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

[WiseOne]

Just saw it reported on CNN and a couple other places...I think IF it does happen, it will have to build up over days...

[Brickman]

Originally Posted by WiseOne

Just saw it reported on CNN and a couple other places...I think IF it does happen, it will have to build up over days...

FOX news got on the band wagon this morning.
The top story on their website is about the shutdown.

Originally Posted by sportbike

we need to get everyone involved in this one, too much at stake, everyone is hurting and it can get worse, "much worse" please read the link, get involved and pass the word, i'm retired and can help, organize.....

we are trying to get something going please pass the word

i'm in the dallas area


they dont allow links to be posted on this message board and thats ashame this is too important for us not to get the message out, there is a plan, that everyone can follow with out hurting everyone too bad, we need to pull together, otherwise it's chaos....

Now that you have 2 posts you can post links to news stories etc. Just not to competing forums and blogs.

[mrspeedball1]

I participated in the 1st truckers fuel strike in 76 or 77? It was during the fuel shortage. I don't actually remember the year, Ol' Timers Disease, don't ya know. It got darned dangerous to be on the road on the eastern side of the Mississippi. There were some shootings, rocks thru window's, etc. That kind of crap killed the strike, because the "Joe Citizen Public" who were behind us at the outset, were turned off by the violence. DON'T LET THIS STRIKE GET VIOLENT!!!! That way the public will stay on our side.

The big companies will NOT let their drivers shut down. Don't go after the poor Brother Trucker who has to run or get fired. I was lucky, I drove for my Dad's company, and so I was able to shut down in Nashville, TN.

I had to retire from a accident while unloading when I was 35 (nearly 60 now). But I'm still a trucker. There ain't one of you that goes by me without me wishing I was still in that cab. I grew up in the business--Before I-5 was completed in CA. (Drove LA-Seattle for many years).

Shut em down Bro's. & Sisses, but, please be safe out there!

The Original Mr. Speedball from OR

[our_miss_cookie]

You know I stated to gridlock Washington, but maybe you are right, it would be better to just park them and stay parked with banners until something is done.

It does effect other occupations, we are getting zapped twice ourselves. First we need to fuel up and secondly the product we use is oil based (asphalt). And as in 1990, I agree it will have the trickle down effect from food, to building, to travel industries etc. etc. etc.

We need to band together as Americans not just as Truckers and understand what is happening here. And get ready for the long haul if we want to change things at all.

And companies that say that they will fire you from not driving.... who will they then get if we are all on the same page. Stop them from making their millions for a while and they might just see what we are trying to do here. They obviously don't think we have the stamina to continue until it is done.

[MedicineMan]

I lost my asphalt comapny a few years ago. It was a fairly new upstart so I didn't have the capital behind it I should have. Fuel and asphalt prices were going up considerably between when I was giving estimates and when we were doing the work but I had to stick to the price. I did more than one free driveway that year because of asphalt increases

[Thinkink]

I am not a trucker - I've known a few over the years though!

I have made the observation that Truckers do not seem to be the same today as they were when I was a young pup traveling on the highways back in the 60's and 70's!

When I was younger I always assumed a Trucker was the Cowboy of the Highways, today I think Trucking has lost it's romanticism in the public eye.

I get so damned angry when I see what the Oil companies are doing to the Trucking industry, not to mention everyone else. They are raking in an excess of $120 BILLION in PROFITS "each year" for the past few years and still receiving $18 BILLION in tax subsidies.

You can thank George Bush, DICK Chaney and Condaleca Rice They are ALL from Oil industry and some of us KNEW when Bush was elected in 2000 that this was coming!!!

When he was elected I told my wife, I don't know how and I don't know how long, but mark my words "We are screwed at the fuel pump!"

Conveniently, 9/11 happened, which was a catalyst for a whole lot of B.S. delivered by Bush and his cronies - and "NONE of it" would have been possible without the devastation in NYC on 9/11 or some other "National unifying event" for Bush and his cronies to use as a launch pad for Middle East campaigns and BIG Oil profits.

DO NOT alienate the public in your efforts, they are sheople who follow the mainstream media and can easily be turned against you.

Get financial support and backing from some "Anti-Bush" big wig(s) and political support from Washington and your individual state governments. Let them bring your cause before the Sheople. That way Truckers remain VICTIMS and "NOT the attackers!!!"

The general public is already waking up to the Truckers plight, but they need some kind of media event to motivate them, let it come from another source.

TRUCKERS NEED TO UNITE UNDER A "VICTIMS" BANNER!

You need to organize, NATIONALLY "NOW!!!"

Non Trucker stepping off his soap box.

[Thinkink]

Originally Posted by Brickman

FOX news got on the band wagon this morning.
The top story on their website is about the shutdown.




