♪ ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> John: WELCOME, WELCOME,
WELCOME TO "LAST WEEK TONIGHT!"
I'M JOHN OLIVER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
IT'S BEEN ANOTHER BUSY WEEK.
RUSSIA'S STILL BRUTALIZING
UKRAINE, AMAZON WORKERS IN THE
U.S. UNIONIZED FOR THE FIRST
TIME, AND AT THE OSCARS,
THIS HAPPENED, A MOMENT THAT'S
SINCE SPAWNED THOUSANDS OF
TERRIBLE TAKES, WITH THIS BEING
THE ONE WE MAY'VE NEEDED THE
LEAST.
>> THE QUESTION I'VE BEEN
GETTING IS WILL SMITH
AND CHRIS ROCK.
HEY, LOOK.
IT WAS UNFORTUNATE.
I THINK WILL WAS WRONG.
LOOK, I UNDERSTOOD THE FEELING.
>> John: NOPE.
NOT YOU, O.J.
NOT YOU.
NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU ON
THIS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SEEM
TO BE COMING LIVE FROM THE COVID
PATIO OF A SEÑOR FROGS.
YOU CAN SIT THIS ONE OUT.
THINK OF THIS SITUATION LIKE A
ROWDY BACHELORETTE ORDERING
A MIMOSA.
WE WANT AS LITTLE JUICE INVOLVED
HERE AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.
BUT LET'S MOVE ON TO
WASHINGTON, WHERE REPUBLICANS
HAD A DRAMATIC WEEK, THANKS TO
MADISON CAWTHORN, THE FRESHMAN
CONGRESSMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA,
AND THE FALLOUT FROM THIS
INTERVIEW.
>> I LOOK AT ALL THESE PEOPLE,
A LOT OF THEM THAT I'VE LOOKED
UP TO THROUGH MY LIFE,
I'VE ALWAYS PAID ATTENTION
TO POLITICS,
GUYS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEN ALL OF
A SUDDEN YOU GET INVITED TO
"WELL, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
A SEXUAL GET-TOGETHER AT ONE OF
OUR HOMES, YOU SHOULD COME."
AND I'M LIKE, "WHAT DID YOU JUST
ASK ME TO COME TO?"
AND THEN YOU REALIZE THEY'RE
ASKING YOU TO COME TO AN ORGY.
OR THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME
OF THE PEOPLE LEADING ON THE
MOVEMENT TO TRY AND REMOVE
ADDICTION IN OUR COUNTRY, AND
THEN YOU WATCH THEM DO A KEY
BUMP OF COCAINE RIGHT IN FRONT
OF YOU.
AND IT'S LIKE, THIS IS,
THIS IS WILD.
>> John: OBVIOUSLY NO ONE USES
THE PHRASE "KEY BUMP" WITHOUT
KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS,
SO IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE ALREADY
TELLING ON YOURSELF A LITTLE.
ALSO, I'M PRETTY SURE THAT
PEOPLE HAVING COKE FUELED ORGIES
DON'T CALL THEM
"SEXUAL GET-TOGETHERS."
A "SEXUAL GET-TOGETHER"
SOUNDS LIKE A SEX TOY PARTY
AT YOUR FRIEND BRENDA'S FRIEND
SHENAE'S HOUSE, WHERE YOU
REALIZE HALFWAY THROUGH THAT
THE WHOLE THING IS A PYRAMID
SCHEME.
"NO, I DON'T WANT TO SAMPLE ANY
MORE RASPBERRY NIPPLE CREAM.
THIS IS A SCAM
AND I'M GOING HOME.
I GOT A BABYSITTER FOR THIS!"
ALSO -- AND THIS REALLY
ISN'T THE POINT,
BUT WHAT IS THIS PODCAST?
THAT'S RHETORICAL.
I DON'T CARE AND I WON'T LEARN.
I JUST THINK IT'S WEIRD THAT THE
ONLY TWO CLUES WE HAVE ARE
A BRAVEHEART POSTER AND WHAT
APPEARS TO BE A RAG DOLL
OF POST MALONE.
NOW, CAWTHORN'S REMARKS PROMPTED
STERN REBUKES FROM HIS
COLLEAGUES, WITH HOUSE MINORITY
LEADER KEVIN MCCARTHY SAYING,
"THERE'S NO EVIDENCE BEHIND HIS
STATEMENTS...
HE'S LOST MY TRUST, AND HE'S
GOING TO HAVE TO EARN IT BACK.
AND IF THAT TRULY WAS THE MOMENT
WHEN CAWTHORN LOST MCCARTHY'S
TRUST, THEN LET'S
TAKE A MINUTE ON THAT.
BECAUSE CAWTHORN'S SAID A LOT OF
OBJECTIONABLE THINGS.
HE'S URGED PEOPLE TO
"LIGHTLY THREATEN" MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS AHEAD OF JANUARY 6TH,
SUGGESTED BIDEN'S DOOR-TO-DOOR
VACCINE STRATEGY COULD BE USED
TO "TAKE PEOPLE'S GUNS
AND BIBLES," AND JUST RECENTLY
CALLED ZELENSKYY A THUG.
HE ALSO OFFERED THIS INCREDIBLE
PIECE OF PARENTING ADVICE
LAST YEAR.
>> MY FRIENDS, THEY'RE TRYING TO
DEMASCULATE THE YOUNG MEN IN
THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY DON'T
WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO
STAND UP.
AND SO I'M TELLING YOU ALL OF
YOU MOMS HERE, THE PEOPLE
WHO I SAID WERE THE MOST VICIOUS
IN OUR MOVEMENT, IF YOU ARE
RAISING A YOUNG MAN, PLEASE
RAISE THEM TO BE A MONSTER.
RAISE --
[CHEERS]
>> John: OH, DON'T WORRY,
MADISON.
I'M SURE THE MOMS WHO RESPONDED
THERE WITH FRONT-ROW BEYONCE
TICKET ENERGY HAVE ALREADY
STRUCK THE EXACT RIGHT BALANCE
OF BIGOTRY, DENIAL OF AFFECTION,
AND CASUAL PERMISSION OF
VIOLENCE THAT'LL HAVE THEIR SONS
ON THE FRONT PAGE OF A TERRIBLE
NEWS STORY SOON ENOUGH.
THE FACT IS, CAWTHORN'S RECORD
WITH THE TRUTH HAS ALWAYS BEEN
UNRELENTINGLY BAD.
HE IMPLIED THE CAR CRASH THAT
LEFT HIM PARTIALLY PARALYZED
DERAILED HIS PLANS TO ATTEND THE
U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY, EVEN THOUGH
HIS APPLICATION HAD ALREADY BEEN
REJECTED BEFORE THE CRASH.
HE FREQUENTLY CLAIMED TO BE
TRAINING FOR THE PARALYMPICS,
WHICH WAS NEWS TO ACTUAL
PARALYMPIANS LIKE
AMANDA McGRORY, WHO POINTED OUT
HE'S NOT EVEN IN THE OFFICIAL
PARALYMPIAN REGISTRY -- WHICH
HE WOULD HAVE TO BE
IN ORDER TO COMPETE --
ADDING, "IT'S LIKE A KID SAYING
THEY WANT TO PLAY IN THE NBA
WHEN THEY'RE ON THEIR
FOURTH-GRADE BASKETBALL TEAM."
