Posted on 03/27/2008 7:40:11 PM PDT by KTM rider
What started as a small, online grassroots effort now appears to have the potential for something bigger.
Dan Little, the owner/operator of a livestock hauling company in Carrollton, Mo., estimated Tuesday that at least 1,000 other truckers from across the United States have committed so far to joining him in a strike on April 1.
At issue is the rising cost of diesel fuel, which has reached or exceeded $4 per gallon in at least 17 states. But Little does not expect his strike to bring down the per-gallon price of gas, nor does he expect to have any effect on the oil companies.
“What I would personally like to see is our federal and state governments, until our economy recovers, suspend federal and state fuel taxes,” the 49-year-old said. “The second thing I’d like to see is an oversight committee for truck insurance, which is part of what’s taking us down.,
“Everything in the world is going up (in price), except for what we do. I lose money if I start my truck, and that truck is paid for — free and clear.”
Keith Deblieck, the owner of a trucking company out of Geneseo, Ill., said that, for many drivers, the time for a strike has come.
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“In no way, shape or form do truckers want to hurt this country. My whole deal on this thing is that I’m shutting down on April 1. Call it a strike, a shutdown or just flat-ass going broke.”
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“Our federal government is subsidizing railroads, airlines, banks and farmers,” he said. “Meanwhile, we’re being taxed to death.”
Barb Ickes can be contacted at (563) 383-2316 or bickes@qctimes.com.
(Excerpt) Read more at qctimes.com ...
I have a friend who has probably over a hundred tractor trailers, pays his guys well and they are making good money.
I think the issue is that independents are considered more risky and perhaps less reliable than those large enough to own at least a modest fleet of vehicles.
As far as the cost of fuel, that gets past on to the customer down the line one way or another.
I planted peas yesterday. LOL
Going further with that thought - where is it written that fuel has to be cheap or affordable? Don’t these truckers add the cost of fuel to the trucking bill? Isn’t it a part of the expense of doing business?
The only way these prices are going down is to lower demand. However, how do you stop that machine called the economy?
They know it won't bring down the price. They want the politicians to think about making changes, like maybe drilling in ND, or in the Gulf of Mexico or off FL, isn't such a bad idea after all or building refineries. Maybe Congress needs to get off its collective A$$ and get the oil here, in the U.S., rather than kissing EU and Algore butt regarding the Global Warming hoax.
Global Warming will kill us, but not in the way they want us to think...it will do us in by controlling us to the point of no work, no profit, and starvation.
They are efficient, using about 1/9 of the fuel vs. idling the engine.
But the ultra low sulfur requirements, and the flat out high demand for fuel is scaring too many away from making the investment.
There is tremendous over supply of drivers and equipment, hence no one can raise their prices.
Anyone remember the truck fire in that tunnel out of LA, I/S5, north bound last year? The one where 12 drivers still haven't been located?
Maybe those drivers know their paperwork wouldn't hold up in a serious/fatal accident investigation?
A whole lot of things are contributing to the 'misery index'. Bottom line? I suspect the overall size of the fleet has to drop.
The tax on diesel is $0.244/gallon for the fed compared to $0.184/gallon for gasoline. That tax has been the same within one tenth of a cent since 1993. The average state+fed tax on diesel is $0.536/gallon compared to $0.47 for gasoline.
The oil producers and refiners are responsible for the other $3.50.
oil companies make about .10 per gallon.
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oil companies make about .30 per gallon. (9% at $3.35)
That's a load of BS. Trucks don't burn much idling, and there's a good reason for doing so. One is to keep the driver from freezing to death. They live in their rigs while on the road you know. In cold weather, diesels just don't like to start. If you had any idea what it costs to call a diesel shop for a boost, you'd rather burn a gallon of diesel as well.
Most drivers have an inverter to power their friges and lights, microwaves. The generator is built in, it's called an alternator. If you think you are going to save money or fuel by buying a small gas generator, you'd be wrong. the idling truck burns less gas than those things.
In fact, the diesel truck hauling 74,000 lbs of cargo across the country burns less gas than you do in your honda civic, so the real waster of gas- oil is YOU.
Oil and refined petroleum products are at an all time high, meanwhile a new water treatment plant just went online in Crapistan.
just suggesting an entrepreneurial revolution that an electric generator would create?
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Frame mounted generators cost about $7-8,000 ,, you’re right idling a 12.7 liter diesel to stay warm at night isn’t efficient and using a power inverter is no picnic either ,, the generator solves those problems... some truck stops provide plug-in electric power but at a high cost... When you can buy a serviceable tractor for under $20K that 8K generator that ties into the heating system starts looking mighty expensive....
The real problem with trucking is that any Tom, Dick or Harry can start his own trucking company and underprice efficient well run companies putting both out of business... truckers need to set a bottom line price of $X.XX per loaded mile and stick to it... Mexican trucks burning super cheap diesel from state owned Pemex will eat our industry alive , just draw a line from Savanah GA to LA Cali ,, they will own it ... they need to be taxed to put them on an even footing. I’m tired of giving our industries away.
In some of the bigger truck stops, they have this addressed with units that will keep the reefers going and heat in the cab without having to also run the truck.
But unless you are at one of those stops, if you're hauling reefers and/or it's freezing, you have to run the trucks.
They don't run them just for fun - it costs them too much money.
Reefers have to be run, 24/7, to maintain a very small window of temperature.
Trucks move everything we buy. The supermarkets have enough on hand for ONE days supply.
Truckers are 'out there' 24/7 for weeks, most months (regardless of what the company brochures say about how long out and how long home) - before they get a few days - 4 is the most and seldom that, even if you're an o/o driving for a company. The only way to have more is to be an INDEPENDENT o/o. But then you have to fight tooth and nail for loads.
Today's trucking is very different that even 10 years ago. Not many make it through training and onto the road - and then the attrition rate reaches 100% - it's rough.
This is a market economy. If gas goes up, the price of hauling livestock goes up. His real problem is not the gas. It is the illegal alien truckers that work for dirt and pay no taxes. Sure if gas was cheaper, he would have more of a margin.
I have long been a proponent of taxing gas much HIGHER. There is an external cost to oil. National security, environmental hazards etc. I believe if gas was 5 dollars a gallon.....
1.cost of items would go up, market economy, these things happen. Until number 2 and on happen at which point our consumption would drop, bringing the real cost of gasoline down.
2.All those soccer moms with 2 kids and a suburban would find a way to deal with a sedan.
3.Public transportation would become cost effective. Once again reducing fuel usage.
4.The additional tax income can finance lower income taxes. They are going to get your money either way. I would either pay less in taxes and more at the pump to achieve a realistic cost for fuel.
5.Even at 3 bucks a gallon, there is not enough impetous for development of a practical electric car. If gas were 5 dollars a gallon, you would see them filling driveways.
6.Build enough nuclear reactors to make sure we never burn anouther drop of imported oil.
What would happen then? The price of oil by the barrel goes down. In 10 years maybe the arabs will be drowning in that black crap, or selling it to China and holding them by the balls, not us.
Then can can we drive cars again? Or are we to be punished by being forced to ride on buses and trains for the rest of our lives?
Yeah, because if the cost of doing business goes up, we will all starve....If you are in an essential bussiness (imagine widgets are essential to human survival) If the cost of widget transportation goes up, do the widget drivers give up and watch everyone starve? Does that make sense?
You truckers probably know what I’m talking about but I was talking to a driver at Loves today. He said they can use the “tubes” now and aren’t letting the trucks idle anymore.
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