All truckers unite april1,2011 shut em down

I am still on strike. I demand HIGHER fuel prices. I want a camel for each truck. A chicken for each driver. :smt117

And a 20 hours work week with pay for 70 hours!! :smt066

 

I've read most of the post here n I'm blown away. The government has u guys in the palm of their hand. They raise fuel so u raise fsc which raises the cost for everyone else at the store. When will America get a clue?? People say we r headed for socialism, to late. We r there already. One person here said they made more money at five bucks a gallon than at 2.50. Great ur truck is makin money, but how much more is ur family spending day to day?? The more the independent truckers jack their rates the higher fuel goes. Which in turn will put more n more hard workin Americans out of work. I c it happen everyday. I just wish Yall would listen to yourselves. We as truckers, not just independents or company drivers, but as a whole, control so much in today economy. The more we lay down n "take it" the more they gonna give it. Higher fuel, higher food, higher cost of living.

The only thing that would change all this is a complete overhaul of our government, which ain't gonna happen anytime soon. Or we just band together n stand together. PERIOD. But until this can happen, all I got to say is u better make sure that gun is locked n loaded. Cause I feel that's what its coming to.

 

The government didn't raise fuel prices...And I'm in the oil/gas business btw...DEMAND raised the price. People keep buying, China/India keeps buying more and more as they evolve from third world status and buy more vehicles. And everyone here in the US keeps buying bigger vehicles, nobody sees the need to conserve/slow down, so get used to it. Cheap oil is long gone..No conspiracy, just supply and demand. Shut down ? Go right ahead, China will be happy to buy that fuel. Don't like a refinery built near you ? Then don't complain when we have to import already refined fuel from Venezuela and countries like Saudi Arabia. Sure don't see ANYONE slowing down or buying less...Parties over.

 

Complete nonsense, but the highlighted portion is especially uninformed.

 

I think you have lost it. Nothing about the trucker raising his prices has anything to do with the fuel prices. It is the Oil Companies and Wall Street and the Government monies to the oil corporations. It is all about boycotting and there is enough truckers out there whether you are owner operators or not to make a difference. Pick a company and boycott that company for about a month and watch the change. Oil Companies pray on the news and jump their prices. The fuel you are buying today was purchased 30 days ago; however, the price of fuel jumped how many times? I agree the government needs a complete overhaul and they need to be reminded who they work for America. We made a good dent in 2010 at the polls and we can make an even greater dent in 2012. In the bailout of OBama who got helped BANKS, INSURANCE COMPANIES, WALL STREET, CAR INDUSTRY. DID THE PEOPLE GET ANYTHING - NO THEY GOT PUT OUT OF THEIR HOMES BY BANKS WHO ARE THE BIGGEST THIEVES ON THIS EARTH DUE TO GOVERNMENT DEREGULATION. BANKS CAN CHARGE WHATEVER INTEREST RATE THEY WANT, THERE IS NO LIMIT, DEReGuLATION. GOVERNMENT WANTS TO KEEP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SO TIED UP IN DEBT THAT THEY HAVE TO WORK 80 HOURS A WEEK. KEEPS THE PEOPLE OUT OT THE GOVERNMENT'S BUSINESS - GOVERNMENT DIDN'T FIGURE ON THE TEAPARTY - NOW THE TRUCKERS NEED TO GET OFF THEIR BACKSIDE

 

Good for u bulletproof, bein in Oil n gas business. Than explain to me this, how can one company PROFIT better than 25 million a quarter here in America n not care bout the people who they r hurtin. America has forgotten bout the little man. The moms n pops stores due to big corporations. Amazing how the average trucker has been alive since carter was in office n Yall still live day to day. Get a history book people n start reading. I do agree its bout supply n demand but how can an unrefined fuel cost more when its just leftovers?? Diesel is what's leftover after they make unleaded gasoline. I'm done with the issue here. I can go on n on but until u r willing to c it I'm wasting my breath. Have a blessed day m b safe.

