News Coverage Regarding Trucker Strikes

[Bullwinkle]

I am seeing more and more news coverage regarding truckers shutting their rigs down. Success or not, this has truly been the most news covered talk of a shutdown that I can remember, and it should only increase.

Seen a story? Post it here. Give us a little snippet of the story, along with the link.

Edit 3/26.08 - After searching for these for a few days, the news media is now going crazy with these stories. Thanks to all of you who have contacted the media outlets..

truck strike - Google News

[Bullwinkle]

With the cost of fuel on the rise, some are feeling the pinch in more ways than one.

Some truckers say they are so fed up with the cost of diesel fuel, they are going to strike April 1st.

Todd Wiggins is one of the owner operators planning to put his truck in park. Wiggins says he has to pay for his own fuel, and with the cost of fuel on the rise, it's hurting his pocket.

"If you run hard in a week you may spend $2,000 to $3,000 dollars on diesel,"says Wiggins.

He says big rigs hold around 300 gallons on average, but they only get about seven miles per gallon.

By parking their trucks to get their message across, he says it may hurt everyone.
"If we're down for a day or three days, you know you may see prices in the grocery store rise,"says Wiggans.

Truckers Planning Strike - Mobile Alabama News AL Pensacola Florida News FL

[Bullwinkle]

Truckers who have to use diesel gasoline they say they're fed up with the price they're paying at the pump.

Dozens of truckers got together in Macon to consider going on strike.

Right now a gallon of diesel gas is close to four dollars in central georgia.

Danny Ashley, a spokesperson for the group said diesel prices have put some truckers out of business the rest of them are headed to unemployment.

13WMAZ.com - Truckers Consider Strike

[19speedracer]

Heres another from Fox 24 out of Macon. They was at the meeting yesterday too.
Fox 24 NEWS -- WGXA-TV --WHERE YOUR NEWS COMES FIRST

[Bullwinkle]

A trucker's strike may be looming on the horizon. Many independent over the road truck drivers are fed up with rising fuel and insurance costs and are looking into organizing and trying to join together to take rigs off the road and that would mean shortages at supermarkets, convenience stores and if it was carried out to the extreme, eventually at every retail outlet in America. Everything that gets delivered to a retail store in your city or town is eventually delivered by a truck, and if it were highly organized a strike could paralyze the economy.

National Ledger - Trucker's Strike Looming: Fuel Cost Protest in April, Real or Hoax?

[Bullwinkle]

It’s not a pleasant time to be in the trucking business, to say the least. With fuel prices way, way out of sight and freight still sluggish due to the U.S.’s rocky economy, it’s been a tough road to travel for independent truckers and fleets, plus truck manufacturers and related suppliers alike.

Just look at the escalating cost of fuel. In 17 states now, diesel costs over $4 a gallon. The industry trade group American Trucking Association (ATA) is projecting that if diesel fuel costs stay that high, the trucking industry will spend $135 billion on fuel this year – a $22 billion increase over the $112.6 billion spent by trucking in 2007 and an $85 BILLION increase over the industry’s fuel tab of $52 billion back in 2003. That means, according to ATA’s data, the cost to fill the fuel tanks on a typical tractor-trailer has increased 116%, or $615, in just five years.

“Fuel represents the second-highest operating expense for motor carriers, accounting for as much as 25% of total operating costs,” said Bill Graves, ATA’s president and CEO. “For some motor carriers, however, fuel is beginning to surpass labor as their largest expense. An affordable supply of diesel fuel is imperative to keep our trucks moving, [yet] there is little to suggest that fuel prices will decline any time soon.”

The high price of diesel is also sparking talk of a nationwide trucker strike on April 1

Trucks at Work: Blog at Fleetowner.com

[Bullwinkle]

Florida falls just below the national average. According to AAA figures, the most expensive average price for diesel is in New York, where a gallon goes for $4.33. The cheapest can be bought in Oklahoma, where a gallon goes for $3.84. Twenty-six states have averages under $4 a gallon.

It's enough to have sparked a word-of-mouth strike next week by independent truckers. Cunningham said he will stay home at least a couple of days to protest the high price of fuel and the stinginess of those who pay to haul their products to market.

"Freight prices haven't gone up in years," he said.

'Freight Rate Is Not Going Up'

For an independent trucker, the price of fuel is almost too much to handle. To fill up his rig, which, like most semis, gets about five miles to a gallon, Cunningham pays more than $1,000, he said. Last week, he topped off his tanks with 154 gallons and spent $613.

$4-A-Gallon Diesel Squeezes Truckers

[Bullwinkle]

ARMSTRONG COUNTY, Pa. -- Monday morning, several truckers turned off their engines to protest the over $4 a gallon and up they are paying for diesel fuel.The strike began at midnight Sunday and could impact many items bought at stores.Starting at midnight, truckers have been pulling off Route 66 in Armstrong County to show their support for the protest.

Local Truckers On Strike Over High Gas Prices - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

[Bullwinkle]

Huntington, WV (HNN) – Many a grassroots movement has grown to significance from a bunch of determined people utilizing the internet to the fullest. Republican Presidential Candidate Ron Paul fueled his campaign almost solely on internet contributions and responses. Angry television series fans have bombarded more than one (“Jericho,” for instance) television network with Save Our Show pleadings.

According to a Quad Cities, Iowa published report, the price of gasoline will bring many independent truckers to a stop April 1. The newspaper quoted Dan Little, owner/operator of a livestock hauling company in Missouri as saying 1,000 other truckers have committed to the April Fools Day halt of the big rigs.

Why? In the words of one owner/operator: “The fuel is too high and there’s no reason for it.”

Diesel fuel has topped $4.00 per gallon in many states. The truckers says they not only can’t make a profit they are going broke.

Huntington News

[Bullwinkle]

MEBANE (WTVD) -- Everyone's complaining these days about high gas prices. But, it turns out truckers have it worse. And there is now talk of a strike.
The price of diesel is climbing even faster than gasoline. In fact, in some places diesel has already topped four dollars a gallon, and that has truckers crying foul.
The big trucks that help move important goods into our communities get about five miles a gallon and can cost more than 800 bucks per tank to fill.
Anthony Martin has been an independent truck driver for years. But with diesel prices around $4.00 a gallon. Times are tough. Before he takes a job he has to ask himself some serious questions.




abc11.com: Pain at the pump for truckers as diesel prices climb 3/24/08