Will a Truckers Strike work?
I was siting at home this AM, and I was thinking about my last 10+ years of driving a tractor trailer. When I first started driving back in 1996, fuel cost $.89 per gallon locally.Now that same station does not even sell diesel anymore because of the outrageous price. Today the avg price of a gallon of diesel fuel is over $3.50!
What is wrong with this country? Why is diesel so expensive?
Diesel is so expensive because all the big oil companies are controlling it.
This is ridiculous! We need to quit taking the kick in the ass and start doing something about it!
You drivers out there, hauling this cheap freight are not helping. Actually I can't say much to company drivers as it is their companies fault for pulling this cheap freight!
But you owner operators out there that are still not getting the picture, STOP pulling that freight for nothing, just to get home or get into another area.
You are not helping yourself, when you pull a cheap load in order to get a better load.
The fuel you have wasted on that cheap freight is eating the profit away from the good load you got now. Let Swift or JB Hunt, or some of them other cut throat companies grab that cheap freight.
You, use to be able to grab a cheap load just to get out in a better area. Fuel was not $3.50+ a gallon. It did not hurt as much in the end.
Now it is killing everybody. I have seen a bunch of trucks parked lately with for sale signs in the windows.
I would rather sit and not make any money, as spend $700.00 dollars in fuel, and make -$200.00 on a load.
I swear I hear all these drivers talking about how a strike would not work. They say it will take every truck and company to get it done. I don't see how it would take every company and driver.
I guarantee that if half the companies would stop for a week you would see a difference. Probably, a lot more companies would join in after seeing a few stop.
It would have to work, because most of these companies we deliver to never keep enough stock product to operate for more than a couple days at a time. I have seen companies who don't order product but every day, they operate from day to day. To keep operating cost down, or they don't have the storage space.
I talked to a terminal manager yesterday that said they have quit hiring drivers further than 50 miles from their terminal because they quit paying the drivers to drive their trucks home.
TA is even filling the effects as they announced a layoff of 190 workers with more to come.
What's going to come out of this?
32 comments:
Friday, March 14, 2008
NTFSS
Current mood: betrayed
Category: Jobs, Work, Careers
I’ve been here chatter from all sizes of trucking companies. J.B. Hunt’s top exec. sold off thier stock and there is probably a good reason. I think a strike is going to happen in a big way. We need to come togather for a date, and most of all we need to stick togather. Talk to your buddies,owners,mechanics,anyone that just wont go to work for a couple days, We have to make a statement in a big way. For you drivers that cant afford to shut down I say you cant afford not to shut down.The shippers and recievers need to understand our position along with the major oil companies and our government. The time has come to say enough is enough to cheap freight, high fuel cost, Lumpers charging to much pallets and everything else they take our money for in this industry. So please show your support sign my guest book and ill keep making contacts.
Please go toFriday, March 14, 2008
NTFSS
Current mood: betrayed
Category: Jobs, Work, Careers
I’ve been here chatter from all sizes of trucking companies. J.B. Hunt’s top exec. sold off thier stock and there is probably a good reason. I think a strike is going to happen in a big way. We need to come togather for a date, and most of all we need to stick togather. Talk to your buddies,owners,mechanics,anyone that just wont go to work for a couple days, We have to make a statement in a big way. For you drivers that cant afford to shut down I say you cant afford not to shut down.The shippers and recievers need to understand our position along with the major oil companies and our government. The time has come to say enough is enough to cheap freight, high fuel cost, Lumpers charging to much pallets and everything else they take our money for in this industry. So please show your support sign my guest book and ill keep making contacts.
Friday, March 14, 2008
NTFSS
Current mood: betrayed
Category: Jobs, Work, Careers
I’ve been here chatter from all sizes of trucking companies. J.B. Hunt’s top exec. sold off thier stock and there is probably a good reason. I think a strike is going to happen in a big way. We need to come togather for a date, and most of all we need to stick togather. Talk to your buddies,owners,mechanics,anyone that just wont go to work for a couple days, We have to make a statement in a big way. For you drivers that cant afford to shut down I say you cant afford not to shut down.The shippers and recievers need to understand our position along with the major oil companies and our government. The time has come to say enough is enough to cheap freight, high fuel cost, Lumpers charging to much pallets and everything else they take our money for in this industry. So please show your support sign my guest book and ill keep making contacts.
Thanks for adding the comment, I hope it is a success. I have been spreading the news.
