The high cost of fuel...time to unite on a shutdown and do something about it.

The "concept" that I had for something like this is to have a 1000 trucks deliver a letter to the capitol of every state.

That would be 200 trucks per state.

One every 5 minutes to the capitol starting at 8 AM until they are all delivered.


They are simply delivering a package to the governor. The fact it's simply a letter, oh well.

 

That is why a strategic targeting of only a few locations/cities would negate the actual strike scenario you mention. If we are still hauling freight elsewhere, then how can we be on strike. I for one, limit my operation already and will not take loads into certain ares of the country because it is not cost effective for me to do so. And some places, I just don't want to run my truck in to. Doesn't mean I am on strike. This same idea can be extended out more broadly, and drivers could theoretically pick a couple of locations that they all agree they don't want to haul in to and avoid them. And at the same time, it would be darn hard to prove anyone was on strike. There is no legislation that says I HAVE to haul anywhere I choose not to. There may be some regulation regarding a total shut down or strike, but that doesn't apply.

 

That was an interesting time when that strike occurred. We do need to get new people in the congress (and White House) that are not career politicians or lawyers. We need average citizens in public office who will serve and then go home. One reason so many companies moved operations out of this country involved a number of issues. Public policy (government) was a big one. Some tired of high taxes, EPA and other regulations as well as unreasonable union demands. The government actually had incentives to encourage companies to relocate. Eliminating the tariffs on imports also encouraged many to leave the U.S. To some degree I agree about not paying attention to political parties. Unfortunately, we need to look at the party as well as the individual. These days most will follow the party line. That is how Obamacare was passed. No one read the bill and it was pushed by the Democrats without anyone from either party having read it. The same think happened with the banking bailout. Our elected representatives were irresponsible in their duty to the American people when they passed two of the biggest spending bills in history without having read either of them. Now, we are dealing with the aftermath. I wish party affiliation didn't matter, but it does. It wasn't always that way.

 

Truckers can go on strike. It isn't illegal, yet. I believe you are probably thinking about government workers. If you work for the government it is illegal to go on strike, at least the federal government.

 

cept that most of us don't want to haul to the same area though. LOL.

cali and the northeast comes to mind.

 

I wish you guys luck on that, though I think the government and corporations have too much power now and can do whatever they want. They may allow you guys to protest until you go broke and then when you go back to work nothing will change.

 

But also just like the war in Iraq, taking down the lead cause sometimes causes more problems (Saddam)....... we shut down and all the foreign drivers living here now, making pennies on the dollar will scoop in and take the freight. they don't care what the purpose is, all they see is a way for them to under-cut and make money at whatever cost. You think rates are bad now... just wait till Roman or Jose pulls the milk back into DC for $1.00 mile

 

Ask around, NOBODY is getting raises!

It's always the "poor driver" attitude, we don't have it any better or worse than many other jobs out there.

 

Why? To prove we're not sheep?? Thats about the lameist reason anyone could come up with! Boy I guess that would show em!
Most people have demands when they strike. Nuff said

 

Striking over fuel cost is dumb because it just a cost of doing business that can be added to the rate with FSC or just straight rate increase. I actually make more money as fuel get's higher due to FSC increases rates more than my 9+ mpg truck's fuel cost plus it also eliminates bad business people from being my competition with their 5 mpg trucks that aren't smart enough to get better fuel mileage.

Give us a real reason to strike because shutting down every tanker in the country will make fuel scarce and cost whole lot more making the general public mad at us by having the opposite effect on what the strike is suppose to be about.

If you want to strike over something that make rates higher, wages higher and the highways a whole lot safer, strike over the requirements to get a CDL to be alot harder with a higher level including at a minimum 500 hours with a DOT certified trainer in the passenger seat signing off and being liable for the conditional permited CDL driver before that driver can get a full blown CDL.

This would drive up training cost by a huge amount with the training mill companies and make a veteran CDL holder worth alot more money in wages. Trucking companies will do alot more for drivers to keep them instead of having the option to hire a 2 week trucking driving school wonder that does nothing but drive wages and rates down.

Keeping and retaining higher paid drivers with more experience will make the highways safer that would also drop insurance cost for most companies too.

This is just my opinion and you guys can strike over fuel cost all you want, just don't include me until you come up with a better reason to strike.