American Truckers At War

35 Comments »

1. Here’s the solution, PARK THE RIGS…

   Park the damn things and keep em parked until there is federal intervention on the price of fuel, it’s that simple…

   I had a guy tell me a few years back, during the last fuel crisis, “I can’t afford to park, I have notes to make and they’ll come get my truck”…

   No they won’t, what are the banks and finance companies going to do with a million trucks??

   Truckers can be the most powerful political force in this nation, IF they would just stick together, but therein lies the problem, you can’t get 5 drivers to sit down at the table and agree on what time it is…

   Comment by TexasFred | March 20, 2008

2. TexasFred said:
   “Park the damn things and keep em parked until there is federal intervention on the price of fuel, it’s that simple…”

   No Fred, it isn’t that simple. Exactly what would you have the government do? Shall they “order” the various foreign nations that supply a large part of our oil to artificially lower their prices? Shall they order Petro, Flying J and Pilot to sell us diesel below cost? Keep in mind that oil is over $100 per barrel right now. It simply costs more to purchase and refine oil than it used to.

   It was government intervention, in part, that got us into this mess. They’ve pushed various diesel blends and additives that cost tons of money on us, while caving in to environmentalists who forbid oil companies from building newer, more efficient refineries and prevent us from drilling in ANWR. The new ultra-low sulfur fuel is tremendously expensive to refine compared to fuels of years past. Those costs are passed on to the consumer.

   Certainly the oil companies are not blameless here, but to demand an artificial solution to a problem such as this is asking for even more trouble. There are two workable solutions within the capabilities of our government:

   1- They’re already working to elevate the value of the American dollar. The declining value of our currency worldwide is the root of the problem. As our money loses value, it takes more money to make a purchase, and that includes diesel fuel.

   2- Ease the requirements on refiners and take us back to the older, cheaper fuel blends. This might be rough on newer engines (the USD engines), but the majority of us would benefit. Keep in mind however, that the refineries would have to re-tool before they could begin making the old-style fuel again. It wouldn’t be a quick fix.

   And how’s about the owner operators who whine over the cost of fuel, and then go buy ANOTHER W-900 or maybe a Western Star with a 550 hp Cat engine? How is it that these guys feel they have a legitimate right to bitch when they knowingly buy fuel-guzzling, non-aerodynamic equipment that gets crappy fuel mileage? Hello? Reality? Anybody home?

   This is just simple economics, Fred. Stop acting on your anger and apply some common sense to the situation. Convoys and rallies are a good idea, and they’re as American as apple pie. But shutting down and causing other Americans to go hungry will accomplish nothing positive. We need the public on our side, and emptying the shelves at the grocery store is NOT how to get it done.

   Best Wishes, and see ya on the road - Alan

   Comment by Alan Burkhart | March 20, 2008

3. As a trucker I feel that something has to be done(by us and not the government) to raise our incomes. Limiting the supply of trucks should increase our rates.

   What we don’t want is for more Government Intervention.
   We have been living in an interventionist economy for most of our lives. We DON’T NEED ANY MORE GOVERNMENT.

   Nobody is discussing the monetary inflation that we are experiencing. Inflation is simply defined as more money chasing fewer goods. The prices of these goods rise.
   The Federal Government is printing more money to pay their debts.

   If you get a chance read Hans Sennholz “Age of Inflation”
   Andrew Dickerson Whites “Fiat Money Inflation in France.”

   We need to talk about cutting back GOVERNMENT.

   All the best.

   Lenny Ladner

   Comment by Lenny Ladner | March 20, 2008

4. I have to agree with Alan. I don’t think a strike is the answer. Setting aside all the crap I take from other drivers because of who I drive for not making me sympathetic, there are other ways. I also think OOIDA has it right. Drive legal and compliant. You’ll save fuel, and be less aggrivated when you get where you’re going.(Yes, I’m a member) Actually, the American people who are to blame. We don’t hold the Government responsible. We allow the enviro-nuts to run Congress and thus, are dependent on foreign oil. We won’t get on our reps about the EPA mandated boutique fuels. We are no longer We The People. We’ve become “Me the sheep”.

