Truckers are supposedly protesting tomorrow 4/1 - 4/6 (buy, taxes, costs)

[Roselvr]

Apparently there is news going around that truckers are either shutting down tomorrow until the 6th or going to drive 45mph to show support if they work for a large company and can't not drive. My hubby an owner operator hasn't heard about this until I called & told him, it doesn't seem like it's been planned too well, which is a shame as something is needed to be done with diesel prices.

I guess we will see if anything happens tomorrow.

Google news results - truckers protest

I looked on the OOIDA site, - Owner Operator Indepandant Drivers Association - and according to them, they can't support it.

SPECIAL REPORT: Shutdown talk heats up; OOIDA flooded with calls - Thursday, March 27, 2008

Jim Johnston, OOIDA’s president and CEO and one of its founders, also remembers the desperate days of the 1970s. He said today that even though federal law prohibits OOIDA from calling for a strike because it is a trade association, OOIDA will always do its best to represent the interest of its members whether they are running or shutdown because of a lack of compensating revenue.

“Even back in the 1970s, when we saw nearly 100 percent of truckers participating in strikes, it did not lower fuel prices,” Johnston said. “Short-term relief from the situation then was the result of a temporary implementation of a mandatory fuel surcharge.

“However, we wouldn’t see that same kind of immediate result today because in the ’70s the ICC (Interstate commerce Commission) was still in place and rates were regulated. Rates are not regulated today, and there is not a government agency that could simply institute a rate increase or surcharge.”

Not only does the concept of a strike not add up economically for Johnston and other OOIDA leaders, but there is also the possibility of threat of federal prosecution if the Association is involved in such activities.

“It’s not a matter of OOIDA being for strikes or against strikes,” said Norita Taylor, OOIDA’s media affairs spokesperson. “Jim can’t help our members or other truckers if he’s in jail on federal charges.

“Criminal penalties could be imposed, those businesses and individuals who claim to be adversely affected by a strike action could initiate civil lawsuits, and the existence of the Association could be jeopardized.”

[apvbguy]

Originally Posted by Roselvr

Apparently there is news going around that truckers are either shutting down tomorrow until the 6th or going to drive 45mph to show support if they work for a large company and can't not drive. My hubby an owner operator hasn't heard about this until I called & told him, it doesn't seem like it's been planned too well, which is a shame as something is needed to be done with diesel prices.

there isn't too much you can do about diesel prices, you are competing with the world for a finite resource, but I do know that the retailers in NJ are scamming the public, the price of diesel in NJ is out of line. I drive a diesel car, and I am familiar with the fuel oil markets. The price at the pump in NJ is about 20-30 cents out of line of where it should be, if regular is $2.95 (prices seen in central NJ this weekend) and the differential between reg no lead and diesel at the wholesale level right now is about 35 cents, then a fair price for diesel would be no more than $3.50 per gallon, the lowest price I saw for diesel in my part of nj was $3.89.

One other way I gauge the price is FL vs NJ, Fl fuel taxes are around 22 cents a gallon higher than NJ but diesel can easily be found for $3.95 here in NE FLA.
In conclusion the price of diesel is high and there is little that can be done about that, but what should be looked at is why the pump price in NJ is so out of line.
When I can buy diesel in FLA for about the same price as it costs in NJ something is way out of whack

[wileynj]

My brother the trucker hasn't heard about it either?

[Judge Smails]

Originally Posted by Roselvr

Apparently there is news going around that truckers are either shutting down tomorrow until the 6th or going to drive 45mph to show support if they work for a large company and can't not drive. My hubby an owner operator hasn't heard about this until I called & told him, it doesn't seem like it's been planned too well, which is a shame as something is needed to be done with diesel prices.

I guess we will see if anything happens tomorrow.

Google news results - truckers protest

I looked on the OOIDA site, - Owner Operator Indepandant Drivers Association - and according to them, they can't support it.

SPECIAL REPORT: Shutdown talk heats up; OOIDA flooded with calls - Thursday, March 27, 2008

Fantastic, maybe I'll make it to work on time for once.

[Judge Smails]

Damn, maybe I should have ready the article first.

[ramapo_indian]

if all truckers shut down for 2 days all hell would break loose! they would definently lower prices, i bet by half.all america would suffer without us truckers! i am ready!!

[joe moving]

I think the right thing to do is to pass the $$ on to the drivers. Rates should be UP. At $4/gallon and 8 MPG you do the math. 50 cents a mile just in fuel.

[Roselvr]

Anyone hear anything more on this? I see drivers in PA started today, they drove around the state house. I see truckers in Indiana will do the same thing April 18th.

Atlanta is having something tomorrow

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by Roselvr

Anyone hear anything more on this? I see drivers in PA started today, they drove around the state house. I see truckers in Indiana will do the same thing April 18th.

Atlanta is having something tomorrow

I think we should join them! All call in sick one day...Blue Flu... Gas Price Flu! Won't work for me though as I am self employed and work from home...but I'll give it a try - could use a day off..lol : )

[MJJersey]

They tried the same thing in CA a few years ago to protest high gas prices. Their efforts were largely unsuccessful.