AND QUICK SIDE NOTE:
CAWTHORN OFTEN MAKES REFERENCE
TO HIS DISABILITY OR FINDS WAYS
TO CENTER IT.
LIKE WHEN HE MADE A POINT OF
STANDING FOR THE FLAG
AT THE RNC.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ESPECIALLY
IRRITATES SOME DISABILITY
ADVOCATES, WHO FEEL IT
PLAYS INTO THE HANDS OF SOCIETAL
ABLEISM, ESPECIALLY
THE CULTURAL DESIRE TO SEE
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ONLY AS
"INSPIRATIONAL," WHEN,
OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE A BROAD GROUP
OF PEOPLE WHO INCLUDE EVERYONE
FROM INCREDIBLE ATHLETES
TO DOUCHEY FRAT BROS
LYING THEIR WAY TO POWER.
IT TURNS OUT BEING A SHITTY
PERSON, UNLIKE SO MUCH OF OUR
SOCIETY, IS ONE OF THE FEW
THINGS THAT IS ACTUALLY
ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE, BECAUSE
CAWTHORN WAS ALSO THE SUBJECT OF
A SCATHING PUBLIC LETTER SIGNED
BY MORE THAN 150 OF HIS FORMER
COLLEGE CLASSMATES,
ALLEGING HE ENGAGED IN "SEXUALLY
PREDATORY BEHAVIOR"
WHILE IN COLLEGE.
AND WHILE ON ONE HAND, HE DENIES
THOSE CLAIMS, ON THE OTHER HAND,
THERE WAS THIS INCREDIBLE MOMENT
IN A DEBATE.
>> IF I HAVE A DAUGHTER, I WANT
HER TO GROW UP IN A WORLD WHERE
PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO ASK
PERMISSION TO TOUCH HER.
I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE MADE MY
HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE MUCH LESS
AWKWARD IF I KNEW THAT WAS
A QUESTION THAT COULD GENERALLY
BE ASKED.
BUT ALSO, IF I HAVE A SON,
I WANT HIM TO GROW UP IN A WORLD
WHERE HE'S NOT ACCUSED OF BEING
A SEXUAL PREDATOR JUST BECAUSE
HE WANTS TO KISS A GIRL.
>> John: WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS,
THAT'S ALREADY HALF TRUE.
NO ONE TELLS BOYS THEY'RE
SEXUAL PREDATORS FOR WANTING
TO KISS GIRLS.
HOW ARE WE DOING
ON THE OTHER PART?
I DON'T KNOW, MADISON.
LET'S ASK ANYONE WHO WENT
TO COLLEGE WITH YOU.
THE POINT IS, NONE OF WHAT
HAPPENED WITH CAWTHORN THIS WEEK
SHOULD BE REMOTELY SURPRISING TO
ANYONE.
ESPECIALLY GIVEN WHEN HE RAN FOR
OFFICE, THIS WAS ONE OF HIS
ACTUAL ADS.
>> DID YOU HEAR?
MY OPPONENT IS A SIMP.
HE ENDORSED NANCY PELOSI RIGHT
HERE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.
I WON'T ENDORSE NANCY PELOSI.
I'LL MAKE HER LIFE
A LIVING HELL.
I BELIEVE YOU CAN RUN YOUR LIFE
BETTER THAN I CAN.
BETTER THAN ANY SOCIALIST SIMP
CONGRESS CAN.
I'M MADISON CAWTHORN.
I'M NOT A SOCIALIST.
I'M NOT A SIMP.
I AM YOUR WEAPON.
SEND ME TO CONGRESS
TO FIGHT FOR YOU.
>> John: OKAY, I DON'T KNOW HOW
MANY TIMES THE WORD "SIMP"
SHOULD APPEAR IN A CAMPAIGN AD,
BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S THREE.
AND NOW I'VE SAID IT OUT LOUD.
MORE THAN ZERO IS CLEARLY
TOO MANY.
AND FOR THE RECORD, SINCE HIS
ELECTION, CAWTHORN HAS SHOWN
LESS INTEREST IN "FIGHTING FOR"
HIS CONSTITUENTS THAN SHAMELESS
SELF-PROMOTION, REPORTEDLY
TELLING COLLEAGUES HE'D
BUILT HIS STAFF AROUND COMMS
RATHER THAN LEGISLATION,
WHICH ABSOLUTELY MAKES SENSE.
BECAUSE THIS GUY LOVES POSTING
SHOTS OF HIMSELF ON INSTAGRAM,
WHETHER HE'S FISHING,
SMOKING CIGARS, OR --
IN A POST THAT'S NOW BEEN
DELETED -- VISITING HITLER'S
VACATION HOUSE KNOWN AS THE
"EAGLE'S NEST",
IN WHICH HIS CAPTION REFERS TO
HITLER AS "THE FUHRER"
AND SAYS THE SITE HAD BEEN
ON HIS BUCKET LIST FOR A WHILE
AND "DID NOT DISAPPOINT".
AND LOOK, I KNOW IT'S NOT THE
WORST THING, BUT THERE'S ALSO
THIS PHOTO, CAPTIONED,
"GETTING CRAZY WITH SOME APPLE
COBBLER MADE RIGHT OVER THE
SMOKE."
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS,
BUT IT'S DEFINITELY
NOT A COBBLER.
IT DOESN'T HAVE A BISCUIT
OR A PIE DOUGH TOPPING.
IT'S NOT A BUCKLE BECAUSE I
DON'T SEE A CAKE BASE
WITH A STREUSEL TOPPING.
IF HE WAS THROWING IT
ON A STOVETOP, HE COULD TRY TO
CALL IT A GRUNT
BUT IT ISN'T ONE.
IT'S NOT AN APPLE BROWN BETTY.
IT'S NOT A CRISP.
AND IF YOU'RE CALLING THAT
A SONKER, YOU'RE DEAD FUCKING
WRONG, MY FRIEND.
IT BASICALLY LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE
GRATED A MEDIUM-SIZED BABY
INTO A SKILLET.
THAT'S NOTHING.
THAT'S FUCKING NOTHING, MADISON.
WORDS.
MEAN.
THINGS.
BUT THE ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE OF
HIS INSTAGRAM IS PROBABLY THIS.
>> John: YEAH, HE APPEARS TO BE
PUNCHING A TREE BECAUSE IT LOOKS
WEAK.
IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY TOLD
THE STORY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON
CHOPPING DOWN THE CHERRY TREE
TO A DOG, AND THEN THAT
DOG TOLD MADISON CAWTHORN.
IT IS, AND THIS IS TRUE,
ONE OF THE STUPIDEST THINGS
I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE
LIFE.
IF, WHEN I DIE, I MEET GOD,
AND GOD SAYS "HEY.
DID YOU SEE THAT STUPID THING?"
I WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT GOD
IS TALKING ABOUT.
AND ALL OF THIS IS REALLY TO
SAY, KEVIN MCCARTHY, THIS IS THE
GUY THAT SURPRISED YOU THIS
WEEK?
THIS PREDATORY, CONSPIRATORIAL,
INEXPLICABLY HOSTILE TO TREES
GUY?
YOUR PARTY'S SUPPORTED AND
ENABLED HIM THIS WHOLE TIME.
AND THE TACTICS HE USES ARE
PRETTY MUCH IN LINE WITH THE
REPUBLICANS' WHOLE M.O.
RIGHT NOW.
OR TO PUT THIS IN TERMS MADISON
CAWTHORN WOULD UNDERSTAND:
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU RAISED
A MONSTER,
AND NOW IT'S YOUR FUCKING
PROBLEM.
AND NOW THIS.
>> LOCAL NEWS HAS AN URGENT
WARNING.
>> THAT'S APPARENTLY WHAT SEASON
TWO OF BURGER TUNE IS ALL ABOUT.
>> IF YOU'RE GOING IN EXPECTING
THIS SEASON FROM THE STUFF YOU
GOT LAST SEASON, NOT GETTING IT.
SOME OF THAT SPACE.
OKAY.
>> I'M NOT SAYING I'M NOT
ENJOYING IT BUT LAST SEASON WAS
HAPPIER.
>> NOT AS STEAMY AS THE FIRST.
>> NOT AS HOT AND HEAVY.
>> YOU ARE WATCHING BRIDGERTON
FOR SEX QUESTIONING >> THE WAY
IT IS AS BEAUTIFUL.
SOME OF THE STORY LINES WERE
REALLY COOL.
I WAS EXPECTING MORE, MORE.
SPEAKER OKAY.
>> LESS BUMPING UGLIES.
>> THEY ARE JUST PLAYING POLO.
>> LAST SEASON, YOU REMEMBER HE
WAS UNBUTTONING AND UNZIPPING AN
UNLACING.
>> IT'S NICE.
>> OKAY.
>> IT'S GOOD.
IT'S JUST NOT GREAT.
>> NO, IT'S JUST NOT...
THAT.
>> THEY SPICE.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
>> I DO.
>> John: MOVING ON.
OUR MAIN STORY TONIGHT CONCERNS
TRUCKS.
EVERYBODY LOVES THEM, FROM
KIDS WHO LIKE THE FACT THEY GO
HONK HONK TO PRODUCERS OF
REALITY SHOWS, WHO IT SEEMS
CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF TRUCKS
AND THEIR DRIVERS.
>> ACROSS AMERICA, GIANT TRUCKS
WITH CARGOS WORTH MILLIONS
VANISH INTO THIN AIR.
BIG RIG BOUNTY HUNTERS.
>> THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO
LEARN THIS JOB THAN ACTUALLY
DOING IT.
>> HIGHWAY THROUGH HELL.
ALL NEW.
>> SHIPPING WARS,
NEW SERIES.
>> WORLD'S TOUGHEST TRUCKER.
ALL NEW SERIES.
>> MUD MOUNTAIN HAULERS.
NEW SERIES.
>> ICE ROAD TRUCKERS.
BEGINS SUNDAY, JUNE 17TH,
AT 10:00.
>> John: WOW!
APPARENTLY PEOPLE LIKE THEIR
REALITY TRUCKER SHOWS THE SAME
WAY I LIKE MY COFFEE:
FULL OF ICE AND INTENSE ENOUGH
TO MAKE ME SHIT MYSELF.
BUT TRUCKS AREN'T JUST A STAPLE
OF REALITY TV.
THEY'RE A VITAL PART OF OUR
ECONOMY, CARRYING 70%
OF THE TONNAGE THAT MOVES
AROUND AMERICA.
AND THE DRIVERS KNOW JUST HOW
MUCH THIS COUNTRY
RELIES ON THEM.
>> IF THESE TRUCKS WERE SET --
SHUT DOWN, FOR ONE WEEK,
THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE IN --
>> THREE DAYS?
>> THREE DAYS.
THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE,
THEY'D SHUT THE COUNTRY DOWN.
'CAUSE NOTHING YOU EAT, WEAR,
DRINK, DRIVE, DOESN'T MOVE ON
A TRUCK.
>> John: RIGHT.
IT'S PRETTY UPSETTING TO REALIZE
THAT, WITHOUT TRUCKS, AFTER JUST
A WEEK --
>> THREE DAYS!
>> John: SORRY, THREE DAYS,
EVERY PRODUCE DEPARTMENT IN
AMERICA WOULD GO FROM
FULLY-STOCKED MARKET TO
ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT RACCOON
BUFFET.
SO IT'S NO WONDER TRUCKING'S
A HUGE INDUSTRY, WITH
MORE THAN 3.5 MILLION PEOPLE IN
AMERICA WORKING AS DRIVERS,
FROM PORT TRUCKERS WHO BRING
GOODS OFF SHIPS TO
RAILYARDS AND WAREHOUSES, TO
LONG-HAUL TRUCKERS WHO MOVE THEM
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, TO
"LAST MILE" DRIVERS, WHO TAKE
CARE OF LOCAL DELIVERY.
AND YET, AS YOU'VE PROBABLY
HEARD RECENTLY, THE WHOLE
INDUSTRY IS FACING A MASSIVE
PROBLEM.
>> ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO
TURN NOW TO A NATIONWIDE
SHORTAGE OF TRUCK DRIVERS.
>> MAJOR TRUCK DRIVER SHORTAGE
STRAINING THE ALREADY STRETCHED
CHAIN.
THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE
AN END IN SIGHT.
>> EMPTY STORE SHELVES SIGNAL
A SUPPLY CHAIN IN CRISIS,
EXACERBATED BY A SHORTAGE OF
TRUCK DRIVERS.
>> John: YEAH, THAT DOESN'T
SOUND GOOD, DOES IT?
THE ONLY TIME I'M ACTIVELY
ROOTING FOR A SUPPLY CHAIN
CRISIS IS WHENEVER A
CONTAINER SHIP GETS STUCK IN THE
SUEZ CANAL.
I DON'T CARE IF THE GLOBAL
ECONOMY COLLAPSES, I JUST LOVE
TO SEE THAT BIG RECTANGLE STUCK.
THE POINT IS, TRUCKING COMPANIES
HAVE BEEN QUICK TO CLAIM THEY'RE
SUFFERING A SHORTAGE OF DRIVERS.
THEY'VE BEEN SAYING THAT
FOR A WHILE.
BUT THE TRUTH IS, THEIR ACTUAL
PROBLEM IS LESS A PROBLEM OF
DRIVER SHORTAGE, AND MORE OF
DRIVER RETENTION.
BECAUSE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE BECOME TRUCK DRIVERS
EVERY YEAR.
BUT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
ALSO QUIT.
JOB TURNOVER FOR TRUCKERS
AVERAGES OVER 100%,
AND AT SOME COMPANIES
IT'S AS HIGH AS 300%, MEANING
THEY'RE HIRING THREE PEOPLE FOR
A SINGLE JOB OVER THE COURSE
OF A YEAR.
