So, You Wanna Have A Trucker Boycott...

self | J. Johnson

[jimjohn]

They tell me it’s gone viral. One trucker (Chicago Ray) throws it down on social media, and it takes off. Frankly, this is much more interesting in the Fani Willis hearing. For those who haven’t heard, starting Monday. February 19, 2024 truckers will allegedly refuse to take loads into New York City in response to a so-called trial against one Donald J. Trump. In  judicial actions that are literally listed as one of the grievances in the Declaration of Independence, some truckers (and supporters) have had enough, and are preparing to do the Real American version of ‘taking it to the streets’.

But if there is to be an action of this type, let’s make it a good one.

Watching the socials, I can first give our side a little credit: at least you’ve got their attention. Not that they are going to do anything about it at first, but being NYC (you’ve got to know the place), they’re already making contingency plans just in case the truckers pull this off. So in order to assist, allow this author to lay out some do’s and don’ts from past experience when it comes to this form of civil disobedience.

I’ll start with three important don’ts:

1.     Stop comparing this to the Canadian Trucker Protests of 2022. This was a matter of truckers taking the protest to the Canadian capital and the international bridges. Despite what you saw in the media, the latter got the most attention. Mentioning that protest (which sparked other protests around the world – and still going) too often gets ‘black-pilled’ by our side with folks always remembering that people got their assets confiscated as a result. As I’ve stated in the past, one of the pet peeves I have with Real Americans is their inability or refusal to follow up on stories. If so, they would know that the illegal practice of freezing accounts in that fashion was promptly stopped after a few days – due in part to the subsequent bank-run that it started. Today, you see after the ruling was declared unconstitutional by the Canadian courts, victims are now seeking even more restitutions over these actions. But you won’t hear this from the black pill department. Only that it will fail because ‘they’ll just take your assets if you try’. To those I say, “How January 6th of you!”; which leads to my next ‘don’t:
   
   
2.     Stop telling folks it won’t work even before it gets started; that is, unless you have a better idea (we’re all ears). Instead, how about doing what we can to support the effort, and/or asking what it would take to make it a success.
   
   
   
3.     Even if this is a success, do not expect any credit to be given in your regular state-sponsored media. It will be reported as a failure (that is until the illegals go into full-blown riot mode, which is probably coming soon, anyway). I fully expect the local media to find truckers who will publicly state they will not go along with it. So don’t be shocked or disheartened when you see this.
   
   
4.     Yes, I know I said 3, but I’ll add this in for good measure: Forget about a rolling road block (groups of trucks deliberately moving at a slow speed). First of all, it's probably illegal. Not to mention this is NYC, and it’s doubtful that anyone would even notice. And unlike in Canada, we’re not talking about going into the big city and snarling traffic, we’re talking about staying OUT of the city, thus helping the environment :-)

 Now, let’s talk about how to make this work. Throughout the remainder of this article, remember this: perception is reality, and they already have a preconceived notion about us. Let’s use both to our advantage. Primarily (because I know us), stick to the game plan: We want the ruling against Trump dismissed. I could accept making this a general protest against election interference, but the key is to not make more of it than what it is. Focus on the primary, and if successful, other wishes may follow. The ruling can be dismissed by the ‘judge’ (cough/gag), or a gubernatorial pardon. If/when that happens, declare victory. 

In thinking in terms of a trucker boycott for NYC, you have to know the area. This means expanding the boycott area for more effect.  Instead of NYC think ‘Tri-State Area’. Many if not most of the distribution centers for the metro area are outside the central city. There are many truck farms that only make runs between these warehouses and the city itself. Any real boycott needs to work where runs are refused to any of these locations from the city north to say Westchester County, southwest Connecticut, and most of New Jersey. Think of the I-95 , I-80 and I-87 corridors. You’ll need to make sure truckers get the word in these areas.