The last word I got was April 3rd we park for a week and lose a weeks pay or we can keep driving and lose just about everything we have worked so hard for. Our government is letting the damn oil companies rupture this country, there is no reason for any company to have a profit of billions of dollars per 1/4
in parts of oh, pa, ny, wv fellow truck drivers have been saying march 24th is the big day... park it or things will happen to you to make you park it... if jimmy hoffa was still around you would see a change
I run here in FLORIDA and the farmers and companies have reduced the rates since I left trucking in 2000. Between the insurance, state road use tax, and feul charges not to mention freight handler fee's for lumping and bad pallet charges it is enough to want to and will shut down on april 1st. I spent $397. on 100gallons of fuel, loaded cabbage went another 56 miles backwards to a packing house for two pallets of red cabbage that was forgotten to be left for my scheduled load and then delivered it to publix. Now when I got there Iwas told $100. fee to unload + $5.00 per bad pallet!and restack. all total when finished $210.00 in lumper fee's paid out. So now you do the math $397. fuel + 210. lumper fees + 250. driver pay = $857. -load pays $1000. that leaves $147. now thats not counting the breakdown of insurance to a daily rate. what the hell is wrong with this picture??? when are we going to stand up and be heard?????? some one answer this question!
I live in MO and have been getting text messages form truck drivers that I don't even know telling me that the strike is going to start March 23, 2008. And, I have also been told that if a driver doesn't strike they'll wish they had by the time other drivers get done with them and their truck. I just hope that everyone is serious about this that way just maybe we will get our point across to someone. The government may just see us as "dumb truckers" but we are for sure smart enough to know when we are about to loose everything that we have worked for just to pad their pocket books. PLEASE!!!!! Pass the word on STRIKE! MARCH 23, 2008 to get back in control of your truck and your future!! REMEMBER- MARCH 23, 2008
APRIL 1st 2008 is the Oficial shutdown date of the livestock haulers & when they shutdown everybody will notice, most everything relates to meat loads, & byproducts of meat loads.
check out uscattlehaulers.com
April 1st is when we are shuting down.
Nobody that I know can afford another months running while lose'n money
This is an Election year, lets send a STRONG Message to Washington that we need help
They need to listen, our whole country stands to lose if the trucking Ind quits
OOIDA & ATA dont care, and wont say anything against our Gov. officials, well boys & Girls. I do care, & I am not going down without being heard
April 1st, 2008 I am shuting down , I hope you do the same.
If your a Co driverm keep in mind if fuel costs are hurting everyone then the odds are you will not see a raise anytime soon, you might however see layoffs.
Here we go again: "...if a driver doesn't strike they'll wish they had...". Go ahead and get violent; that'll make 'em sit up and take notice...NOT!
My apologies anonymous. I think my response to your comment was a bit harsh. It's just that I've been around the biz since '76 and it seems to me that the violent threats and actions I have seen in past shutdowns just serve to destroy whatever public support has been gained.
I too am frustrated to work in an occupation that has no real voice to speak on our collective behalf.
April 3 is the word in middle ga. We are shutting down. We are passing out flyers and putting up a billboard on I-16.
March 24th is one date that I hear and April 1st is the other one. I hear 50 different dates a day seems like...the two I mentioned are the ones I hear about the most.
Good Morning to all. Last Thursday Dan, and I started posting and gathering support. we have gain alot of ground but there is still alot to do. We need everyone behind us orat least give them a chance to get behind us. So we have to get the word out. If they want to shutdown April 1st or May 1st OR ANY DATE INBETWEEN,We don't care just shutdown.We would like everyone to shutdown around April 1st but we know our industry and its really tough to get everyone organized but we have to make the effort. Talk is cheap and if your serious about change then lets change. Pick up a phone spread the word, use the c.b dont fight with each other that dont help us with our cause. If they wont shutdown now they will shutdown because we will all be broke. Go to myspace.com/cartracer24 sign the guest book show your support. Copy this message and repost on all the fourms. Thank You and God Bless
All truck driver's will have to stick together befor any good will come of a strike. An that my friend will not happen for you have tomany out there that are company drivers an don't give a darn. R.C.
R.C., it is not that the company driver's don't give a darn. They can't just say "hey I want to shut down today" the companies will not allow this to happen. They can however do their part by driving slower than usual or at least running the speed limit and no faster. Also by doing their log books exactly like they are supposed to be done. You know, sitting waiting to load or unload log it on duty not driving for as long as it takes. Burn them hours up and then they will have to park.
I commend each and every one that is at least trying to get this started, hopefully it will have a good outcome.
Mar 20, 2008 2:35 PM
STRIKE!
TRUCKERS UNITE!!
