Where Did the Name "Teamsters" Come From? The name dates back to
1903, when most deliveries were made by horse-drawn wagons. The
driver was referred to as a "teamster," because he was the one
who managed the team that was pulling the load. Before they
unionized, the average teamster in the late 1800s often worked
18-hour days and was expected to not only haul cargo, but load
and unload it—and be financially responsible for it—from
shipping point to delivery point. All that for an average salary
of $2 per day. Unions are sometimes looked upon with some
derision today, but when the Teamsters first organized, it was
to prevent worker exploitation and provide a more humane and
safe environment (along with a livable wage) for the humble
laborer. Today the International Brotherhood of Teamsters has
approximately 1.4 million members, professional and non-
professional, in both the public and private sector representing
all forms of transportation workers from UPS and FedEx drivers
and package handlers to locomotive e