During Truckstop 2000 (the threat of protests over the contested presidential election), we passed out flyers at truck stops. But we quickly learned from the truckers that we were more effective handing out flyers outside of Los Angeles than inside. This is where a lot of the truckers were either taking a break before dealing with the local traffic or fueling up before the long haul to the next destination. If you folks want to assist, make copies of the flyers and hand them out at truck stops OUTSIDE the city. By Wednesday, they will have already heard about it via CB or other means, but it helps to know they have non-driver support on the ground.

If there is to be an adopt-a-trucker program to help out, I only ask to please not use GoFundMe (can’t believe we have to say this with recent history and all).

As stated above in #3, they will never declare it a success until it's too late. But even if successful, you probably won’t see real-world results for at least two weeks at best. If everyone stopped deliveries say Monday, there’s probably a 14 day supply of perishable goods and needed supplies that would have to be drained before anyone would really notice, i.e. you won’t see immediate results, but just stick to it. Remember: being inconvenienced in NYC is normal. It has to become either abnormal, or at least make them ‘think’ is not normal, which leads to my next proposal – especially for those Real Americans that live in the tri-state area. It’s rumor mill time.

For you tri-staters, when you’re out in public, start talking about prepping for empty shelves PUBLICALLY. Make sure folks overhear you. “You’re stocking up on a few things just in case”. “I hear they may be out of (fill-in-the-blank) soon”. And my favorite: “Those crazy right-wingers are stocking up and prepping for a supply-chain interruption that THEY are going to cause!”

Be innovative.

“I’m making it a point of keeping some extra cash on hand just on case. After all, you saw what happened to those Canadian truckers” (see how I did that?). This means that if/when you are shopping, folks notice you have extra things in your cart and start asking questions Feel free to oblige. You know – like they did with toilet paper with all of us back in the spring of 2020. Start putting the word out about possible supply-chain interruptions coming soon. And by the way, if they can do this to Trump, they can do the same to any independent trucker or anyone they don’t like to try to sell their home. Heck, extra credit for those who convince “those who lack critical thinking” of staging public protests against the trucker boycott. Make sure those folks get on the news, and their protests go viral!

The last is key: In the event you don’t get ALL truckers to go along with this, you only need a percentage. More importantly, if you target fuel-delivery truckers especially, that can throw a monkey wrench into the supply chain matrix faster than anything, and without the need for full participation. A fuel shortage would cause diesel fuel to skyrocket, which could in turn force other truckers off the road until a resolution can be reached. We shoot for 100% compliance, but we need as many as we can to cause a disturbance - or at least the perception of one.

Oh, and a word to the opposition who’d like to make more out of this that what it is (as if we’re up to something illegal or evil):

Black Lives Matter, Just Stop Oil, Free Palestine, Climate Change, Occupy Whatever,  etc. These are just some of the annoying protests you folks put up with (even cause) every day. Most are illegal anyway. You can’t complain about this one, as it also helps resolve your traffic and pollution issues. Deal with it.

This trucker boycott can also be effective because of timing. At the time of this writing, New Yorkers are at the breaking point to the rampant crime, assaults to both law enforcement, and the city’s infrastructure as a whole. The illegal invaders have put the entire city on edge. And don’t start with the “That’s what they voted for” line. In many cases, republicans aren’t even on the ballot there. The few who haven’t escaped NYC are trapped on Staten Island. Fact is, nobody voted for a judiciary that can drop the hammer on any business - just because they don’t like them. This has left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.

So the goal is simple: to stop deliveries that supply the NYC area to force a resolution in our favor. We know with this late notice that some truckers already have commitments to deliver there and have no choice. Some others may not have the option to just stop delivering to NYC due to financial concerns. But the time to act - the time to make the sacrifice is now. The time has come for Real Americans to stand up and give notice that we are a force to be reckoned with.

Just my $0.02

[BigEdLB]

Somebody talks a lot, and no one wants to read his 2000 word punishment essay. No matter what side he is on

[jimjohn]

1,690 words to be exact, and thanks for your input.

[metmom]

Yes, I know I said 3, but I’ll add this in for good measure: Forget about a rolling road block (groups of trucks deliberately moving at a slow speed). First of all, it's probably illegal. Not to mention this is NYC, and it’s doubtful that anyone would even notice.

Good point there.......