AND WHEN A FIELD THIS IMPORTANT
HAS A LEVEL OF JOB SATISFACTION
THAT LOW, IT SURE SEEMS LIKE
THERE'S A HUGE PROBLEM.
SO TONIGHT, LET'S EXAMINE THE
TRUCKING INDUSTRY: HOW DRIVERS
MAKE A LIVING, HOW THEY OFTEN
DON'T, AND HOW COMPANIES BENEFIT
FROM THE WHOLE MISERABLE SYSTEM.
AND THE FIRST THING TO KNOW IS,
IT WASN'T ALWAYS LIKE THIS.
IN THE 1970s, TRUCK DRIVING WAS
A SOLID MIDDLE-CLASS PROFESSION,
WITH TRUCKER CULTURE EVEN
BECOMING TRENDY, THROUGH SONGS
LIKE "CONVOY," MOVIES LIKE
"EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE",
AND TV SHOWS LIKE
"BJ AND THE BEAR", ABOUT
A TRUCKER AND HIS CHIMPANZEE
FRIEND.
AND IF YOU'RE THINKING THAT SHOW
SOUNDS WEIRD, YOU DON'T KNOW THE
HALF OF IT.
>> BJ WAS A HAPPY GO LUCKY
TRUCKER WHO WOULD HAUL ANYTHING
FOR A PRICE.
>> YOU'RE THE GUY, AREN'T YOU?
THE GUY WHO'LL HAUL ANYTHING
ANYWHERE FOR A BUCK AND A HALF
A MILE, NO QUESTIONS ASKED?
>> BUT THIS TIME, HIS CARGO WAS
ELEVEN YOUNG WOMEN ESCAPING FROM
A WHITE SLAVERY GANG.
>> ROADBLOCKS MEAN NOTHING TO
BJ MCKAY, AN EX-POW AND
HELICOPTER PILOT FROM VIETNAM.
CLAUDE AKINS AND BETTY FINDER
STAR IN BJ AND THE BEAR, NEXT
WEDNESDAY AT 9:00, 8:00 CENTRAL
AND MOUNTAIN.
>> John: YES!
THE TRUE GOLDEN AGE OF
TELEVISION RIGHT THERE.
THIS MEDIUM PEAKED IN 1979 AND
WE'LL NEVER SEE THE MOUNTAINTOP
AGAIN.
THAT PROMO STARTED --
STARTED!
WITH A DRIVER LIVING WITH
A CHIMPANZEE AND ESCALATED
SO FAST, CASEY KASEM DIDN'T HAVE
TIME TO MENTION THE CHIMP.
WHERE DID IT COME FROM?
WAS THE CHIMP ALSO IN VIETNAM?
WHY IS HE CALLED BEAR?
WHO CARES?
THERE'S NO TIME!
IT SEEMS WE'RE SHOOTING GUNS
FROM HELICOPTERS AT OTHER
HELICOPTERS NOW, THOSE DETAILS
ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT.
EVERY YEAR THE EMMYS SHOULD
RELEASE A STATEMENT SAYING
"ALL AWARDS GO TO BJ AND THE
BEAR, AGAIN.
TRY HARDER NEXT YEAR, TV."
BUT THE TRUTH IS, TRUCK DRIVING
WAS GENUINELY A DECENT JOB.
BUT THAT BEGAN TO CHANGE IN
1980, JIMMY CARTER SIGNED THE
MOTOR CARRIER ACT, DEREGULATING
THE MARKET IN AN ATTEMPT TO
LOWER PRICES FOR CONSUMERS.
THAT SET OFF A RACE TO THE
BOTTOM AMONG TRUCKING COMPANIES.
AND 40 YEARS LATER, THE
BASE COMPENSATION FOR LONG-HAUL
TRUCK DRIVERS IS ESTIMATED TO BE
DOWN 50% IN REAL TERMS.
AND THERE ARE THREE KEY PROBLEMS
WITH THE WAY THE INDUSTRY'S
CURRENTLY SET UP THAT WE'RE
GOING TO LOOK AT.
THE FIRST IS HOW THEY'RE PAID.
BECAUSE MOST LONG-HAUL DRIVERS
ARE PAID BY THE MILE, NOT BY THE
HOUR.
RAISING OBVIOUS QUESTIONS,
LIKE WHAT ABOUT WHEN TRUCKS ARE
WAITING TO LOAD, UNLOAD
AND RELOAD?
DO THEY REALLY NOT GET PAID
FOR THAT?
AND FOR THE MOST PART,
THEY DON'T.
THIS IS A HUGE STICKING POINT
FOR TRUCK DRIVERS.
IF YOU EVER GO ON
TRUCKER YOUTUBE OR TIKTOK --
WHICH YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD --
YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF VIDEOS LIKE
THESE.
>> WHY DO WE HAVE TO SIT IN A
DOCK FOR THREE HOURS OR THREE
AND A HALF HOURS UP TO THIS
POINT?
>> I'VE BEEN IN THE SHIPPER
NOW FOR 19 HOURS.
NO OTHER -- NOT MANY OTHER JOBS
WHERE YOU CAN JUST BE ON THE JOB
AND NOT GET PAID.
>> YOU'RE SITTING OVER THERE
JUDGING ME, BUT I DON'T HAVE A
RELOAD, WE CAN'T MOVE.
>> IT'S NOT ME, IT'S NOT ME,
IT'S DISPATCH!
I CAN'T HELP THAT THE DISPATCHER
IS SLOW AS SHIT!
WELL, YOU CALL AND TELL HIM,
I AIN'T -- YOU AIN'T --
I DON'T GIVE A DAMN IF YOU AIN'T
GOT NO THUMBS, YOU CALL AND TELL
HIM.
>> John: YEAH, THAT'S A MAJOR
PROBLEM.
THE WAITING TIME.
THAT IS, NOT THE FACT THAT DOGS
DON'T HAVE THUMBS AND CAN'T USE
A PHONE.
THAT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING.
BECAUSE IF THEY COULD, THEY'D
LITERALLY NEVER STOP TEXTING YOU
SHIT LIKE "FUCK, FUCK, FUCK
I JUST SAW A SQUIRREL!"
AND "MISS U, LOVE U.
FUCK, JUST SAW THE SQUIRREL
AGAIN!"
AND WHILE THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN
A PROBLEM, LONG WAITS AT LOADING
DOCKS HAVE ACTUALLY JUMPED
SIGNIFICANTLY IN RECENT YEARS.
AND IF YOU LOSE HALF YOUR WORK
DAY WAITING, YOU'RE INCENTIVIZED
TO TRY AND MAKE UP FOR THAT TIME
ONCE YOU'RE ON THE ROAD.
WHICH DOES MAKES SENSE.
IF I ONLY GOT PAID PER JOKE
ABOUT AT&T, I'D TRY TO CRAM IN
AS MANY AT&T JOKES AS POSSIBLE.
I'D BE DROPPING THEM LIKE AT&T
DROPS CALLS.
