Hi Y'all. I went to the meeting in New Port Richey yesterday and they had a nice turn out of about 100 O/O and even 4 brokers showed up. Senator Fasano was there and so was Matt Ubben, vice president of the Florida Trucking Ass. The man that was invited from the Florida Petroleum Council, Mr David Mika was a no show! He chickened out late Friday night, lol. Senator Paula Dockery was also invited to attend, but declined. Remember that the next time you VOTE! We vote them into office, and we can darn sure vote them OUT!

Robert Solfio of Big Tiger Trucking was the man that called for this meeting, and pulled all the O/O's together with the invited guests. Great job Robert! It was heart breaking to hear the stories of what is happening to all these people. Several were asked by Robert for a show of hands from anyone that knew of or if they themselves had trouble making ends meet. EVERYONE there raised their hands. Companies that owned more then one truck were also polled by Robert. He asked them to stand up and tell us all how many trucks they owned and how many were still working/running. The answered varied, but it was clear to see the number of trucks that are now parked because the price of fuel has left them no other choice. One gentleman had 21 trucks, and only 7 were running today. Another gentleman said he had 7 and only 2 were working. It went on and on. We all could relate to their misery and hard times.

I was not impressed with the answers that Senator Fasano gave. Yeah, he said he's going back to Tallahassee and see what he could do. He told us that he wasn't even aware of the fuel surcharge until he recently rented a car and saw he was charged a fuel surcharge himself. HELLO!! I honestly believe that our politicians of today are so out of touch with the working man & woman. They are clueless! I have made it my intentions to educate then one at a time of that is what it takes!

Toward the end of the meeting, I had Dan Little, President & CEO of OOU Inc. on my cell phone. He had a few questions for the Senator, lol. I handed my phone to Robert and he held it to the mike. Dan first off, thanked everyone that had showed up for the meeting. The room got dead quiet. A lot of the guys there didn't know who Dan Little was, but they listened with great interest at what he had to ask the Senator. He asked him if he'd be willing to drop all state and federal taxes, on fuel, and a few more questions he fired at the Senator who quickly turned to the guy from the Fla. Trucking Ass. He totally ignored what Dan was asking HIM. Dan asked the Senator if he would be willing to stand up for the truckers and show his support. After a 5 second lull, a man from the crowd shouted out, "well, he's not standing up"! I had to LOL! Then the Senator finally stood up only to say he didn't understand one word Dan has said. HA! I asked almost everyone there if they could hear Dan on the phone. Every single one of them told me, he was as clear as a bell. Maybe the Senator needs to get his ears checked!?? Could it be that he was just doing the Florida two-step? Now this man who said he would help us out, was turning tail and running away from the questions we all wanted an answer to. Like I said, we vote these people in and we will vote them out if they can't do the job! They are "suppose" to represent US, the people and our wishes as a whole. What a joke that is huh?

For those of you that do not know who Dan Little is, let me tell you. He is the man from Missouri that started this whole shutdown on April 1st, 2008. He's an owner of a cattle hauling company. He is the one that got this ball rolling and I choose to stand along side of this man because he wants to see BIG changes in this industry. He wants to see higher rates instead of us all hauling for the same stale rates we have been hauling for...for year! Everything has gone up except the rates. Truckers are consumers too, and it cost us all more money every week to just purchase the food for our families. A LOT more, yet we don't get any pay/rate increase to help us off set this. We want 100% of the fuel surcharge to go to every owner that put the fuel in THEIR truck. He want transparency in the leasing laws, so we can put an end to getting ripped off at every turn.

Dan knows what it will take to make these changes in DC. He is dedicated to making it happen for the good of the industry. He can't do it alone. He needs everyone's help, and always welcomes any idea that may assist us in the up hill battle we face. Trust me ya'll...Dan is no quitter! He is making things happen very quickly. I'll leave a couple of links for you to check out yourselves. One will be for the first site he got all this started on, and the second one is the new site of OOU. I hope you will check it out and see if you wouldn't be proud to stand along side this man. Dan Little is getting things done!

Yikes! I sure have rattled on here, lol. Sorry for taking up so much bandwith. I am so passionate about this fight, because I have been an O/O for the last 33 years. My truck is now parked in the yard, b'cuz I can't make any money with fuel sitting at $4.35 today in Polk City, Florida.

Thanks to all for your time and interests. Now let's get fired up and make stuff happen for the good of us all. If you agree with what Dan has to say, then I urge you to join forces with him and the rest of us who all ready have become members. Remember folks, Lawyers aren't cheap. It's those same lawyers that WE need on OUR side to go to battle with the folks in DC.

Thanks again y'all.

Pat
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