 

Thank u. I'm glad someone sees it. People refuse to open their eyes sometimes, especially ones in the oil business.

 

One primary reason we have such high oil prices is due to government policy in this country. They have restricted or prohibited drilling in known oil areas. Carter missed the boat when prices started to really escalate. We have NEVER actually had a true energy policy when it comes to oil. Many oil wells were capped in this country when the government would not allow oil companies to profit from higher prices. Rather than pulling oil from existing wells, oil companies would import oil which was not affected by government price restriction.

Clinton made national parks out of known oil reserve areas to prevent drilling. From the time OPEC nationalized U.S. oil companies in their area, prices have continued to move upward. A change in government policy could do more to lower prices than anything. There is NO need for this country to be at the mercey of foreign enemies. It is economic warfare. There are alternative sources of energy that are either being restricted or not being used. This country has the largest reserves of natural gas in the world, yet we don't make any effort to convert our cars and trucks over to using natural gas. It is plentiful, cheaper than oil and cleaner burning. Building windmills takes about 20 years to break even according to a company that I spoke with who builds them. I think that we can do much better than that.

We don't need to go on strike. We need to stay on top of our legislators. Find people with common sense to put into office. We have seen the result of electing lawyers to legislative office and electing a president with NO actual work or business experience. My mother was one of the best I know to stay in touch with legislators. She would call and write to make her views known. One phone call or letter is equivalent to 1,000 voters. Most don't bother to write a letter or make a phone call. Believe me, these people will pay attention if enough take action. They want to be reelected. Let them know that you are watching them and are a voter. The people can make a difference and force these people to change their ways. Change will not happen at the top. If we are to turn this country back to it's roots, it will have to come from the bottom up. It will be up to the American people.

 

gas just went to 1.43 a litre this morning here in montreal! 4 litres equels 1 us gallon

 

I see you are from California--and while I cannot comment on things there--I can comment about the east coast--in the northeast believe it or don't the is an overabundant supply!!
I have 3 very close friends--all senior gas haulers--whose company has everyone on a mandatory 4 day(8hours)work week--with a 1 day layoff--due to lack of work!--and 2-of the 4 day's they are working--they are literally just moving fuel from one tank farm to another--and as prices here continue to rise--the supply chain has not been--interrupted--or diminished one iota!
Most of what you are saying is absolutely TRUE--BUT--to use the standard supply/demand model--(standard keynsian economics--like congress spews all the time)requires a truly FREE MARKET--in Keynsian philosphy a free market will adjust itself--which is true on paper--but OIL is not traded on a free market--it is controlled by a cartel--OPEC--and is traded on a speculative market--therefore is not subject to traditional market fluctuations/adjustments--while it is true that we do not have enough refining capability in this country--and other foreign interests have ratcheted up their demand for crude--the free market adjust for these condition's where a controlled market does not--much of this current rise in oil prices--kicked into high gear with the escalation of unrest in Libya--and while the open market was losing as much as 1-1.5 million barrels a day(depending on whose figures you use or believe)due to decreased Libyan production--the Saudi's announced they would increase their output by 2 million a day--which SHOULD have correct a FREE MARKET--but it did no such thing--prices spiked due to wild speculation--on just how much short term money could be made in quick sale speculation--continued to drive the price higher--I know this is just a quick tip of the iceburg economic comment--since this is actually a much deeper subject that has been the focus of literally thousands(worldwide)
of Doctoral Dissertations worldwide--it bears mentioning..........
Make no mistake--if demand (as you said)stays constant--prices shall also--and since the average american in their present situation--has very little choice in the amount of gas they buy(and IMHO--especially in California--where lack of affordable middle class housing--has pushed people further and further from their workplace--therefor longer commutes)
Even a full blown change(if possible)in consumer habits/spending may or may not work--since once again--we are not dealing(no matter what the government wants to say)in a FREE MARKET commodity'
Sorry for ranting--