   Comment by Billiam | March 20, 2008

5. what the US government need to do is tell opec to drop oil prices or we will just come and take it and bomb their asses back to the stone age

   Comment by BDavid | March 21, 2008

6. I am an owner-operator and am in agreement with shutting down. We need to shut down for 2 weeks and cripple this country! This would show the government, the companies and the citizens we mean business. Look, I can’t afford to shut down either, but at the same time, I can’t afford not to.

   Texas Fred is right. The finance companies cannot afford to take everyone’s equipment back. This includes your personal finances as well. Mortgages, credit cards, bank loans, etc. If we were to have a major shut-down, the financial industry would have no other choice but to work with people.

   I am tired of these drivers like Alan Burkhart who says he worries about other americans. He is full of it; he only worries about himself. What about every other industry that feels they are being mis-treated? What do they do about it? STRIKE! You think they care about you when they strike? Hell no! Well no-one cares about us either and unless we do something about it, nothing is going to change! The nay sayers out their will always say that a strike won’t work.

   Alan may be right about us drivers who like our “Large Car Rides” and pay more than he does in fuel. But you know what Alan, I’ve always made money with my “Large Car Peterbilt”. Oh, I forgot, Alan doesn’t pay for fuel; he is a company driver. Alan,you don’t get a choice what you drive. What are you going to do Alan and all you company drivers that agree with him, when your company can’t afford you as a driver no more because their profits are gone and forcing them out of business?

   We must act now. OOIDA’s message of slowing down and running legal is fine and dandy, but I am running legal and still the fuel prices are cutting into my profits. OOIDA legally, cannot promote a strike, but would stand behind its members.

   Another thing, the government is part of this problem. The amount of taxes that are placed on a gallon of fuel is ridiculous ( .50-.60 cents per gallon. ). Why can’t the Government give us some relief on taxes? Every other industry seems to get help or bailed out of their financial slump. Not us in this industry, get any relief. All we get is aggrivation! More taxes put on us! More regulations put on us! Split speed limits are put on us! Higher fines are put on us! Higher tolls are put on us! Should I continue? It seems as though anytime the government needs money, they look to us as an industry for it.

   Fuel prices is a major problem for us, but as I mentioned above their are other issues at hand as well. OOIDa speaks well for us, but their hands are tied and can only do so much. We as Independents, Owner-Operators, and Lease Purchase Drivers are the ones feeling the brunt of these issues and need to join forces and do something about this industry. We need to make it better for not only us, but for generations after us. We are in a time that history can look back and say 2008 Truckers Made A Difference For Our Industry.

   Think about this. They say if you want respect, you have to earn it. The truth is, in this busines, if you want respect, you have to demand it! Does your company treat you with respect? Does your dispatcher or broker treat you with respect? Does the shipper or receiver treat you with respect? Why do we have to pay for lumpers when it’s the shippers or receivers freight? How long after your appointment time have you been waiting to load or unload? Waiting for free? How many actual miles did you run to get that load delivered or picked up? How many miles did you get paid for?

   You see, there are many other issues at hand that need to be addressed. For those that don’t want to be a part of the solution, are just part of the problem. Also remember, the ATA is one of our biggest enemies as well.

   I have much more to say, but I do have a business to run and get my load picked up on time. I am ready to take a stance with those that are ready to make a difference!

   Bob Blessing

   Comment by Bob Blessing | March 21, 2008

7. BDavid (post #5)…

   You sir, are one of the greatest minds of the 7th century.

   Comment by Alan Burkhart | March 21, 2008

8. Lenny and Billiam…

   Just try to get truckers to understand stuff like this. I’ve pretty much given up (at least on the CB radio). We have a victim mentality in the trucking industry.