BECAUSE THE MORE JOHNNY BURNS,
THE MORE JOHNNY EARNS.
BUT THIS CAN BE A REAL SAFETY
PROBLEM FOR ALL OF US.
5,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR ARE
KILLED IN CRASHES INVOLVING
LARGE TRUCKS.
NOW, THE GOVERNMENT'S TRIED TO
ADDRESS SAFETY CONCERNS BY
MANDATING BREAKS AND LIMITING
THE NUMBER OF HOURS TRUCKERS
CAN BE ON THE ROAD.
THEY EVEN REQUIRE ELECTRONIC
MONITORING DEVICES LIKE THIS
ONE, THAT LOG WHEN THE TRUCK IS
MOVING, TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE.
BUT MANY DRIVERS FIND THAT
FRUSTRATING IN A DIFFERENT WAY,
BECAUSE IT LIMITS THEIR AGENCY
OVER HOW AND WHEN THEY DRIVE.
>> WE'RE NOT COMPUTERS.
WE DON'T HAVE AN OFF BUTTON.
THE THING THIS DOES DO IS --
IS IT FORCES YOU TO GET UP
AND GO IF YOU'RE TIRED.
IT FORCES YOU TO GET UP AND GO
IF YOU DON'T FEEL GOOD.
AND IT'S NOT ABOUT RUNNING
24 HOURS A DAY.
IT'S ABOUT MAKING A COMMON SENSE
DECISION ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL, HOW
THE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE, WHETHER
OR NOT YOU WANT TO RUN THROUGH
RUSH HOUR, ET CETERA, ET CETERA,
ET CETERA.
>> John: LOOK.
THERE ARE SOME JOBS YOU CAN
ABSOLUTELY DO IF YOU DON'T FEEL
GOOD.
LIKE THIS ONE.
I FEEL LIKE SHIT ALL THE TIME.
LOOK AT ME.
BUT IT DOESN'T
REALLY MATTER, BECAUSE
THIS DESK ISN'T MOVING
AT 80 MILES AN HOUR,
SO THE CONSEQUENCES OF MY
POOR JOB PERFORMANCE
ARE NOT LIKELY TO KILL ANYONE.
AND WHEN THESE RIGID RULES BUMP
UP AGAINST UNPREDICTABLE WORK
HOURS, DRIVERS ARE PUT IN AN
IMPOSSIBLE PLACE.
TAKE THIS DRIVER, WHOSE COMPANY
MADE HIM TAKE HIS TEN-HOUR BREAK
DURING THE DAY, WHEN HE COULDN'T
SLEEP, AND THEN FOUND HIMSELF
DRIVING EXHAUSTED AT NIGHT.
AND WHEN HE CALLED HIS
DISPATCHER TO SAY HE FELT UNSAFE
TO DRIVE, JUST WATCH HOW BADLY
THE CALL WENT.
>> HEY, MAN, WE GOT A BIT OF
A PROBLEM, DUDE.
I'M STARTING TO FALL ASLEEP
GOING DOWN THE ROAD HERE.
>> BUT GET A LOAD OF THIS,
THE K&B DISPATCHERS, INSTEAD OF
TELLING HIM TO JUST GET SOME
REST, HOT POTATO ABE FROM ONE
DISPATCHER TO ANOTHER, EACH OF
THEM WITH THE SAME ADVICE.
>> GET SOME COFFEE AND THEN
LET'S -- 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
A CHOICE ON THIS.
EITHER GET SOME COFFEE, WALK
AROUND THE TRUCK, DO SOMETHING?
>> I ALREADY DID THAT EARLIER,
MAN.
>> LET'S GET OUT AND GET SOME
FRESH AIR, WHAT IS IT,
ABOUT 10 DEGREES OUTSIDE?
>> YEP.
>> THAT'LL WAKE YOU RIGHT UP,
RIGHT?
>> I'M TELLING YOU.
I'M NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT THE
MOMENT.
>> OKAY, WELL THEN, HERE'S THE
DEAL, WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE
ON THIS.
THAT'S NOT HOW WE WORK HERE
AT K&B.
>> I SAY I'M NOT GONNA HURT
ANYBODY OUT HERE ON THE ROAD.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU DON'T NEED TO JUMP TO THAT.
THAT'S DRAMATIC [BLEEP]
THAT I DON'T NEED THIS MORNING,
RIGHT?
>> John: WOW, "I DON'T NEED THAT
THIS MORNING"?
THAT'S A HELL OF A STATEMENT.
"GET OUT OF HERE WITH THAT
DRAMATIC SHIT UNTIL AT LEAST
1:00 P.M.,
IT'S LIKE THIS MUG SAYS.
"DON'T CONFRONT ME WITH THE
POTENTIALLY LETHAL CONSEQUENCES
OF MY RECKLESS DECISION MAKING
UNTIL AFTER I'VE HAD MY COFFEE."
SO DRIVERS END UP GETTING
SQUEEZED BETWEEN REGULATIONS
AND THE COMPANIES,
AND AT NO POINT IN THE PROCESS
ARE THEIR OWN FEELINGS OR NEEDS
TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
AND THAT'S NOT THE ONLY WAY THEY
GET SQUEEZED.
BECAUSE THE SECOND EXPLOITATIVE
QUIRK OF THIS INDUSTRY CONCERNS
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DRIVERS
AND TRUCKING COMPANIES.
MANY CARRIERS CLASSIFY DRIVERS
NOT AS EMPLOYEES, BUT AS
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.
AND WHILE THERE ARE SOME TO WHOM
THAT LABEL TRULY APPLIES --
THOSE WHO GENUINELY HAVE THE
FREEDOM TO CHOOSE BETWEEN
DIFFERENT LOADS AND HAUL FOR
WHOMEVER THEY WANT -- THE FACT
IS, MANY COMPANIES MISCLASSIFY
DRIVERS AS INDEPENDENT WHO WORK
EXCLUSIVELY FOR THEM, AND WHOSE
DAY-TO-DAY LIVES THEY
FUNDAMENTALLY CONTROL.
AND THERE ARE OBVIOUS REASONS
FOR COMPANIES TO DO THIS,
AS THIS TRUCKER EXPLAINS.
>> I'M NOT CLASSIFIED
AS AN EMPLOYEE.
I AM CLASSIFIED AS AN
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, BUT I
HAVE VERY, VERY LITTLE CONTROL
OVER THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF
MY COMPANY.
>> DESPITE HIS SO-CALLED
INDEPENDENCE, PRIOR WORKS
EXCLUSIVELY FOR SHIPPERS, WHICH
DOLES OUT HIS DAILY ROUTES.
HE HAS SEEN HIS PAYCHECKS
DWINDLE, AND HAS NONE OF THE
PROTECTIONS HE WOULD GET AS AN
EMPLOYEE.
>> AS LONG AS WE'RE INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO
COVER BENEFITS, THEY DON'T HAVE
TO COVER SICK DAYS, BEREAVEMENT
LEAVE TIME, HOLIDAY PAY.
IT JUST SAVES THE COMPANY MONEY.
