Truckers threatening to strike

[Cybergal]

Truckers ‘going broke’ and threatening to strike

3/18/08
Quad City Times, IA

What started as a small, online grassroots effort now appears to have the potential for something bigger.

Dan Little, the owner/operator of a livestock hauling company in Carrollton, Mo., estimated Tuesday that at least 1,000 other truckers from across the United States have committed so far to joining him in a strike on April 1.

Although none of the truckers interviewed Tuesday at the Iowa 80 Truck Stop, Walcott, which is just off Interstate 80 west of Davenport, has heard of the intended strike, some said they would shut down, too.

Weldon Kinnison, a Virginia trucker who was hauling soft drink from Indiana to Denver, heard about the plans for a strike for the first time Tuesday while stopping at Walcott.

“I’m an owner/operator with the American Truckers Association,” he said. “I’d park my truck for a week with the cattle haulers.

“The fuel is too high, and there’s no reason for it. I don’t listen to the CB (radio) that much, but I guess I’ll start now.”

At issue is the rising cost of diesel fuel, which has reached or exceeded $4 per gallon in at least 17 states. But Little does not expect his strike to bring down the per-gallon price of gas, nor does he expect to have any effect on the oil companies.

“What I would personally like to see is our federal and state governments, until our economy recovers, suspend federal and state fuel taxes,” the 49-year-old said. “The second thing I’d like to see is an oversight committee for truck insurance, which is part of what’s taking us down.
more here................... http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2008...845.txt?sPos=1

[Mastertech]

These guy's need to get organized and make this happen.

[bob wood]

truckers have been threatening to strike for 20 years,the problem is they will NOT stick together! the goverment can not force the oil companys to drop their price!im afraid your going to see more repo,s on dealers lots this year.

[WiseOne]

Organization of this is EXTREMELY difficult due to places like OOIDA not being involved in it...and they won't, trust me. They won't even give US the time of day, so the fact that they would support us is, well, a dream...it would be a miracle. All they'll do is go up to D.C. and go please, please, please...and that'll be it. Bush does NOT respect begging, he DOES respect FORCE...look how he walks around like a clucking rooster! IF something like this is half-#####, it will do nothing but make some truckers look like fanatics and unreasonable. BUT, if you had hundreds of thousands...people would stand up and take notice you can bet your ### on that. I have talked to a lot of non-truckers and they WOULD support a short trucker strike to help us and them!

BUT, what happens when those #####, JB Hunt, rips on by the strike (and they will)? Will there be bloodshed? Of course there will be. Will the National Guard be called out, well OF COURSE! We all must think of the consequences, people. Are YOU willing to sacrifice to get what you need? OF COURSE you aren't (most of you I mean, at this point). I feel it is simply not bad enough, at this point, for ANY type of organization to be effective due to ball-less American truckers. I think MAYBE if the price gets to $5/gallon for diesel then drivers MIGHT be willing to take a risk. That is MHO. Heck, listen to the CB! Listen to how many morons are out there...how do you overcome them? BLOODSHED (severe force), of course! Ok, then you have the ball-less Teamsters...what to do with them? Will they join it? As close as they are to D.C. (like OOIDA), I seriously doubt it.

Yes, when it gets THAT bad, I DO have the balls to support it...but YOU all must prove you are totally willing to organize something of the sort. I am NOT beholden to ANYONE (D.C.) or otherwise EXCEPT to TRUCKERS! I cannot do it FOR you, YOU must get the word out and stop being wimps. It is YOUR responsibility! Yes this site CAN be used as a medium...but not without YOU all getting some real guts, period. Sorry for being harsh, but reality check here, people.

[danc694u]

The reality of an organized truck strike is now covered under DHS rules as a terrorist act. A little research will drive that point home.

That's the reality, and that is why OOIDA is NOT representative of American Truckers...period. Do you really think they want to go to jail for your measly 25-30 dollars? So yes they will beg, rather than start a movement.

The truth of the matter is, the majority of drivers are company drivers. Most of which are so deep in debt at this time. They can hardly afford to take even one day off. Many are so scared they will not find another job, they fearfully keep driving down the road.

It will take a group of drivers using extreme tactics such as those in the 70's to get the "noobs" to stay home.

Who is willing to kill the first driver with a brick from an overpass??

I dare say, that NOT one single driver (myself included) within this forum is willing to raise their hand, and say "I will".

This is painful times for EVERY driver. But, it will correct itself. Even the big guys can not continue to absorb cost for the sake of saving an account, for long.

Bear/Sterns proved that point this past week.

[gearjammer-2000]

Originally Posted by WiseOne

Organization of this is EXTREMELY difficult due to places like OOIDA not being involved in it...and they won't, trust me. They won't even give US the time of day, so the fact that they would support us is, well, a dream...it would be a miracle. All they'll do is go up to D.C. and go please, please, please...and that'll be it. Bush does NOT respect begging, he DOES respect FORCE...look how he walks around like a clucking rooster! IF something like this is half-#####, it will do nothing but make some truckers look like fanatics and unreasonable. BUT, if you had hundreds of thousands...people would stand up and take notice you can bet your ### on that. I have talked to a lot of non-truckers and they WOULD support a short trucker strike to help us and them!

BUT, what happens when those #####, JB Hunt, rips on by the strike (and they will)? Will there be bloodshed? Of course there will be. Will the National Guard be called out, well OF COURSE! We all must think of the consequences, people. Are YOU willing to sacrifice to get what you need? OF COURSE you aren't (most of you I mean, at this point). I feel it is simply not bad enough, at this point, for ANY type of organization to be effective due to ball-less American truckers. I think MAYBE if the price gets to $5/gallon for diesel then drivers MIGHT be willing to take a risk. That is MHO. Heck, listen to the CB! Listen to how many morons are out there...how do you overcome them? BLOODSHED (severe force), of course! Ok, then you have the ball-less Teamsters...what to do with them? Will they join it? As close as they are to D.C. (like OOIDA), I seriously doubt it.

Yes, when it gets THAT bad, I DO have the balls to support it...but YOU all must prove you are totally willing to organize something of the sort. I am NOT beholden to ANYONE (D.C.) or otherwise EXCEPT to TRUCKERS! I cannot do it FOR you, YOU must get the word out and stop being wimps. It is YOUR responsibility! Yes this site CAN be used as a medium...but not without YOU all getting some real guts, period. Sorry for being harsh, but reality check here, people.

sorta makes you wonder how they got organized back in 74, all they had was cbs back then no internet no cell phones i have to think in this day and age that it would be a lot easier

[poppy]

i tend to think that a good start would be for us to use our VOTE. it is the opportune time, pres. election coming up. don't have to park to use it, and would show that we can agree on one thing. any politician will change sides of the fence if it means continuing the free ride.

shurley everyone will vote.

[Wiseguywireless]

Originally Posted by gearjammer-2000

sorta makes you wonder how they got organized back in 74, all they had was cbs back then no internet no cell phones i have to think in this day and age that it would be a lot easier

We are wimps now. a lot different than then.

[zig-zag]

If the fuel prices can't bring us together perhaps the Mexican carriers coming across the borders will. Help close the border.

Help America, help truckers.

Wake up people the NAU is coming. Congress will review the Interstate Dryage Law of 1937(?) in the near future. If that is repealed then we can all go sit on the porch and watch the cheap ### Mexican truckers move the freight.