Truckers ‘going broke’ and threatening to strike

Quad City Times ^ | Wednesday, March 19, 2008 | Barb Ickes

[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.

[maine-iac7]

I have a friend who has probably over a hundred tractor trailers, pays his guys well and they are making good money.

The big guys buy fuel at a cut rate - but their drivers are still hurting. And the big guys are feeling the pinch too - one of the biggest just passed down orders for all drivers to cut speed quite drastically to save on fuel - which they will. But then, they get paid by the mile, so, lower speeds, fewer miles. Catch-22.

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.

HOGWASH

As far as the cost of fuel, that gets past on to the customer down the line one way or another.

Like I said, the big guys get a cut rate - (but their drivers are still hurting bad) - the shipper will pay where he can get the best deal - that makes it hard on the Independents. It isn't because they 'more risky' - if anything, it's often the other way around. It takes a lot more these days to get to the point where you have your own truck and run your own business.

geeeze

[Loud Mime]

You’re right! But when fair pricing hits our products all the citizzens will start complaining to big brother.

[endthematrix]

I'm sure somewhere in Presidential Directive there's a clause that gives authorization to make teamsters work.

[CindyDawg]

I really don’t think the government wants to be fuel independent unless it can control the product. Americans are smart and creative but they are fined and taxed if they try to invent alternatives.

[D-fendr]

If these are independent truckers, who are they striking against and what are their demands?

[D-fendr]

Why doesn’t your friend charge her customers a fuel surcharge?

[maine-iac7]

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 shippers will ship where they get the lowest rate.

The big trucking companies get a substantially lower fuel rate by buying bulk rates.

These independent truckers pay way more for fuel but they can't 'add that on' - or they wouldn't get the loads in the first place.

That said, even the big guys are now in trouble - it's getting very bad out there.

Everything we buy comes by truck.

Many people grumble about truck drivers - but they'd be mighty upset if they stopped rolling for any amount of time. The supermarkets, for example, have ONE days supply for their area...

Also - every time someone 'adds the cost of doing business' that extra cost rolls uphill to your checkout line.

I've an idea you might not be so cavalier then.

[A CA Guy]

The friend is a reliable carrier, has several major companies contracted and I think his drivers get good salaries last I heard.

The independent issue that you call hogwash is logically one of the issues with being an independent.
You have to develop a reputation over time, your growth is restricted and everything that happens falls harder on an independent and that is less appealing IMO to a customer.

So many independents haven't kept up with maintenance, tire replacements and so forth.
Granted some fleets may try that, but beyond Primetime shuttles a couple of decades ago, I can't think of any.

I used to be in the business of doing cost accounting for some major trucking companies, so I know some stuff.

[Balding_Eagle]

However, how do you stop that machine called the economy?

Well, for starters you could switch off one fouth of the trucks.

[When do we get liberated?]

You can drive all you want, just acept that gas costs us more tha it costs to dril refine and transport

[yankeedame]

Is it that perhaps the brains up high are just planning something??? Nah, that could not be now, could it???

Trust me, if they are it's along the lines of the old Soviet Union. Don't confuse arrogance and willful ignorance with malevolence.

[maine-iac7]

I used to be in the business of doing cost accounting for some major trucking companies, so I know some stuff.

I talk every day with a trucker who drives today, not used too, for one of the big outfits - he knows "some stuff" too...

[dragnet2]

Our own US government is totally screwing us on every level

Yeah, while they pay bribe money to every other country on earth in the form of foreign aid..., while here at home the number of government employees, at every level surpasses 20 million feeding at the tax payed trough .

Wait till fuel goes up to about $4. a gallon.

It's going to get real interesting.

I almost wished they'd get real greedy and push it up to about 5 bucks by next week...Let the good times roll.

[politicket]

Granted some fleets may try that, but beyond Primetime shuttles a couple of decades ago, I can't think of any.

Did you know the owners of PrimeTime shuttle? Just curious...

[1FreeAmerican]

Oh to be just cavalier - the price of groceries in the middle of the Pacific makes one beyond apathetic - I don’t even look at the total any more, I buy what I want and the price is what it is.
Everybody want’s to earn more, but most are unwilling to pay more. That just don’t add up, ya know?

[Texas Eagle]

Stop whining. Just jam some ears of corn into your gas tank and get going.

[yankeedame]

However, how do you stop that machine called the economy?

Well, for starters you could switch off one fouth of the trucks.

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Illogical, impractical, and completely unrealistic. Let's say there's 1000 tucks on the road. You "switch off" 1/4 of them.

• How do theses trucks get side lined? A court order? Union goons?
• Who decides whose trucks make up the 1/4? And what happens to those trucks? I mean physically. They...and the money owned on,by, and for them...don't just vanish.
• B/c there are now fewer trucks on the road (750 v. 1000) the price for goods and services goes up. The result is **KA-CHING**
  This, in turn, results in: a) people to get into the trucking business, even if it's only two guys and a pickup hauling things around the county, b) people back into trucking e.g., "To h--- with this! I gotta a family...and a truck payment..."

I know the quoted statement was just blowing off steam...well, heck, so was my reply.

[Pure Country]

Wait till fuel goes up to about $4. a gallon.

Hello, it's been there for a while now. We're truckers and this is getting really serious. We're one of the lucky O/O who gets a surcharge, but the local guys hauling grain for the farmers are hurting really bad. Don't know where it is all going to end.

[Balding_Eagle]

Yeah, that many trucks will never get sidelined. And we’re all better off for it.

[Balding_Eagle]

They ought to drop the fuel tax for starters.