Charleston, WV Convoy

[truckerstrike08]

Hey guys just helping this gentleman out and pushing the convoy in Charleston, WV. Here is the information about it and who to contact. Very nice man I may add as well.






PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS

and

AMERICAN CITIZENS

TRUCKERS AND CITIZENS UNITED

invites you

TO JOIN US IN COORDINATED CONVOYS ACROSS AMERICA

November 03, 2008

Charleston, WV

Exit 67 ( Flatwoods, WV ) off of Interstate 79

Trucks to return to ( Start ) for a Meet & Greet!


For more information please contact:
Gary Davis @ (304) 765 -7050

[OverTime]

I sure hope Gary's Convoy gets the people like I think Atlanta, GA will.

Thank you Miss D for posting this here.... 10-4

All the best,
Matt

[truckerstrike08]

I have A LOT of confidence in Gary Davis to be honest.

[truckerstrike08]

Charleston Daily Mail - West Virginia News and Sports - News - Truckers converging on Capitol in diesel protest*

It's obvious Gary Davis can get it done:


Friday April 4, 2008
Truckers converging on Capitol in diesel protest
Roads being closed in Charleston to make way for rigs

Hundreds of truckers from around the Mountain State were traveling in a miles-long convoy to Charleston today in order to peacefully protest the nation's surging fuel prices.

Many of the truck drivers were planning to meet at the Flatwoods exit off Interstate 79 about 8 a.m., and were rumbling off about two hours later to their rendezvous point - the state Capitol.

Jeff Perkins, owner of Perkins Trucking in Heaters and co-organizer of the protest with Gary Davis, got the ball rolling about a week ago on what is now dubbed "Hillbilly Express."

A large sign was constructed and mounted on the back of his rig with information about the rally along with a phone number and e-mail address, asking people to join the effort.

That sign has clearly been a catalyst for gathering support, he said.

"Last Wednesday we started it," Perkins said. "We put the sign on the truck and people started calling and showing up every day. We've had great support."

Perkins and Davis said they just "want to be heard."

"I've been watching (gas prices) for about nine months and decided something had to be done," Davis said.

"We're hurting and we want some recognition," Perkins added. "The gas and fuel is killing the economy. It's not just me either; we're out here for the public, too. The average person can't spend 80 to 100 dollars a week on gas."

Davis said he wants answers at the Capitol. And while he realizes not much can be done at the state level, he knows truckers now have a platform to get things moving in the right direction.

"We just want to get the government to do something," Davis said. "We don't have the power, but Congress and the president does."

Perkins is upset there hasn't been a voice for the cause yet, and he thinks that should be the governor.

"Have we heard a spokesperson?" he asked. "Have we heard a voice? The governor needs to take charge."

Perkins isn't sure how many trucks will actually show up, but said if everyone who called actually shows up, Charleston is in for a surprise.

"If everybody comes, they'll be coming from opposite directions," he said. "I had someone call this morning adding about 50 to 100 trucks."

"They're going to get a double dose," Davis said.

Perkins knows the hardships of trucking first hand. He said he has only been able to run about half of his fleet of trucks because of soaring diesel prices.

And not only are the prices hitting him in the pocket, but he has had to pick up the slack in other areas at his business, too, he said.

"Got rid of the health plan, the secretary, the fulltime mechanic," Perkins said.

For Perkins, that is unacceptable.

He said he couldn't afford to fill up 11 trucks with two, 100-gallon tanks each at $4 a gallon, especially considering the rough terrain in the state.

"In West Virginia, as soon as you're down one hill, you're pulling another one," he said. "We only get about four miles a gallon."

And when the trucking industry begins to slow, he said, bad things are in store for the rest of the state and nation.

"Trucking is the No. 1 industry in West Virginia," he said. "If truckers shut down, our economy is going to go to crap."

The West Virginia Motor Truck Association is not participating in the rally, but has expressed empathy with those who are.

"Trucking has a significant impact on the West Virginia economy," according to a press release from Jan Vineyard, West Virginia Motor Truck Association president. "The industry provided 44,634 jobs in 2005, or one out of 17 of all jobs in the state. Total trucking industry wages paid in West Virginia in 2005 exceeded $1.5 billion."

"While we share the plight of the independent trucking professionals conducting this effort, we believe the issue cannot be remedied at the state level," the release said.

The release goes on to include measures that will be taken by the association to educate elected officials on how to remedy the rising fuel cost.

Those measures include establishing a national diesel fuel standard, allowing environmentally responsible exploration of oil rich areas in the U.S. and establishing a lower national speed limit.

Charleston police also have stepped up their efforts to prepare for the rally.

Starting about 10 a.m., Kanawha Boulevard from Greenbrier Street to California Avenue was being shut down to provide some parking for the tractor trailers, according to a press release from Sgt. Shawn Williams.
Motorists can expect the roads to be closed until at least 3 p.m., but extra officers will be out directing traffic through detours, the release said. Police will monitor the number of trucks entering the city and will act accordingly.

[truckerstrike08]

I had a pretty picture but I am too tired and messed it up twice

[truckerstrike08]

I am pushing this convoy more than the other ones. I don't feel the need to help on the others as much as I do on this one. So people can contact me as well about the event.

[Cerberus]

if it all works out like it looks like it is going to then it will be pretty impressive to see.

[truckerstrike08]

Keep your fingers crossed

I have put flyers up too in truck stops and in rest areas.

[Duster]

I tell ya what, I'd sure love to be a part of that one. But I don't think Mr. Van Kampen would be to thrilled to see one of his trucks in something like that LOL

[Duster]

Hey guys, I hate too be the party pooper here, but, some points to consider.

1. What about the company driver who's supporting his wife and 6 month old baby through trucking. Can he really afford to just stop running, and spend money at a truckstop eating, and what not. That's a lot to ask of someone.

2. What about the company driver who's boss says " If I find out, that you and the truck are part of this mess, I'll fire you on the spot, and send a team in to recover your truck and load, and your out on your ass"? Probably the same driver supporting his wife and child.

3. What about companies like Swift, JB, Schnieder. If we stop suddendly, Trust me, these guys will step right up and take all that freight and haul it all, and then we get nothing.

4. Fourth and final point to consider. Parking. Supposing everyone does stop on April 1st, is there really going to be enough parking in truckstops and rest areas for everyone. Hell, I can't find parking half the time in a truckstop at 7 O'clock at night with out the truck shut down.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, with all that said, I will do this. If I wake up, April 1st, and see people not leaving the truckstop, and no trucks driving up and down the road, and everyone is yelling on the CB about how this shutdown is kicking off. Then I'll stop, but I tell ya what, I won't be the only guy in the truckstop refusing to leave, when everyone else is going on about there buisness like it's any other day