   And, too many guys and gals seem to CHOOSE to be uninformed. They gripe and curse about our problems - and we have some big ones - but they refuse to learn anything about the cause of those problems. They have a wealth of info at their fingertips in the form of Sirius and XM, but most of them can’t get past Blue Collar Comedy and the NASCAR Channel.

   It’s a shame, really. Most of them are good folks but they seem to embrace a dangerous combination of victimhood and ignorance. And you can bet that our benevolent gov’t loves every minute of it.

   Best
   AB

   Comment by Alan Burkhart | March 21, 2008

9. Letter to my fellow truck drivers,

   John Bootie here….Independent running for President. As a truck driver, Renee you know I am looking out for the drivers. My take is very simple I am both a union member and an OOIDA member.
   Being a company driver as a lot of drivers are.

   TWO things that will lower the price at the pump:

   Stop speeding and stop wasteful Idling. This adds up to less consumption and more stockpile meaning less demand and lower prices

   My suggestions are simple and the very basic:

   1) Driver’s need to start driving Legal, both with their HOS (Hours of Service) and equipment.

   2) Do everything by the book. Log legal, take the full required breaks, and Drive the speed limits, use the cruise control as much as possible (it saves fuel and some cruise controls are set up to have extra power to them).

   3) To my CHRISTian brothers, I have yet to find a DOT requirement that is against GOD’s Laws…So do it by the book. Plus seeing you pass me when I am doing the speed limit, with your cross, or the name of Jesus, on the side of your truck tells me your not trusting Jesus to get the job done for you.

   4) When parking, try your very best to park legally and safely. If your parked along the highway. Please leave your body lights on, good batteries won’t go dead while your sleeping. I see trucks parked in dark places at night with no lights on. Very much a safety hazard.

   I drive local and I know its easy for me to say, Drive 100% legal. But in the end if you want to bring fuel costs down. Here is the way to do it.

   1) Stop speeding, one it wastes more fuel and the tickets for speeding can ruin your bank balance. If you want to lower the stress of the JOB, slow down. Remove the stress of getting stopped, off your back.

   2) When parked shout off the engine as long as possible. I can’t tell you how many trucks, I see parked for hours on end, idling with no one in them…. When your in the restaurant, loading or unloading, fueling.

   3) As Lenny Ladner said, we do not need more government involvement. I listen to you guys and gals every time I turn on Steve Sommers, complaining on how the government is screwing up the whole time anyways. So why ask them to get involved now.

   4) OPEC and Chavez, are a small part of the true problem. We the drivers are the problem. Speeding, running over hours to make appointments, Taking cheap freight, Idling an empty truck.

   I have been driving over 25 years now. (WOW that sounds old Ha Ha) I have ran strictly legal since 1990. It’s easy to do and I run one of the most cost efficient trucks in the company fleet.

   The days of big hammers and fast trucks are over. So face the facts. Either your part of the answer or you are part of the problem. Although I wouldn’t go as far as Alan suggests, and drag anyone out of a truck,

   I agree Drivers can not shut down. If you want to see trucking regulations screwed up, just try a national strike. The government would step in and put national guard or Active duty military in the truck to keep them rolling.

   A strike would only hurt the drivers who have only one choice. Run legal and make your pockets go empty slower. or you can do as you have been. And lets face it, the way you have been doing it, hasn’t been working so well so far.

   Big oil companies are only a part of the cost at the pumps. State and federal taxes are the majority of the price next to the cost of the crude. The stock and futures market and the fact we don’t have any more refinery capacity left are an additional problem. I believe we have more than enough domestic oil both capped and untapped in this country to ease our dependency on foreign oil. We are now bringing in already refined gasoline in tankers. The environmentalists are also a major part of the higher cost, and part of a lack of enough domestic oil and refineries.

   Do you want to make a huge impact on the cost, contact your congressman and woman. Lets put the pressure of the truck drivers on their backs. If we call, email, snail mail, and visit them as much as or more than the lobbyists. We can cause them to turn their backs to the lobbyists.