>> John: YEAH, OF COURSE THIS IS
ATTRACTIVE FOR COMPANIES.
THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO GIVE YOU
TIME OFF WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER
DIES.
SO UNLESS YOUR NANA'S WAKE IS
BEING HELD IN FRONT OF THE
DIESEL PUMP AT A WAWA, YOU'RE
PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
ATTEND.
AND IT ACTUALLY EXEMPTS THEM
FROM EVEN MORE THAN WHAT HE JUST
SAID.
BECAUSE IT ALSO ALLOWS COMPANIES
TO AVOID PAYING PAYROLL TAXES,
WORKERS' COMP, AND UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE, AS WELL AS THE
MINIMUM WAGE.
AND IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH, BEING
AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR MEANS
ALL THE COSTS AND RISKS OF TRUCK
OWNERSHIP GET PUSHED ONTO THE
DRIVER.
JUST WATCH AS THIS FORMER
TRUCKER EXPLAINS EXACTLY WHAT
WAS LEFT OF HER HOUSEHOLD
EARNINGS, ONCE SHE AND HER
HUSBAND HAD ACCOUNTED FOR ALL
THEIR COSTS.
>> WE MADE $150,000, RIGHT,
IN A YEAR.
THAT SOUNDS GREAT, RIGHT?
THAT'S, LIKE, GOOD MONEY.
WE PAID $100,000 IN FUEL, OKAY?
SO, RIGHT THERE, NOW I MADE
$50,000.
BUT I DIDN'T REALLY, BECAUSE,
YOU KNOW, YOU GET AN OIL CHANGE
EVERY MONTH, SO THAT'S $300
A MONTH.
YOU STILL HAVE TO DO ALL THE
MAINTENANCE.
WE HAD A MOTOR BLOW OUT, RIGHT?
$13,000.
RIGHT?
I KNOW, I MEAN, I CHOKE UP
A LITTLE JUST THINKING ABOUT IT,
BECAUSE IT WAS...
AND IT WAS 13,000, AND WE WERE
OFF WORK FOR TWO WEEKS.
SO, BY THE END OF THE YEAR, WITH
THAT $150,000, BY THE END OF THE
YEAR, WE'D MADE ABOUT $22,000.
>> John: YEAH, AND LOOK.
I'M NO CPA, DESPITE THE FACE,
GLASSES, AND INSATIABLE
HORNINESS FOR NUMBERS THAT
STRONGLY IMPLY OTHERWISE, BUT
THAT SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY SHITTY
BOTTOM LINE.
AND WHILE MOST OF THE DRIVERS
YOU'VE SEEN SO FAR TONIGHT HAVE
BEEN IN LONG-HAUL, THIS
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR PROBLEM
ALSO VERY MUCH APPLIES TO THOSE
AT EITHER END OF THE SHIPPING
PROCESS, TOO, LIKE
PORT TRUCKERS, WHERE ONE STUDY
ESTIMATED TWO-THIRDS OF THEM
ARE MISCLASSIFIED, AND ALSO
"LAST MILE" DRIVERS.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO DRIVE
BOX TRUCKS OR SPRINTER VANS TO
DELIVER STUFF DIRECTLY
TO YOUR DOOR.
YOU KNOW HOW YOU SEE
FEDEX GROUND TRUCKS?
THOSE AREN'T FEDEX EMPLOYEES,
DESPITE EVERY VISUAL INDICATION
TO THE CONTRARY.
THEY MAY WEAR A FEDEX UNIFORM,
THEIR TRUCK MAY SAY FEDEX ON IT,
AND THEY MAY EXCLUSIVELY DELIVER
PACKAGES FOR FEDEX, BUT THEY'RE
TECHNICALLY INDEPENDENT.
IF YOU LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE
SIDE OF THE TRUCKS,
YOU'LL SEE SMALL FINE PRINT
INDICATING WHO ACTUALLY OWNS IT,
AND IT'S NOT FEDEX.
AMAZON USES A SIMILAR MODEL WITH
ITS "DELIVERY SERVICE PARTNERS."
AND AGAIN: THE APPEAL FOR AMAZON
IS OBVIOUS.
USING DRIVERS THAT AREN'T DIRECT
EMPLOYEES ALLOWS THEM TO
DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM
LIABILITY WHEN THINGS GO WRONG.
WHICH THEY DO, PARTICULARLY
GIVEN THE RIDICULOUS PACE AMAZON
EXPECTS.
YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD ALL THE
STORIES OF DRIVERS HAVING TO
URINATE IN BOTTLES, BECAUSE THEY
DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO STOP.
THAT SPEAKS TO THE
RELENTLESS PRESSURE TO DELIVER
HUNDREDS OF PACKAGES PER SHIFT.
>> PEOPLE ARE BUSTING THEIR ASS
DRIVING WAY OVER THE SPEED
LIMIT.
PEOPLE ARE RUNNING THROUGH STOP
SIGNS, RUNNING THROUGH YELLOW
LIGHTS.
EVERYBODY I KNEW WAS BUCKLING
THEIR SEATBELT BEHIND THEIR
BACKS BECAUSE THE TIME IT TOOK
JUST TO BUCKLE YOUR SEATBELT,
UNBUCKLE YOUR SEATBELT EVERY
TIME WAS ENOUGH TIME TO GET YOU
BEHIND SCHEDULE.
>> John: YEAH, THAT'S NOT GOOD.
I THOUGHT EVERYONE KNEW THE ONLY
PLACE IT'S FINE NOT TO HAVE
A SEAT BELT IS, FOR SOME REASON,
A SCHOOL BUS.
THAT'S WHERE WE AGREED TO SKIMP
ON THEM AS A SOCIETY.
THE KIDS'LL BE FINE!
WE'LL PUT A LITTLE
STOP SIGN ON THE OUTSIDE!
THEY'LL BE FINE!
AND IF YOU THINK THAT NONSTOP
PRESSURE SEEMS LIKE AN ACCIDENT
WAITING TO HAPPEN,
IT ALREADY HAS.
INVESTIGATIONS BY PROPUBLICA
AND BUZZFEED FOUND THAT,
IN A FOUR-YEAR WINDOW,
DRIVERS DELIVERING AMAZON
PACKAGES HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN
MORE THAN 60 CRASHES THAT LED TO
SERIOUS INJURIES, INCLUDING
13 DEATHS.
OR, AS THAT'S MORE COMMONLY
KNOWN, A BEZOS' DOZEN.
BUT, AGAIN: AMAZON IS BASICALLY
OFF THE HOOK HERE, BECAUSE THESE
DRIVERS AREN'T THEIR EMPLOYEES,
THEY'RE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.
MEANING THE CONTRACTOR IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING THAT
GOES WRONG, NOT THEM.
IN FACT, UNDER AMAZON'S
CONTRACTS, THEY'RE EVEN
REPORTEDLY RESPONSIBLE FOR
PAYING AMAZON'S LEGAL BILLS
IN THE EVENT OF A LAWSUIT,
WHICH IS ONLY FAIR.
