captwooly_pilots

Pilots
      Today's pilot situation has been on my mind for a while. There is such a
shortage of pilots in the maritime industry that many are opting for trip status and
naming their own wages; demanding this and that like they are stuck up, spoiled
superstars or something. Where will it end? Not too long ago a pilot made the
comment:
"$ 430.00 isn't even worth me leaving my driveway". I remember when I first got my
pilots license, the standard rate was $130.00 a day. Harbor work was five dollars
less a day. That was in 1990. In 97 the base pay for the small to medium sized
boats (600-1200 hp) I worked on was around $ 200.00 a day. Between 97 and
2004 the wages slowly went up till they seemed to peak at around $300.00 a day.
That’s over a one hundred percent increase in just 7 years. Wow! Who would have
ever thought the pay would shoot up so high. Not a bad living considering more
than half of the pilots don't even have a high school diploma. Pilots these days are
demanding anywhere from $430.00 to $ 500.00 a day.
Unreal.
       I had been out of the industry for awhile due to back surgery and when I came
back this is what I've found:
      Pilots that under normal circumstances probably wouldn't even be called
because of their attitude and poor work ethic are in high demand. They don't even
show up for work unless they get a wild hair to do so and still expect to be
respected. They don't even do what they are paid to do which is manage the crew,
take care of the boat and perform whatever maintenance and repairs that they can,
and deliver the tows safely and efficiently, without bitching and, or demanding a
bonus for doing their job for which they are getting paid for already. One thing
these overpaid prim-donnas seem to be forgetting is that, sure, the companies will
cave in sooner or later and pay more because they do not have much of a choice,
but they are also passing the added expense along to their customers. Not your
problem huh. Maybe not now, but do you remember what happened to the paper
companies in Alabama? The steel mills and auto plants in Detroit, Pittsburg? The
North American free trade agreement? Do you have any inkling why that
happened? The fate and direction of those industries were directed by the same
deadly sin that will destroy the marine industry. GREED!!! If we, as pilots, continue
to drive up our daily rates, the costs of shipping cargo via barge will continue to go
up. Shipping cargo on the waterways was always the cheapest form of
transportation for product that wasn't in a rush to get to where it was going. But
these days the trains are able to compete with us, there are more and more trucks
on the road everyday, they are being chosen more and more because the marine
industry just is not the deal it once was. If this keeps on, instead of investing in the
inland waterways infrastructure like they should, government and business will
concentrate on the highways and rail to accommodate their cargo; the waterways
will be left to a slow death.
       What are you going do when the tide turns and there are finally more pilots
than there are boats operating? Do you think that the owners of these towing
companies will not remember people who extorted them and took advantage of their
situation? Then it will be, "why won’t anyone hire me? What did I do to deserve
this?" The answer of course will be everything. You reap what you sow. I'm a firm
believer of what comes around goes around. It is our responsibility to be
professional and knowledgeable about the direction of our industry, our livelihood.
Hey I like to make as much money as possible just like the next guy, but I also do
not feel that $430.00 will not get me out of my driveway. That is so ridiculous. I also
do what I can on the boat, maintenance wise, to save the company money, I don't
bitch about having to actually do my job for which I'm getting paid. I don't get a wild
hair and jump ship on a moments notice because I can get away with it due to the
desperation facing companies. I show up for crew change when I'm supposed to.
What I do used to be called being an adult and facing my responsibilities. These
days people seem to call it an inconvenience, but your day in the sun will surely
come, then let’s see how important you really are my friends.
-captwooly