   In the summer of 2007 we the people stopped the illegal alien amnesty problem by turning up the heat on congress. Who won we did that’s who. When we speak they do listen. The true problem is it takes a lot for them to listen, and we don’t speak very loud as a whole industry.

   Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), is our voice. Use them. I joined and you should too. Their only interest is the truck drivers, and the trucking industry. They’re our employee.

   GOD Bless you one and all and DRIVE safe.

   John Bootie
   http://www.johnbootie08.com

   Comment by John Bootie | March 21, 2008

10. Bob Blessing (post #6)…

    A trucker’s strike would amount to an act of economic terrorism. Sure, we’d get people’s attention. But guess what? When the UAW or SAG shuts down, the shelves at Kroger don’t empty out. The economy keeps functioning. Not so with a trucker’s strike.

    Are you REALLY willing to do something that will hurt people who have no clue that the problem even exists? Are you ready to deny a 3 year-old girl her next meal because there is no food at the grocery store? Are you willing to deny an elderly man the medicine he needs to survive? Will you cause millions of honest working people to go home without pay because the factories have no raw materials? How many people are you willing to hurt so you can feed your 5 mpg truck?

    And if you’re paying lumper fees, you need a new lease. When we haul a load requiring a lumper, it gets billed back to the broker, who in turn bills it back to the shipper. No money out of our pockets. None. If you’re paying lumper fees, it’s your fault.

    And yeah, Bob, I have a say in what I drive. That goes along with making me and the boss a good living, and working for a smaller company that actually gives a damn about its drivers. Blue Cross insurance and paid vacations, too. And if I sit awhile at the dock, I’ll be well-paid for it. Not all of us get stiffed as badly as you evidently do.

    And yeah, it’s tougher being an owner-operator than a company driver. I’m not blind to the fact that you face more challenges than I do. But you CHOSE those challenges. You know as well as I do that a dynamic economy like ours is going to favor some and shaft others as it goes thru its various ups and downs. Do you really expect fuel prices to be static? Do you expect it to remain under $2 forever? EVERYTHING goes up as time goes by. It’s unavoidable.

    Our problem is that freight rates are stagnant. You wanna blame someone, blame freight brokers who don’t own a single truck, but force us to compete with them while they work at home in their pajamas. If rates went up commensurately with fuel prices, you wouldn’t have a complaint.

    One thing we agree upon: Unless you happen to own a fleet of at least 1000 trucks and treat your drivers like dirt, the ATA is not your friend. They represent only the greediest and most corrupt among us, and have long been little more than a willing puppet of both special interests and government. See? I’m not completely disagreeable.

    Best of luck and drive safe
    AB

    Comment by Alan Burkhart | March 21, 2008

11. 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

    Comment by NTFSP | March 21, 2008

12. No Alan, You have no idea Who I am. I have been driving for over 25 years. I am 3rd generation in this business. I am 47 years old and was put in a truck when I was able to sit in the seat on my own. I have been through a few hardships as a son of an old school trucker. I have seen this industry change. Some things for the better, and some things for the worse. I can honestly say that one thing worse is mindsets like yours.

    I actually make a pretty good living as an owner-operator. I pull specialized freight and get paid better than the average owner-operator out there. I also get paid for my downtime. But, I can see the difference between us is that I care about others in this industry trying to make a living to give their family some type of quality of life.

    You Alan, live in a fantasy world if you think other people outside of our industry gives a care about us.Are you sure you’re for us in this industry or against us? You make it sound like its alright for Owner-Operators,Independents, and Lease Purchase drivers to be shafted in this economy. Let’s add the company you work for to the list. If they are getting shafted and cannot survive this economy you will be out of a job. So much for your benefits!

    Yes Alan, I do care about others eating and getting their medicine. But you know what, I care about my family, and other drivers and their families as well getting what they deserve. Alan, if others have to suffer; including you, for our industry to get attention to achieve some of our goals then I am willing to see others sacrifice for the betterment of our industry.

