and watch as they break into tears because it's the 1st thing they've had cold to drink in two and a half days...
One week ago that person was a waiter with a job and apartment and car.
Today they're in a convention center, sleeping on a cot. Their workplace was wiped off it's foundation, their apartment is mostly under water, and their car is nearly completely under water. No Home, No Job, No Car... unsure of what lies ahead for them and their family.
People down there are homeless, and 2 weeks ago most of them had jobs, places to live, and cars... even computers to go on the internet and view awesome websites like ExpeditersOnline.com.
What would they think if they saw all this argueing going on within the internet community?
There are truck drivers, including but not limited to fellow expediters, who have interrupted their "normal operations" and what they're doing and turned to help. There's trucks down there delivering anything and everything one can imagine to assist these people.
Wait in line for 2 hours... for one bag of ice, maybe then many on here griping will see things differently.
Yes, the help was late, but it's there.
The help is there, and it's there now.
People down there are no longer griping,
they are happy as happy can be for the moment, they're safe...
they are being fed, they are sleeping better...
why?
Because of the American People. Because of us that have stayed up all nite on phones to get the help in the areas it's been needed, because of us that have driven all nite and sat all day in a line moving 50 feet every 15 minutes.
FEMA and the Red Cross can not DO everything,
Nor can they solve every problem.
There's alot more that goes into a disaster area than just FEMA and the Red Cross.
Look at CNN and MSNBC and watch the news tickertape at the bottom the TV screen and look at all the different agencies and organizations asking for help. There are radio stations all over the country attempting to fill not one, but sometimes as many as 5 (five) 53 foot trailers with supplies and sending them down there. Trucks are still rolling down there, moving supplies in, moving supplies around to effected areas. Reefer trucks are all over down there. Chances are, if it's got tires or tracks, it's going to be down there soon.
The busses have gone in, from all over - California charter bus co.'s to the New York City Transit system, Ohio to Florida, have gotten the people out of harms way, gotten them away from dangers of looters and criminals and high waters, away from the insects and disease that is spreading (though trying to be contained).
They've gotten them out, so that workers can go in...
rebuild, and get them back in.
We have worked together, while it did not look like harmony from the outside views... consider for a moment...
In 4 days... nearly 100,000 people were moved between 3 states... Nearly an Entire City. With roughly 800 to 1,000 busses that can accomodate roughly 50 people at a time... work in the logistics of making that happen. Some of us on this site know what goes into moving just 2 small pallets of Automotive parts up the road... imagine moving people.
Car parts don't talk, they don't cry,
they don't argue, they don't fight
they don't even have to go to the bathroom!
Now also consider this... at the same time busses were moving people out, trucks of all shapes and sizes were moving goods into the same area's. Thousands, upon thousands of truck drivers were moving freight in... into an area of uncertainty.
They continue to do so. Some were asked, though many were not.
We, the American People, just did.
Nearly entire cities have been relocated, with the help of trucks, busses, helicopters... and more. All that was made with parts brought by trucks at some point in time.
As we did all this, the media doesn't touch too much on the fact that Kuwait offered $5 million dollars, and that other countries are offering money, and equipment to help us. What many countries call the "Worlds Police", The USA, they're offering help!
Bus drivers move people in all the right directions...
Truck drivers move America...
and Expediters roll to keep you rolling...
Be Proud, don't gripe, We're doing a fantastic job through all this.
Walk a mile in their shoes, then you can gripe.
For many of them the losses are too much for FEMA, The Red Cross, and any other organization to handle.
Family photos, family possessions that are priceless, irreplaceable.
Thousands of homes, cars, and furniture will need to be replaced.
Those that can not be replaced...
Family members, from Mom to Uncle Ted to Grandpa to Dog and Kitty.
Be grateful in life for what you have, as many along the Gulf Coast have found, it can all be lost.
What can you do? Call Mom, tell her you love her, some of us are not able to do that. Call that family member you haven't spoken to in awhile, say hi, enjoy their voice. Pet your dog, dig out the family photo album, enjoy it. Sit on the sofa and enjoy it. Enjoy the trees at your house and in your local city park.
Savor the taste of that cold beer or cold glass of sweet tea. Enjoy your microwave in your rig and smile when you eat the meal that comes out of it. Tip your waitress, because you have the money to do so. Whether you like them or not, Say hi to your neighbor, because you know they are there.
Do all those things... why?
Because you can... and others... can no longer.
Sincerely,
BigBusBob
