New Driver Tips

What Every New Teamster Driver Should Have Been Informed Of.
Recently, many new Teamster Drivers have come on board with little or no introduction to the process of union labor. Consequently, we wish to extend a few words of advice.

If you're new to the Teamster Driver scene, it can be very confusing in comparison to past non-union employment. So we have compiled a list that will help the new Teamster Driver along with their new employment.

First let us welcome you! Your first two years of employment can be very trying. This time frame will be much like a learning cycle.

Learn The Contract That Pertains To Your Region.
The National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA) is the basic agreement that effects your day to day activity on the job. Think of the agreement as having a sport's agent. Every five years your contract is reviewed and renegotiated. The regional agreements however address specific issues that pertain to your geographical area, these contracts are also reviewed and renegotiated.

It is your responsibility as a Teamster Driver to be familiar with the agreements that have been bargained for in your behalf as a Teamster Driver.

If you are not familiar with the agreement that pertains to your position and location, you are apt to lose hourly income that is due to you by contract. It is not the Employer's responsibility to inform you of what is due to you. The NMFA Library has been created for your benefit, use it!

If you were a casual driver before being hired full time, your wages are normally reduced back to 75% for a period of one year in accordance with the new entry rates of Article 36 of the NMFA. If your prior employment was a non-union company, your reduced wages are probably comparable to what you were earning in a non-union company.

Health And Welfare
After your probationary period of employment, enroll with your health and welfare and pension fund provider. Drivers in the Southern Region should telephone Central States Funds 7:30am to 4:30 pm at 1.800.323.5000 to request an enrollment package. If you are outside the Southern Region, you may want to contact your Teamster Local for a telephone number.

I once knew of a new Road Driver that had been with Yellow Freight System for more than six months and he was unaware that he was eligible for benefits. I overheard him discussing his worries of no benefits for he and his wife in the driver's room. His wife had quit her job and he was under the impression that they were without health and welfare benefits. I gave him the telephone number to Central States and told him to request an enrollment package.

Start A Teamster 401k
Drivers are allowed to participate after 30 days of employment with Yellow Freight. The Teamster 401K program is exactly that. A Teamster only fund. It's not a Yellow 401K program, Yellow does not match contributions made by a Driver. The benefit of the program is increased retirement income and an opportunity to reduce your tax rate.

Know Your Position
Know your position as a new employee and what is required of you. Every time you do work outside the scope of your position, you take work away from your fellow teamster. The NMFA is very specific to this issue. Your employer has also agreed to these terms.

The following has been copied from the NMFA: Article 3, Section 4 of the NMFA.

Work Assignments: "The Employers agree to respect the jurisdictional rules of the Union and
shall not direct or require their employees or persons other than the employees in the bargaining units here involved, to perform work which is recognized as the work of the employees in said units. This is not to interfere with bona fide contracts with bona fide unions."

Know Your Job Stewards
These key people are elected or appointed to represent you in time of uncertainty. Stewards are normally senior drivers that are very familiar with the union process. When you have a question to your daily routine, ask your Steward! If your Steward directs you in a manner that seems questionable, use the chain of command and telephone your Local Business Agent for further guidance.

Time Off
Time off from work is specified in your Regional Supplemental agreement. Depending on your region and location, standards may be differ. (Again refer to your Regional agreement to view time off procedures and how they function.) The Southern Region Supplemental Article 53, Section 15 addresses sleeper time off and mark off procedures. These are minimum standards that have been bargained for you.

In closing, it is stressed you become familiar with the agreements that pertain to you. If you lose wages because you failed to make the proper request, it may be no one's fault but your own.

We hope these tips have been informative for you. Welcome aboard!

This report was originally published at YellowFreightDrivers.Com many years ago. It has been edited and republished here at RoadDrivers.Org for the new drivers that are coming on board.