APRIL 03, 2008
We hear every day on news casts from all over the country about every critical event taking place all over the world. However, I seldom hear anyone mention the difficulties facing the Transportaion Industry here in the United States. As a Heavy Duty Truck dealer along with operating several of my own trucks, I am here to tell you that our entire industry is facing a melt down that will dwarf the sub-prime mortgage crissis. Every tangible item that you have ever seen, held, or used was delivered by at least one, if not more trucks. Certainly, this is not something that the American public doesn't already realize. Although, I want to inform you that if everything goes according to plan, Independent Trucks will be going on strike April 03, 2008. This strike is not aimed at lowering fuel prices or any political motivation, but rather we are hoping to get the attention of everyone so that our demands for higher freight rates are understood by the consumers who may exsperience some unpleasantries during the strike. THIS STRIKE WILL EFFECT EVERYONE
Thanks
Jason H Jones
Laurens County Truck Sales
Dublin, GA 31021
478-676-4154
478-278-8711
Hey Ya'll, I am shutting down my truck on April 1, 2008. I cannot make any money with the high cost of fuel here in Flor-i-duh. Last time I looked, the Love's was getting $4.08. I would like to reply to a comment that Jason made in his post.
Jason wrote:Every tangible item that you have ever seen, held, or used was delivered by at least one, if not more trucks. Certainly, this is not something that the American public doesn't already realize
I'm sad to say that I believe that the general public doesn't have a clue where their stuff comes from, let alone how it got to their stores. These are the same people that will run in the right lane even though flashing signs tell them that lane will end and to merge to the left. They honestly don't know or care how the milk made it from the farm to the dairy and then on to the store shelves where they buy their groceries. It's a sad truth!
I'd take a wild guess and say that 80% of the drivers on I-4 don't know that trucks are not allowed to run in the far left lane, even though there are huge signs posted every 10-12 miles along the I-4 corridor. They don't know the speed limit, the exit numbers or how or why they should use their turn signals, or much of anything else in reguards to driving. It's getting worse every day. They are always in to big of a hurry to get somewwhere, that they just don't pay attention.
Jason, I am not trying to make you or anyone else mad, but those are the sad facts. I look forward to the wake-up call the general public is about to receive.
I am excited about educating them with this shut down. Things that they have taken for granted, will soon be seen in a new light as soon as we all shut down. It won't take that long to feel the effects if we all park our trucks. There are a lot of stores that have to take daily deliveries because they lack the storage room to stock pile many items. This will work if we can all stick together.
Let the produce rot on the docks, and let the fuel depots over flow with fuel because we will not be buying it. Don't haul anything at any price. Just park your truck.
Please know that I am not going to quit the business I have built for the last 30 years without a good darn fight! I will be one woman they will never forget by the time this is over. LOL!
I am not alone, and neither are you. Shut them trucks down! Solidarity! Stand together! Be counted and be heard. I will gladly do my part and hope you can help by doing the same for me.
Thanks and God bless ya'll!
Pat O/O
It Needs to happen people.
I have also posted everything I can find about this on my website
http://www.drivers4drivers.com/fuel.asp
Well...well...we must be getting someone's attention, because fuel at the Love's in Polk City, Fl. DROPPED 10 cents over night. Now it's down to $3.98 a gal. Still to high!
Pat
Ladies & Gentlemen,
I feel this has been coming for sometime and not a moment too soon. Many will say that the price of petroleum is a driving (no pun) force for an increased cost of living and they are partially correct. Most goods shipped in the great United States are shipped by, you guessed it, the trucking industry. Our great men and women who decided to make this a career are now suffering the effects of a crumbling economy, higher fuel costs, and increased insurance premeiums. Having seen my own brother devistated by direct effects of long hours and unforgiving hard labor in the trucking industry, he is not physically and financially broken.
I fully support these drivers in their effort! This may wake up ALL corporations dependent on the safe transportation of supplies that we Americans greatly depend on each day. I plan to, just like you all, as a 4 wheel driver not to by gas on April 1, 2008. Solidarity is key. God bless all of you and thank you for what you do for us.
Sincerely,
Daveukfan
US Military
Im in I am carpenter but Ill stay home turn off everything I can and work on my garden. This whole mess started year ago, they called it the trickle down effect then but, I dont like what corperate america trickled on me.
I already shutdown this week because I was losing money. If fuel prices don't come down by the second week of April, I'll have to start driving a company truck or find something else to do.
When it comes to Company drivers... Think about it. All they have to do it call in sick or take some vacation time. Seriously.