    By the way Alan, did you not understand when I said “cripple this nation”! I am hoping there are no raw products to be delivered at all and people go home without pay. Then maybe we will finally see a change for the better if others feel the consequences of our troubles. Because now it’s not only us with a voice, but a trickle down effect with others speaking on our behalf to get the country moving again. Watch how fast everyone moves when the cupboards are bare. I could care less if others are mad at us. They already are. There are enough groups out there already trying to make it harder for us to make a living.

    If you think there are that many honest people out there in this world, then I have some ocean front property in Arizona I will sell you cheap. You are sadly mistaken. You can’t trust anyone anymore. It’s a “dog eat dog” world out there, Alan.

    Your mindset along with others like you will always keep us from getting justice done in this industry. Yes, I chose my path and you chose yours but you still have to do what you’re told at work or you get FIRED. Wake up and join our industry to say we have had enough!

    Bob Blessing

    Comment by Bob Blessing | March 21, 2008

13. John, I am sorry even though you make some extremely good points, I just can’t bring myself to vote for you. You are mistaken on some of the issues. Let me give you an example you used that is completely farcical: ” The National Guard will be called up to deliver our goods”. I have a question, Where are they going to find all these soldiers? Is this how we are going to get them back from Iraq? Of course not John. The Government isn’t going to do that.

    Even if they were here John they couldn’t handle it. Can you Imagine the military trying to move time sensitive freight by truck at 45 mph from coast to coast. It would make for a good comedy.

    You must of read my previous comment about if your not part of the solution, your part of the problem because I noticed you used it as well in slightly different wording.

    Even though we are at different sides on the issue of striking, You have made some good points about running legal. But, that is not going to make that much of a difference. I and many others out there already run legal and nothing has changed. For those that think Owner-Operators with Large Cars are the ones out there hammering all the time are sadly mistaken. I see and know more company drivers that are hammering down the road than Owner-Operators because they’re not the ones paying for the fuel.

    OOIDA is for the truckers, John, but they have limited power in what they can get done. I support them 95% of the time. Don’t think for one minute, John, if they could legally organize a strike, they wouldn’t. It’s the only way, John. We have to organize properly and shut this nation down to get the attention of our government ,the companies we haul for, and the citizens of this country. It’s time for us to get the respect we deserve!

    Keep On Trucking

    Bob Blessing

    Comment by Bob Blessing | March 21, 2008

14. IT,S JUST DAMN CRAZY IT MAKES NO SENSE THAT DIESEL PRICE,S ARE 4.00 AND SKY ROCKETING AS I WRIGHT THIS NOTE I SAY PARK THE TRUCKS AND BLOCK THE GAS AND DIESEL TANKERS FROM GETTING THERE FUEL LOADED ON THERE TRUCKS OR BLOCK THE GAS TERMINALS NO GAS NO GO I SAY SHUT THIS NATION DOWN NOW !!!! OR WE WILL CONTINUE TO PAY OUT THE REAR END FOR EVERYTHING WE NEED I QUIT OOIDA AND I QUIT TRUCKING THE HELL WITH THIS NATION ARE GOV IS JUST AS BAD AS COMMUNISTS CHINA GOOD DAY MY FELLOW AMERICANS

    Comment by DAVID EVANS | March 21, 2008

15. Bob Blessing (post #12)…
    Bob, you stated the following:
    “Alan, if others have to suffer; including you, for our industry to get attention to achieve some of our goals then I am willing to see others sacrifice for the betterment of our industry.”
    ——————————————-

    If you understood even a thimble-full about how the economy works, you’d realize that a shutdown would accomplish absolutely zero. Best bet is that oil prices would go down just long enough to convince you to go back to work, then they’d go right back up again. What’ll you do then? Will you go back home every time the pump price goes up? Get real, Bob.

