Poll: Truckers Strike - When Will Truckers Stand Together? IF Ever?

[cowgirl58]

TrooperRat, you have a good point. Organizatiion is what is missing and there are many more reasons to strike. No the government don't need involved...they are a BIG part of the problem. The chances of any of them even slightly understanding what trucking is all about is zero to none, and really giving a Hoot is even less. I for one believe that they will use this as a reason to open the borders to more Mexican drivers if we aren't organized. We are shutting down though.
It would be good to have the media and common person on our side, but without educating them about the trucking industry...we still won't have a great chance for the changes that are needed.

[Dreaman]

Yep I'm a company driver however I do support a strike. I would be willing to bet the company that I work for is a lot of the problem with freight rates. (No I'm not telling you who I work for).
It's time we all stand together and say ENOUGH! These cheap rates and high fuel costs are not putting any extra money in my pocket. I really feel for the O/O and small companies and what headaches they are dealing with.
Maybe as a way to get the word out we could band together from this forum and buy billboards, bumper stickers, tv ads. I realize that this would be a difficult task but it would be a way to show unity. Perhaps pick up the phone and call the local news or your representitive. You do vote right? Keep the message firm and in a positive light, but do something!
To the nay sayers I guess I would give this advice. If you don't have anything good to say just keep it to yourself. Your not helping the cause any.
Well I'll get off of my soap box now. United we stand divided we fall.

[OneTruckinDarkAngel]

I am so glad to hear that truckers want to strike...the increasing fuel prices shouldn't be the only reason for a strike but for more money and respect from people that aren't truckers and don't know what trucking is all about...most people in America don't respect American truck drivers but if the truckers were to bann together and shut down America I bet we would then gain the respect of the people and show them we are an important artery to this country's products and services.

If Europe and Asia can shut down their countries and gain the respect of their people and make better wages then we can do the same in this country over fuel prices and what ever else we have a problem with!
I am all for shutting down America for how ever long we drivers decide to if it's 3 day's to one week...Let's get it together Truck Drivers!

[Brickman]

Originally Posted by millerlite

well folks this is my first post and I must admit some of you have really entertained me. I remember the strike of '74 I was a teenager and my father was an O/O that was the only strike to ever have an effect on the industry. some of you think all you have to do is park your truck at home and take the kids to disneyland for a couple days WRONG!!!! you can call me a nutcase all you want but the facts are that you need support willing and unwilling. I am not advocating violance but the large companies and the company drivers will not support you. a lot of people need to have the balls to block fuel pumps at truckstops so the company trucks can't get fuel and have no choice but to shut down. trust me 2 or 3 days wont do it plan on at least a week or 2. many of you are saying you can't afford that. well if you cant squeeze by for a week or 2 then you will be broke within 6 months anyway. the money you lose by shutting down 2 weeks will be made up within 2 months after the freight rates are brought up and then you can start making a profit. you will never bring the price of fuel down since oil prices are set on the WORLD market. however freight rates are a different thing. one last thing during the '74 strike fuel was around $.40 per gallon and I remember my father turning down $5200 for a load from Ca. to Boston that was 34 years ago what are you hauling it for now.

You are forgetting the fact that the society has gone to as much JIT freight as they can get away with. Most gas stations, grocery stores, and general goods stores like Wal Mart don't have more than 1 to 3 days inventory in their stores.

It will not take 2 weeks. 3 to 5 days if EVERY truck in America were to shut down. But that will never happen. The big companies with forced dispatch will not be shutting down.

[illegal_eagle187]

i support the strike and i will get the message out to everyone i know...

[Flaboy]

I believe a peaceful demostration would be best, I do however think that it needs to be nationwide and it needs to last long enough to have a real impact, remember the oil companies do have lots of money to just sit and wait and most companies are stocking up on goods since the media is spreading the word about a strike.

Afterall what good will it do any of us drivers to continue to drive just to pay for fuel, if we dont do something now we will see these prices continue to rise until most of us are out of business, the strike is a must if we want to stay in business.

[Flaboy]

Originally Posted by TrooperRat

Here's the problem with all this talk about a strike: WHO is speaking for EVERYONE? Who does the media go to for the "final word"? Without the media on your side, this strike will not have NEAR as much impact as if it WERE on your side.
Isn't this part of the reason unions exist? I'm not in a union and am neither for or against them, but at least they have a central spokesperson to go talk to when something's up.
Wouldn't it help, at least a little more, if you're really going to have results, to have a strike with EVERYONE involved writing or calling their congressman/woman and telling them what you are doing?
Should the government get involved?
Do any of you have any thoughts about this? Is there an official constitution of what should be done to make truck drivers happy? Does anyone know what this policy is? Can I go online somewhere and look it up?
This is what the common man/woman is going to want to see. If you don't have the public behind you, this is all just a waste of time - unless - of course - enough drivers shut down that the economy is stopped because of it. And then......WHO is going to speak for the masses of truck drivers? See?
What if the media only gets hold of morons that have no clue? They are speaking for YOU.
There are too many issues being left to the wind here.

Teamsters tried to get owner operators both union and not to go on strike in Washington State back in october but did not succeed, I guess it was not obvious to see where fuel prices were heading back then, there may be a slight chance we may see them as well as OOIDA speak up to the media once the strike reaches a national level, by then we will be all over the news anyway.

[skid]

Mine is parked. Don't know anywhere the law will let me park with banners but I'll put em on in my front yard. Most of my neighbors already know our plight others will stop and ask. Now is the time if we ever hope to accomplish anything.

[Baack]

A Friend of mine called up and asked did I stock up on food
When I asked why he said that there is going to be a big trucker strike and April 1 and on the news they said that there may be run on grocery stores

[HarleyRider]

It’s time for ALL truckers to get together and strike. The need is now, and not just for a few hours or days. If you want to make an impact on the oil companies, you need to take a vacation. Take at least 3 weeks.

Get together, pick a date 2 months from now so you can stock up. Make your last deliveries because “they” might try to lock you up for stealing whatever you’re hauling, and go home.

The people of this great nation will cause such an uproar, that the government can not and will not let it continue. The will have to step in and do something, and the only thing they can do is work with, (force), the oil companies to bring the price of fuel back down to where a driver can make a living.

Some will say that it will cause too much of a hardship on people. Prices on goods will soar. That is probably true in the short turn. But, in the long run, when the price at the pump starts to drop, the people will realize that the truckers are doing what needs to be done for all.

I do believe that the people of this great nation will stand behind a strike.

In the long run, everyone but the oil companies will reap the benefits, and they have already made billions of dollars profit per quarter for the past few years.

I do believe it’s time the people regained some control of their lives, and the only way to achieve that is to shut down the nation’s commerce. Over 65% of the goods sold are carried by truckers.

I am not a trucker, and I do know what it will do to prices. I for one will support a trucker strike for as long as it takes!

TRUCKERS HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR ALL.