We are shutting down and we are PROUD to do so! We have supported this from the start and will do so until it's over.
God Bless the truckers and the trucking companies.
Italian truck strike brings Italy to its knees.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/13/world/europe/13strike.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
The French do it like the Italians do as well. U.S. truckers need to take note.
Jason
I plan to back the drivers !
I have a CB shop in Va. and if need be I will close the shop, but hook up the biggest box I have and shut down all communications within 50 miles so those who do not support the effort will have no idea whats up ahead !
As a standard consumer, I'd like to say I understand (somewhat) the issue at hand and I think it's completely unfair. I think you should all shut down. I am terrified as to what might happen (empty store shelves, empty fuel tanks, nationwide panic) but something does need to get done. My family has always had respect for truckers. We show them (you) courtesy on the road whenever possible and, speaking for myself as well as my sister, truly feel bad if we are unable to let a trucker into our lane or get over if they are on the side of the road. Being a military family, we're stationed away from our home and drive I40 during the summer months (ugh). We've seen the nice guys (thanks for the turn signals!) and the not so nice guys (yeah...get a little close to my back bumper...I can't quite see you). If you all unite and shutdown...maybe someone higher up will take notice and there will be a permanent change. Or, maybe, you'll plunge the country into a riotous nation...so long as you don't mess with my husband's R&R dates next month, we'll be good.
If the trucker can't do it. The RVers are going to ! I put this letter out the other day and it is in Ca, FL, TX, IN, So on we all need to help them to help us
Here the letter
United we stand, Divided we fall. We need to help each other
and our selfs. Im asking you all to write a letter or send this one
on to all the Diesel Drivers and gas drivers you know. We Need
to Make A STAND when The Truckers go on strike we all need
to Stand by them and not drive also.
I know it will be hard and some of you will think it wouldn't
help.But think of it this way there are 6 million RVer's, time that
by just $100.00, you just gave them $6.000,000,000.00 which is
only 35 gals of gas to you. If we can get them all to stop
driveing at the same time the Truckers strike, it's got to help
bring down the prices of diesel and gas. Or put a bite in the big
mans pocket. They will have to bring the price down
All you have to do is NOT DRIVE , April the 3-2008.
Ride your bike,car pool if you have to get to work! If you are
tired of the greedy profits and the impact that this is putting on
everybody's finances, we all must find a way to put them in a
bind, not us! Drivers it is time to stand up to the greedy oil
companies. Cut back anyway you can on fuel useage.
Remember, united we stand, divided we fall.
Plenty of support for you guys. Know a couple of companies that are running their trucks but are refusing to haul any Wally World or Grocery house freight next week. With so many striking there should be plenty of non-grocery loads to go around. Something for you non stikers to consider.
The American People are so tired! If the truckers will lay down the keys to the tractors, no oil company is too large, no bank or insurance company is too mighty, nor any president stronger than an orchestrated strike. Do not haul the fuel and the prices will go below $1.00. We are ready, we just need some direction. I will walk the line for you. I helped plan the war on Iraq in all the Top Secret "Save the Oil Pipelines" rooms, it's bullshit for the American People to pay anything over a dollar for gas. "Hey, you're a retired serviceman, here's $20 to put in your pocket for an oil change.
Help us help us all!
Does anybody have real trustworthy report on whether or not the strike will take place? If so, will the big companies be supporting drivers, as well?
Independents wish to know...come on...
I was an o/o for several years (23) I have seen good times and the bad ones but I can't even imagine in all the years I fought to stay solvent, that the cost of diesel would ever be this high. I have said several times " if the truckers stick together, they would make alot more money than the pittence these companies and brokers want to give. But alas, you can't get two truckers to decide on what coffee shop to stop at much less to shut this country down and bring the costs back in line for all.
I like the idea of 'Park your truck'. Instead of parking your truck at the depot or at home, why not park it at a service station. Do a rolling strike for 7 days. From the hours of 6pm to 6am. If there is an empty lane in a gas station, fill it up with a truck. Simple idea. Your truck is park up and no one else can get fuel.
12 hours of trucks parked at gas stations every day, I would think everyone will take notice.
After 7 days of this, start parking the trucks up during the day, after you finished your night shift. This will start restricting everyone from purchasing fuel, weather it is disiel or petrol.
This will hurt the oil companies. No purchases, means no profits.
you have to set a date far enough in the future so that EVERYONE knows about it dont do it on a spure of the moment. set it 2 or 3 months ahead of now. so that way you can get it out to everyone. just a thought.
-Jack
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