    As I stated in an earlier post, our problem isn’t just oil prices. The problem is rooted in stagnant freight rates and a declining dollar. You want to do some good? Go after the corrupt freight brokers who compete with us even though they’ll never have to buy a single drop of diesel. As I write this, some guy in his boxers is sitting at home, bidding for a load at a rate cheaper than it costs to operate most trucks. With diesel costing most people 55 to 65 cents per mile right now, no truck load should be paying less than $2 per mile.

    As to the value of a dollar, not much to be done about it. Bad decision-making by the major financial institutions, global competition for oil and a hot commodities market all play a role. And that just scratches the surface.

    Removing the middle-men from the equation would likely add 15 to 20 percent to the freight rates on average. Shippers would be scrambling to find people to haul their freight, and they’d pay good money for it, too.

    Goods would still get shipped, and only a comparative few people would be out of work. Not a perfect idea, but a better idea than crippling the country.

    Comment by Alan Burkhart | March 22, 2008

16. Alan, you’re wrong once again about me. I understand the economy and its trickle down effect. I have been in business for many years. I have started businesses from scratch, made them profitable and sold them. I also own rental property. I did all this on my own. I didn’t have any funds at all but just goals. I understand how the economy works and what it can bare. I also understand that we as truckers cannot continue to be beaten down in this economy and take this crap anymore. You are right on some points like freight rates are stagnant but that is only one issue.

    You say I have to support my 5 mpg truck. First off, my truck gets 5.3 to 5.8 when loaded. I average gross weight of 79,500 to 80,000 lbs everytime I am loaded. I run the mountains out west mostly. I pull an end dump. I guarantee if your averaging over 6 mpg all the time. You’re probably pulling light freight and not running hard pulls all the time. If I’m dead-heading or happen to get a light load my fuel mileage is over 6 mpg. Not that I have to justify myself to you about my truck or fuel mileage, I just want you to understand that not everyone’s circumstances are the same as the next persons. I tell my kids all the time, don’t judge anyone because you might not know what their story is. So before you judge anyone Alan, understand where they’re coming from first.

    I would love for you to even try to drag me out of my house and make me do something I didn’t want to do. That comment you made dragging someone out of their house is very threatening. You sound like one of the bullies in school that always pushed people around. On the other side of the coin, I was the one that kicked the bullies ass because I refused to let someone walk all over someone weaker. That is why I am for the strike, to let everyone know we are sick and tired of being sick and tired and walked over.

    You are just a company driver who has no investment in the business you are workig for other than doing what you’re told and going where you’re told. I guarantee you have no clue what the operating costs of running a company are for your boss. I guarantee if he is a small company as you say, he is having a hard time to maintain. Watch as his costs keep going up, the first thing to go will be your health coverage. Then will be any other benefits he offers you until finally he sells or closes his doors. So Your theory of just sitting by and doing things that are already being done is suicide for this industry.

    It is not going to get any better for us without a drastic move on our part of a major shut down. Alan, you need to wake up and smell the coffee, if it keeps getting worse out here, a strike is going to happen and no-one is going to be able to stop it. Not even you, Alan. So Alan, you’re either with us or against us.

    Bob Blessing

    Comment by Bob Blessing | March 22, 2008

17. I believe that Mr Burkhart is partially right but for the most part wrong in his comments. Things won’t get any better if we just sit and wait for the problem to go away.I am not in favor of a lot more government intervention but something should be done about the way oil contracts are handled. Some contracts are sold 2,3 or more times before the crude gets to the end user. That means that if a barrel of oil is sold for $60 at the supplier by the time it gets here it will be over $100 a barrel because everybody that sells a contract is going to make money. It’s illegal to double broker a load of freight so why not the same with oil?? I do believe that a shutdown of at least 7 days would make the whole country listen.I know that it would cause a lot of hardships but when there isn’t anything to eat at the whitehouse somebody is bound to get a little bit worried.There isn’t anyone out here that can’t afford to go a week without working. The finance companies don’t want the trucks back and the banks really don’t want to foreclose any more homes.What is needed is for EVERYBODY to just go home,owner operators,company, union and non union drivers.No convoys no blocking of highways just go home. It would be a silent protest and it would work. Company drivers don’t think that this affects them but they are wrong. When the cost of fuel forces companys to park trucks it means somebody is out of a job. Benefits may be cut,bonuses will disappear and raises will be nonexistant.This is hurting the whole industry and nothing is going to get any better unless the industry acts as a whole. As for the hardship it would cause, you have to make a mess to clean one up. What about my family? Should their standard of living drop so the rest of the country can shop whenever they want??