[metmom]

Speak for yourself.

I read it and enjoyed it.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I read it, can’t say I enjoyed it, but I take it seriously. I grew up in NYC, and really disliked it for all the right reasons. Our author makes a lot of good points and makes sense.

One fact he left out is that the instigator of the boycott points out that getting into or out of NYC is a pain in the behind, on a good day, in a truck. Not a fun place to drive a big rig.

[moovova]

Good information. I especially like the part about non-truckers “talking it up” at the grocery store, etc.

[eyeamok]

I do agree that hindering or stopping completely Fuel Deliveries would be the fastest route for causing an Oh Shit moment in New York, New York has always been hostile to the Petroleum Product Producers. they should join in and REFUSE ALL SALES to the State so New Yorkers can Freeze to Death in the name of Global Warming.

[McGavin999]

Actually it’s worth reading.

[usafa92]

Appreciate the analysis, but it won’t work. I don’t know if you are from the Tri-State area, but the sheer size of the population here almost ensures this won’t work. You may have several hundred truckers participate, and still nobody will notice.

[Skul]

Everyone should boycott NYC and New York State in any way possible. Refuse that contemptable state and money to the best of you ability. Anyone can do that.

[Big E]

I’d love to see a successful trucker’s boycott of NYC. I just doubt it’s possible. A friend of mine runs a small trucking company. 30-40% of his business runs into the NYC market. And when I say market, I mean within a 100 mile radius of NYC. If all his drivers suddenly refuse NYC, he’s out of business, and they’re out of a job. I’d say most of them are Trump voters, including the owner.

The point is, a good number of drivers, or for that matter small trucking companies, are in no position to refuse loads to NYC, no matter how much they want to. I applaud the owner-operators who are able to turn down the stray long distance load into NYC. Good for them; screw NYC. However, much of the truck traffic into NYC is regional, and those drivers’ livelihoods depend on NYC freight.

[Skul]

Everyone should boycott NYC and New York State in any way possible. Refuse that contemptable state any money to the best of your ability. Anyone can do that.

[pepsionice]

Five facts one might consider.

1. Long before this came up, if you asked individual truckers...90-percent are fairly negative about delivering into NY City (tolls, traffic, congestion).

2. You don’t need 50-percent of participation...in fact, if just a quarter of drivers said ‘no’...goods would get in but the pricing scheme would go up. So a can of Coke would probably start in 10 days to be $3.50 each.

3. There’s no huge numbers of trucks or truckers today...as existing in the 1980s. Recruitment is today a continual thing with companies, and most truckers don’t want to be on 14-day schedules. A majority will tell you that east coast cities (Philly, NY, Boston) are major issues.

4. Various companies will find drivers to make the route, but pass increased cost directly to the warehouse/grocery...immediately.

5. Finally, that end of 2021 trucker strike in Colorado....that you never heard about on CNN or NPR...or read in NY Times/WaPo? You might want to go back and review ‘the win’.

[farmguy]

We shouldn’t put it all on the truckers.
We should boycott new york in our own personal business.

I buy a lot online, but I try to never buy anything from a new york (or california) seller

[Nateman]

...no one wants to read his 2000 word punishment essay...

I read it. No doubt the majority in New York City dislikes Trump so the more pain they feel over this , the better.

[CFW]

People miss a lot of information when they refuse to read more than a headline and two sentence paragraph.

I read the entire posting in just a couple of minutes and thought it made some great points.

I saw elsewhere that not only are some truckers refusing to transport to NY, but that some businesses are refusing to request their products be shipped to NY today. So for instance, if a company normally ships 4 crates of lettuce to a restaurant on Mondays, today they are not going to try to schedule that shipment.

The issue is getting more and more publicity.

Trump-Supporting Truckers Vow to Stop Delivering to New York City

[dforest]

Sometimes just the thought of it coming, or happening, can be a partial success. Small success can lead to bigger ones.

It also shows that there is another side that isn’t sitting idle.

[BlueLancer]

Everyone should boycott NYC and New York State in any way possible.

[Baldwin77]

What are your suggestions?