IT'S NOT LIKE JEFF BEZOS CAN
AFFORD TO PAY ALL THOSE LAWYERS.
HE'S SPENDING HIS MONEY ON
THINGS THAT TRULY BENEFIT
SOCIETY, LIKE LAUNCHING HIMSELF
INTO SPACE BEFORE DISAPPOINTING
EVERYONE AND COMING BACK SAFELY.
AND AMAZINGLY, I'VE GOT ONE MORE
EXPLOITATIVE QUIRK OF THIS
INDUSTRY TO SHOW YOU.
AND IT'S SOMETHING CALLED LEASE
PURCHASE AGREEMENTS.
THIS IS A SYSTEM WHERE DRIVERS
WHO CAN'T AFFORD THEIR OWN
TRUCK ARE OFFERED THE CHANCE TO
LEASE ONE FROM THE COMPANY THEY
DRIVE FOR WITH THE PROMISE THAT
THEY'LL EARN ENOUGH TO
EVENTUALLY PAY IT OFF
AND OWN IT.
HERE'S ONE COMPANY GIVING YOU
THE HARD SELL.
>> OWN YOUR FUTURE
WITH WESTERN EXPRESS!
FIND YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL
AND EARNING POWER WITH TRUCK
OWNERSHIP!
WESTERN'S LEASE-PURCHASE PROGRAM
IS LIKE NO OTHER.
THERE'S NO MONEY DOWN, NO CREDIT
CHECK, AND NO BALLOON PAYMENTS.
AT WESTERN EXPRESS, WE DELIVER
INDEPENDENCE, ONE DRIVER
AT A TIME!
>> John: OKAY, I'M IMMEDIATELY
SUSPICIOUS OF PHRASES LIKE
"OWN YOUR FUTURE"
AND "FIND YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL."
COMPANIES WITH SELLING POINTS
LIKE THAT TYPICALLY LEAVE YOU
WITH NOTHING BUT DEBT
AND A CLOSET FULL OF LEGGINGS
DESIGNED TO TURN YOUR CROTCH
INTO A MAGIC EYE POSTER.
AND THE FACT IS, DRIVERS WHO
PARTICIPATE IN LEASE-TO-OWN
AGREEMENTS ALMOST NEVER SUCCEED.
ONE TRUCKING COMPANY EXECUTIVE
EVEN ESTIMATED THAT, OF ALL THE
DRIVERS ENTERING INTO THEIR
LEASE-PURCHASE PROGRAM,
ONLY AROUND 5 TO 10% ACTUALLY
ENDED UP SUCCESSFULLY TAKING
OWNERSHIP OF THE TRUCK.
SO THE ODDS ARE HEAVILY
AGAINST YOU.
AND AS FOR THE WHOLE
"DELIVERING INDEPENDENCE" PART,
THAT'S THE REAL IRONY.
IF YOU'RE LEASING A TRUCK FROM
THE COMPANY YOU WORK FOR, YOU'RE
NOW TETHERED TO THEM,
NO MATTER WHAT.
YOU'RE RELIANT ON THEM TO GIVE
YOU LOADS, TO EARN MONEY, WHICH
YOU'RE THEN PAYING BACK TO THEM
TO PAY OFF YOUR LEASE, AND ALL
THE OTHER EXPENSES THEY CAN
THROW AT YOU.
THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM
FOR BOTH LONG-HAUL AND PORT
TRUCKERS.
>> IT TAKES DRIVERS UNTIL --
EACH WEEK, THEY GET PAID EACH
WEEK -- AND IT CAN TAKE THEM
UNTIL WEDNESDAY OR EVEN THURSDAY
BEFORE THEY EVEN BEGIN
TO MAKE $100.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS
BECAUSE THE COMPANY CHARGES THEM
TO USE THE COMPANY TRUCK.
THEY CHARGE THEM TO MAINTAIN THE
COMPANY TRUCK, TO BUY NEW TIRES,
THEY EVEN CHARGE THESE GUYS TO
PARK THE COMPANY TRUCK AT THE
COMPANY YARD OVERNIGHT.
THEY DON'T -- THEY CAN'T EVEN
TAKE IT HOME.
>> John: OH, IT GETS WORSE.
IN ONE CASE, A COMPANY EVEN
CHARGED $2 PER WEEK FOR THE
TOILET PAPER
ALL OF WHICH CAN LEAD A DRIVER
TO ACTUALLY OWE THEIR COMPANY
MONEY AT THE END OF A WORK WEEK.
CAN YOU IMAGINE PICKING UP YOUR
PAYCHECK AND FINDING A ENVELOPE
FULL OF NEGATIVE
$5 BILLS?
YOU'D BE ABSOLUTELY FURIOUS.
AND YES, THAT IS JOHN WILKES
BOOTH ON THE NEGATIVE FIVE,
WHICH MAKES SENSE.
HE CANCELS OUT A LINCOLN.
JUST LIKE HOW AARON BURR
IS ON THE NEGATIVE TEN, AND THE
NEGATIVE HUNDRED FEATURES THE
72 OUNCE STEAK BEN FRANKLIN
CHOKED ON WHILE TRYING TO WIN
A T-SHIRT.
LEARN YOUR HISTORY.
SO DRIVERS ARE BASICALLY STUCK
HERE.
IF THEY STAY WITH THE COMPANY,
THEY CAN END UP SCRAPING
TO GET BY.
BUT IF THEY LEAVE, THEY RISK
LOSING THE TRUCK THEY'VE POURED
SO MUCH INTO, AS MOST
LEASE-TO-OWN AGREEMENTS
STIPULATE THAT IF THE DRIVER
LEAVES THE COMPANY, IT CAN TAKE
BACK THE TRUCK, LEAVING THE
DRIVER WITH NOTHING.
IT'S FRANKLY NO SURPRISE
MULTIPLE TRUCKING COMPANIES HAVE
SETTLED OVER ACCUSATIONS BROUGHT
BY DRIVERS WHO FOUND THEIR
LEASE-TO-OWN AGREEMENTS
PREDATORY.
IN FACT, WESTERN EXPRESS,
THE "OWN YOUR FUTURE" COMPANY,
IS AWAITING COURT SIGNOFF OF
A $15 MILLION CLASS-ACTION
SETTLEMENT RIGHT NOW.
AND I KNOW AT LEAST ONE PERSON
WHO MIGHT BE HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.
BECAUSE JUST WATCH
THIS FORMER WESTERN EXPRESS
DRIVER TALKING ABOUT
HOW SHE'D FELT MISLED AFTER
OPENING A PAYCHECK
THAT CAME TO, AFTER ALL THE
COMPANY'S DEDUCTIONS, JUST $293.
>> I'M PISSED THE FUCK OFF
IF I HAD THE STRENGTH TO PICK
THIS TRUCK UP AND THROW IT
STRAIGHT TO MARS, I WOULD.
DON'T LISTEN TO THOSE RECRUITERS
BECAUSE I'M TELLING YOU THEY
FUCKING LYING.
LEASE PURCHASE HERE IS A LIE.
>> John: YEAH.
IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING
PEOPLE AREN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO
HURL A SEMI TRUCK TO MARS,
BECAUSE IF THEY WERE, NASA WOULD
HAVE TO PLAN THEIR ROVER
MISSIONS AROUND THE
CONSTANT RAIN OF 35,000-POUND
DEBT TRAPS.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO?
WELL, FIRST, WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE
THAT WE'VE ALL GOTTEN USED TO
THE IDEA OF FREE, NEXT-DAY
SHIPPING BUT, CRUCIALLY,
SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE, ALWAYS PAYS
THE PRICE.
SECOND, THE WORK ARRANGEMENTS
DRIVERS ENDURE, AND THE
FUNDAMENTAL LACK OF VALUE PLACED
ON THEIR TIME, CLEARLY NEED TO
BE ADDRESSED.
AND THE GOOD NEWS IS,
THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
ARE SET TO EXAMINE THE TYPE
OF PREDATORY TRUCK LEASING
ARRANGEMENTS WE JUST TALKED
ABOUT AND ALSO PLAN TO STUDY THE
ISSUE OF DRIVER PAY AND UNPAID
WAITING TIMES.
AND HOPEFULLY, THEY WON'T JUST
STUDY IT BUT ACTUALLY DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
BECAUSE THE KEY WAY TO STOP THIS
SO-CALLED "SHORTAGE" OF DRIVERS
THAT WE'VE HAD FOR YEARS NOW IS
TO MAKE THIS A JOB PEOPLE
ACTUALLY WANT TO STAY IN.
AND UNTIL WE MAKE BIG CHANGES,
THE VERY LEAST WE CAN DO IS MAKE
OUR TRUCKING REALITY SHOWS MORE
REFLECTIVE OF WHAT LIFE ON THE
ROAD FOR SO MANY DRIVERS IS
ACTUALLY LIKE.
>> TRUCKS!
THE LIFEBLOOD OF AMERICA.
THEY FLOW ACROSS OUR HIGHWAYS
DRIVEN BY PEOPLE TOUGH ENOUGH TO
DO ONE OF THE GRITTIEST JOBS ON
EARTH.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS YOU CAN
DIE.
>> FROM THE MAKERS OF ICE ROAD
TRUCKERS AND WORLDS TOUGHEST
TRUCKER COMES THOUGH
REALITY SHOW.
WATCH THE DRIVERS GO UP AGAINST
BIG ODDS, TOUGH WEATHER, BUMPY
ROADS, HARD-CORE BUDGETING.
>> 14 GRAND FOR THE ENGINE.
FUEL.
OIL CHANGE.
>> DON'T FORGET THE NEW TIRES.
>> RIGHT.
GOD.
>> OH, YEAH.
THESE ROAD DOGS HAVE DIESEL IN
THEIR BLOOD AND THEY ARE LIVING
THE AMERICAN DREAM.
>> IT'S KIND OF LIKE BEING A
COWBOY.
I'M INDEPENDENT SO I'VE GOT MY
FREEDOM.
I'VE JUST GOT TO HAUL WHAT MY
COMPANY TELLS ME, WHERE THEY
TELL ME, DURING THE HOURS THAT
THEY SPECIFY COME IN A TRUCK I
PAID FOR AND DO NOT OWN.
BUT ON THE PLUS SIGN.
>> THERE IS NO SLOWING DOWN FOR
THESE ROAD WARRIORS BECAUSE IN
THE FREIGHT INDUSTRY, EVERY
MINUTE COUNTS.
EXCEPT DURING LOADING AND
UNLOADING.
>> FUCK.
STAYING IT.
>> THOSE HOURS ARE NOT
COMPENSATED.
>> IS THIS YOUR CARD?
>> YES.
THIS SHOW BRINGS YOU ALL THE
THRILLS.
>> THAT IS PISS.
>> IS THIS THE CHARGE FOR
COMPANY TOILET PAPER?
>> THE ROMANCE OF LIFE ON THE
ROAD.
>> I MISS MY WIFE.
>> THE ACTION LITERALLY NEVER
STOPS.
>> DISPATCH.
I AM NOT SAFE TO DRIVE RIGHT
NOW.
I AM FALLING ASLEEP.
>> ROGER THAT, DRIVER.
WHY DON'T YOU PULL OVER, LIE
DOWN IN THE BACK, GO AHEAD AND
FUCK YOURSELF.
>> I AM WORRIED SOMEONE COULD
GET HURT.
>> ALL, SOMEBODY COULD GET HURT?
I DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS TALKING
TO A DRAMA QUEEN.
OH, THE DRIVER.
TO DRIVE OR NOT TO DRIVE, THAT
IS THE QUESTION.
WHAT IS NOBLER IN THE MIND TO
SUFFER THE SLINGS AND ARROWS OF
OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE OR TAKE ARMS
AGAINST A SEA OF TROUBLES.
THAT'S YOU.
THAT'S WHAT YOU SOUND LIKE.
>> YOU SEEM TO KNOW A LOT OF
HAMLET VERBATIM.
>> GET BACK ON THE FUCKING ROAD.
>> HELL YEAH.
GET READY FOR 100% EXCITEMENT,
100% ADRENALINE, AND 100% [
[HONKING]
>> IT'S NOT JUST TRUCKERS.
THIS SHOW BRINGS YOU EVERY ONE
FROM THE DRIVERS TO THE COMPANY
OWNERS.
>> OWNERS IS A PRETTY STRONG
TERM.
WE HAVE MUCH MORE CASUAL
RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR TRUCKS.
NO LABELS.
I MEAN, WHY COMPLICATE THINGS?
I'M HAVING FUN.
YOU'RE HAVING FUN.
>> THIS PAYCHECK SAYS I OWE YOU
MONEY.
>> IS THAT RIGHT?
BOOYAH.
DO YOU HAVE THE CASH?
>> TUNE IN TO SHOW THAT BRINGS
YOU AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN GET TO
THE TRUCKER LIFE WITHOUT
ACTUALLY BEING ONE.
>> YEAH.
NEITHER ONE OF US GO TO THE
DENTIST ANYMORE AND YOU BRING
YOUR OWN TOILET PAPER TO WORK.
>> I JUST ORDERED A NEW PACK
FROM AMAZON.
>> YOU WATCH?
>> RUN!
>> TRUCK DOG COMING TO THE
HISTORY CHANNEL FOR SOME REASON.
>> John: THAT'S OUR SHOW.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
GOOD NIGHT.
>> IT'S FULL OF OLD
BACKSTREET BOYS POSTERS.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY NEED THEM.
>> WENT SHOPPING FOR CASKETS
LAST WEEK ONLINE.
WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?
I AM HANGING ON BY A THREAD.
>> DEAR REBECCA.
I'M SORRY I MISSED YOUR PLAY.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU.
I JUST HAVE TO GET THIS LOAD IN
RENO.
>> POWER, PURE POWER.
I FEEL SO STRONG.
IT'S LIKE DRIVING A GUN.
I HAVE A LOAD!
I HAVE A BIG FUCKING LOAD!