Now that you have 2 posts you can post links to news stories etc. Just not to competing forums and blogs.

So they don't allow links!

Whats to stop you from creating a NAME for your effort and providing THAT? -

Then others can Google the NAME and find what you are referring to.

This isn't the only way to achieve the desired result of getting people to find a central point for your cause, just an example "Where there is a will - There is a way!

Perhaps it's as simple as contacting the Forum or web site operator and getting special permission in the name of the cause, better yet have "them" provide the information under some kind of "special" exception.

This is such an important issue it is hard for me to believe a TRUCKER support site would deny TRUCKERS access to critical information!!

Any moderators listening? Can YOU step in with any support on the matter?

Non Trucker stepping off his soap box again!

[Thinkink]

I know a non income earning drive is difficult for Mom and Pop private drivers "BUT"...

What if a drive to Washington D.C. could be a Tax deductible business expense?

AND....

What if every frigging Owner Operator in the country arrived in Washington D.C. on the same day?

And...

What if their Representatives couldn't make it to the Capitol OR Home for a few days?

Do YOU think someone would be willing to hear your story?

What IF?

Courage and determination are an American trait aren't they?

Perhaps a National fund raising campaign could be initiated to solicit donations from the Public in order to support a TRUCKERS MARCH on Washington D.C.

You guys NEED to get organized and use your heads, NOW!!!!!!

It is time to THINK BIG and ACT BIGGER. Take your country BACK, take your lively hoods BACK!

I'll bet Bush and his cronies did a lot of research before 9/11 - after all, bush had the CIA and all it's resources at his disposal before he became president. I'll bet their research told them how far they could push American citizens, in fact they've taken steps to prepare for civil disobedience(do your research on Blackwater, Halliburton and recently built detention centers throughout the country, not to mention Bush's unchallenged laws recently passed and prominently displayed on the White House website).

I'll bet they DIDN'T plan on the outcry starting with the U.S. Truckers!

[Out0fTheMist]

I am new to the site and joined to support the Truckers that keep our country moving. I also wanted to keep up with the trucker’s thoughts on the rising fuel cost. Everything you do affects all of us, not only your families but the general public. Although I am not a trucker, I am no stranger to the trucking industry.
As I read the different post, I keep seeing many ask about the general public, “would the general public support a strike”, “We need to get the general public involved”, etc. ... Ok this ole gal is part of that general public.
So here is a story for you. The day before the April 1st strike, I was at a Shell Station killing my pocketbook again with my $20.00 for 6 gallons of gas. As I went in to pay my money there was a crowd inside of us “General Public”. Gas had jumped again overnight and many people were voicing their opinions. Our attention turned to the Trucking industry. To say that we all agreed it would take the truckers to go on a major strike to bring this gas gouging to an end is an understatement. Many of us that day talked about why you (the truckers) haven’t already. This conversation follows many conversations on a daily basis wondering; not if you will strike, but when. Would we support you…… O yes!
Even though the government and powers that be want the general public to think we might be headed into a recession, the general public knows we are in a recession. Why? Due to the rising cost of gas. PERIOD…. This alone affects every area of our lives.
As truckers, you and your families face the crunch every minute of the day. 1st you pay for the rising fuel cost, truck maintenance, tires, etc… has the fuel rises so does what your family is paying in the grocery stores, fuel pumps, etc… . Are you really making a profit at this point?
My family is average to above average income, yet with the rising cost I am barely making ends meet. My groceries have tripled in the past few months and yet I am getting even less. I am only driving to and from work, 44 miles round trip, yet a tank of gas barely gets me thru the week.
I work for a non-profit agency that helps low income families and volunteer for a group of people that help in emergency situations like groceries in the house or keeping families electricity turned on. Single moms and the elderly are no longer just getting by; they are struggling just to survive, and failing.
Will we support you? YES! At this point what do we have to lose! It will take a huge standstill by the truckers and as many citizens as you can rally to wake up Congress.
Will it hurt the general public for the truckers to strike? Yes, but at this point we are already beyond hurting.
Sorry for turning this into a book but something needs to happen fast otherwise, more of the general public will face losing their jobs, homes and going without food, all due to the rising fuel cost.
This is our reality now.
Let me know when to park my car!

[freightmaster]

I can tell by this thread the public is behind this shutdown. The only reason I still see trucks running up and down the highway has got to be one of two reasons. Either these drivers are afraid to unite with their fellow truckers out of fear or they are just plain greedy!
My truck WILL remain parked until we get results.The elderly cannot keep up with the rising cost of food, heating oil and medicine!This industry has gone to **** since I began driving in 1982.GET SOME BACKBONE DRIVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!