The Big Rig : Trucking and the Decline of the American Dream

Long-haul trucks have been described as sweatshops on wheels. The typical long-haul trucker works the equivalent of two full-time jobs, often for little more than minimum wage. But it wasn’t always this way. Trucking used to be one of the best working-class jobs in the United States. __The Big Rig__ explains how this massive degradation in the quality of work has occurred, and how companies achieve a compliant and dedicated workforce despite it. Drawing on more than 100 in-depth interviews and years of extensive observation, including six months training and working as a long-haul trucker, Viscelli explains in detail how labor is recruited, trained, and used in the industry. He then shows how inexperienced workers are convinced to lease a truck and to work as independent contractors. He explains how deregulation and collective action by employers transformed trucking’s labor markets--once dominated by the largest and most powerful union in US history--into an important example of the costs of contemporary labor markets for workers and the general public. Long-haul Trucks Have Been Described As Sweatshops On Wheels. The Typical Long-haul Trucker Works The Equivalent Of Two Full-time Jobs, Often For Little More Than Minimum Wage. But It Wasn’t Always This Way. Trucking Used To Be One Of The Best Working-class Jobs In The United States. The Big Rig Explains How This Massive Degradation In The Quality Of Work Has Occurred, And How Companies Achieve A Compliant And Dedicated Workforce Despite It. Drawing On More Than 100 In-depth Interviews And Years Of Extensive Observation, Including Six Months Training And Working As A Long-haul Trucker, Viscelli Explains In Detail How Labor Is Recruited, Trained, And Used In The Industry. He Then Shows How Inexperienced Workers Are Convinced To Lease A Truck And To Work As Independent Contractors. He Explains How Deregulation And Collective Action By Employers Transformed Trucking’s Labor Markets--once Dominated By The Largest And Most Powerful Union In Us History--into An Important Example Of The Costs Of Contemporary Labor Markets For Workers And The General Public. --amazon.com. Introduction. Where Did All These Bad Jobs Come From? -- The Cdl Mill: Training The Professional Steering Wheel Holder -- Cheap Freight, Cheap Drivers: Work As A Long-haul Trucker -- The Big Rig: Running The Contractor Confidence Game -- Working For The Truck: The Harsh Reality Of Contracting -- Someone To Turn To: Managing Contractors From An Arm's Length Away -- No More Jimmy Hoffas: Desperate Drivers And Divided Labor. Steve Viscelli. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 247-255) And Index. Long-haul trucks have been described as sweatshops on wheels. The typical long-haul trucker works the equivalent of two full-time jobs, often for little more than minimum wage. But it wasn’t always this way. Trucking used to be one of the best working-class jobs in the United States.  

The Big Rig explains how this massive degradation in the quality of work has occurred, and how companies achieve a compliant and dedicated workforce despite it. Drawing on more than 100 in-depth interviews and years of extensive observation, including six months training and working as a long-haul trucker, Viscelli explains in detail how labor is recruited, trained, and used in the industry. He then shows how inexperienced workers are convinced to lease a truck and to work as independent contractors. He explains how deregulation and collective action by employers transformed trucking’s labor markets--once dominated by the largest and most powerful union in US history--into an important example of the costs of contemporary labor markets for workers and the general public. "'The Big Rig' looks at what has happened to blue-collar jobs since the trucking industry was deregulated. Truckers are now working longer hours and for less pay than they were fifty years ago. Why do truckers accept these conditions and pay? Why can't they achieve what workers did in the past through collective action and union organization? Modern trucking has been sold as an entrepreneurial dream, but the reality has shown that there is no chance of upward mobility, with wages being driven down because of increasing competition and slim profit margins. Writing and researching from an on-the-ground perspective, Steve Viscelli took a job as a long-haul trucker to learn why trucking went from one of the best blue-collar jobs in the United States to one of the worst. However, what has happened to the trucking industry is not unique. This book tells the larger story of the dramatic rise of inequality and decreased mobility in the United States."--Provided by publisher This book focuses on the largest and most important kind of trucking in today’s economy, long-haul TL trucking—particularly its general freight segment. General freight is anything that can be put in a box or on a pallet and loaded into an unrefrigerated trailer. For the most part, general freight truckload companies do little more than move a trailer full of freight from one loading dock to another; they rarely handle or process freight that requires special care or attention.3 But the range and volume of goods— from steel coils to consumer electronics to beverages—that can be moved in this way is enormous. General freight carriers play a critical role, moving the majority of goods to and from nearly all of the ports, railroad yards, factories, warehouses, distribution centers, and large retail stores in the US. Cover -- The Big Rig -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction. Where Did All These Bad Jobs Come From? -- 1. The CDL Mill: Training the Professional Steering-Wheel Holder -- 2. Cheap Freight, Cheap Drivers: Work as a Long-Haul Trucker -- 3. The Big Rig: Running the Contractor Confidence Game -- 4. Working for the Truck: The Harsh Reality of Contracting -- 5. Someone to Turn To: Managing Contractors from an Arm's Length Away Trucking used to be one of the best working-class jobs in the United States. Drawing on more than 100 in-depth interviews and years of extensive observation, this book explains how this massive degradation in the quality of work has occurred, and how companies achieve a compliant and dedicated workforce despite it.