why don't truckers strike? - gas prices?

blondieblue227

didn't they do that in the 60's or something?
why not now?

beachdweller

blondieblue227 wrote:

didn't they do that in the 60's or something?
why not now?

it would suck for us, but would be a powerful thing to do. We need to localize commerce/food/etc...can't see this happening though.

jeffbr

blondieblue227 wrote:

didn't they do that in the 60's or something?
why not now?

What would they be striking for? Who would they be striking against? What would the demands be? How would they put food on their tables while they shut off the trucks? Many of these guys are independent owner/operators.

brain of c

they did last week.

tybird

The independent truckers did have a one day strike to protest the high gas prices.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,344170,00.html

Sorry for the Foxnews link....first thing that came up on a google search.

Just like brain of c said....:D

jeffbr

Yeah, there was some small scale stuff last week, with some trucks driving really slowly, and others shutting down for the day, but ultimately, they need to keep those trucks rolling to make any money. That's why then generally drive fast, and don't sleep enough. My uncle was a long-haul trucker and I totally feel for those guys. It is a hell of a tough job, and diesel fuel costs have just gone crazy around here. Yesterday a station I drove past showed $4.44 for diesel. But again, I don't know what the OP is advocating in terms of a remedy.

callen

blondieblue227 wrote:

didn't they do that in the 60's or something?
why not now?

No leverage.

Prices are driven by global economics and supply....if all US truckers stopped driving, the excess fuel would be sucked up by pent up demand with no affect on prices.
Now if one would take the position truckers striking would force the government to intervene in prices we're in trouble.
We need to examine the weakness of the greenback and get that 25% price reduction.

Nevermind

Truckers dont pay for the fuel. The companies do.

jeffbr

Nevermind wrote:

Truckers dont pay for the fuel. The companies do.

Not the independent operators. All of their expenses (truck, insurance, maintenance, fuel, etc...) come straight off the top. They get paid per load.

tybird

jeffbr wrote:

Not the independent operators. All of their expenses (truck, insurance, maintenance, fuel, etc...) come straight off the top. They get paid per load.

What's the % of independent operators??? Is it high enough to make an impact if they were united in a slowdown/strike??

South of Seattle

I work in the corporate office for a major trucking/logistics company and gas is definitely effecting things. One thing that we did was lower the maximum speed limit for our drivers. By adjusting a few MPH you save Millions in gas prices.

blondieblue227

my mom was talking about some type of strike in the 60's or 70's.
did that even happen? what was she refering to? nobody remembers?

macgyver06

callen wrote:

No leverage.

Prices are driven by global economics and supply....if all US truckers stopped driving, the excess fuel would be sucked up by pent up demand with no affect on prices.
Now if one would take the position truckers striking would force the government to intervene in prices we're in trouble.
We need to examine the weakness of the greenback and get that 25% price reduction.

nice post!

melodious

There has been talk, but the thing is that there is atleast 14,000 trucker drivers waiting in ol' Mexico to replace those who initiate such a gesture. Then it will be the beginning of and end to an era, (high wages and independent trucking) and (my perspective only~~no proof, just what I hear) this will begin to bring down outlandish wages applied to accreditation...

Maybe truckers learned from that protest concerning immigration...If ya come out in the surface, it can leave one vulnerable to more restriction and control

Our economy is way too fat, according to world standards...



Let's hope for the best...live under the LAW and hope for a better way...

blackredyellow

tybird wrote:

What's the % of independent operators??? Is it high enough to make an impact if they were united in a slowdown/strike??

I don't know the %, but my trucker uncle tells me it's pretty high... He works for a small trucking company, and there are rumors that it will cut it's staff and hire independent drivers. Between fuel costs, health benefits, etc., he tells me that it is cheaper for the companies to just contract out to independents.

Not sure entirely how true that is coming from a bias source, but it makes sense.

callen

macgyver06 wrote:

nice post!

thanks

LikeAnOcean

Wouldn't most of us starve if they went on strike?

jeffbr

LikeAnOcean wrote:

Wouldn't most of us starve if they went on strike?

Theoretically. But the reality is that they'd starve before we would and unless they're suicide bombers, they'll be back on the highway before they'd watch their kids starve. The other reality is that at some point we'll be paying their higher fuel costs in higher consumer prices.

farfromglorified

Truckers would be wise to strike. Many shipping firms charge fuel surcharges without passing on those surcharges to their drivers. Independent ops need to leverage their influence on the transport system to ensure that they're getting a far shake on those surcharges.

Rats of Multa

jeffbr wrote:

Theoretically. But the reality is that they'd starve before we would and unless they're suicide bombers, they'll be back on the highway before they'd watch their kids starve. The other reality is that at some point we'll be paying their higher fuel costs in higher consumer prices.

a. im curious what percentage of american truck-drivers have and/or support any children,...

b. so basically [ultimately] what we need is a consumer strike,...

...???

godpt3

the truckers are too hopped up on meth to notice anything.