Drivers need to be paid by the hour

With all the proposed changes in the hours of service, I don’t care what happens, as it will change or stay the same whether I like it or not. But maybe some changes should be made — which are long overdue — such as doing away with pay by the mile and start paying by the hour, such as $20-$25 per hour for a 14- to 15-hour day.

And also, maybe your dispatchers and load planners need to pay [hours-of-service violation] fines when you and I [go over] hours of service. After all, they are the ones pushing to make deliveries and pickups. Also, the shippers and receivers need to be able to ship or receive their freight 24 hours and not from 9-noon and 1-4 p.m.

As for detentions and layovers [we should be paid] after two hours at the dock. Layover [should] start at 5 p.m. even if a load is found for you, at the same rate of $20-$25 per hour.

I know these sound like dreams to all of us, but they will not change till all of us work together and stop letting these companies push us around.

Consider this, most of you are making what you did 10 years ago and are working harder than ever for the same pay.

Wake up, drivers.