    Comment by d haas | March 23, 2008

18. If we dont stand for something we will fall for anything, we have been falling for years and its time to do something about it.I am still making it,i use 1 broker,this week the surcharge was 51% of gross,that comes out to 3.50 to 4.00 a mile.The USA economy is based on cheap gas and fuel,we raise our rates the stores raise their prices,when these recent surcharges catch up to the price of food on the shelf the average american wont be able to afford it,so if we shut down for a few days we are actually standing up for every american in this great country! I dont care if i pay 4 dollars ppg for gas,i can ajust my trips in my 4wheeler,but the cost of fuel reflects on every last thing we own and the average american doesn’t realize that.

    Comment by J Bender | March 23, 2008

19. D Haas, Excellent point about our families standard of living! I’m in total agreement. Read my comments and you’ll see were on the same page.

    Bob Blessing

    Comment by Bob Blessing | March 24, 2008

20. Bob Blessing and others…

    First: Yeah Bob, that was something I shouldn’t have said (yanking someone out of the house). I was angry when I wrote it. Tell ya what: I won’t pull you out of the house while you’re on strike as long as you don’t try to stop me from working. Fair enough?

    Now on to business: Please explain how shutting down will cause the price of a barrel of oil to go down. Seriously - tell me how a strike here in the US will have anything more than a short-term effect on prices. Show me where I’m wrong, and I will help myself to plate full of crow. Please note that the bird must be plucked. Feathers make me sneeze.

    Do you really expect fuel prices to just stay the same for years and years? Yes, it’d be nice if we could still fill up for $1.199 or some other wonderful price, but it ain’t gonna happen. ALL prices go up over time. America has slid by with the cheapest fuel on the planet for decades, but those days are over. The sooner you face that fact, the sooner you can make whatever adjustments you have to make and get on with trucking. I don’t like it any more than you or anyone else, but that’s just how things work.

    I remember talks of strikes when fuel hit a buck a gallon, then more talk of striking at a buck-fifty. Folks thought the world was ending when it first hit $2. But people found a way to get through it all. Same rhetoric, different price.

    And Bob… what’s this “just a company driver” nonsense (post #16)? Am I a second-class citizen because I choose to work for someone? I’ll bet if I gave you a ride when you’re broke down, or helped you chain down a load, or helped slide your tandems, THEN I’d be your “fellow driver” and not “just a company driver.” And I would by the way, do any or all of the above, regardless of our disagreements here.

    I took a bit of time to compile some numbers some of you may find interesting. Fuel cost per mile and related info. You can view it on my website at the link below:
    http://www.alanburkhart.com/fuel_cost_table.html

    The tables are done in Flash, so if you have a slow connection it might take a moment for it all to load. Should be under a minute in any case. Don’t want to divert traffic from Renee’s site, so be sure to come back here if you wish to comment upon it.

    Working on one more line graph to show average freight rates vs. fuel price increases over time, but don’t have all the numbers together just yet.

    AB

    Comment by Alan Burkhart | March 24, 2008

21. Alan, you did a good job posting those graphs. Alan, even though I am a business owner and you are a company driver I would also help you in any way I could out here on the road. After all, I am “Old School”. You are right we are fellow drivers. Fair enough!

    Alan, there are many other issues that are at stake here that need to be addressed. The fuel prices just happen to be the thing that has finally got people saying “enough is enough”.

    On the fuel price issue, there is no reason other than price gouging for diesel fuel to be .70 to almost .90 cents a gallon higher than gasoline. If the oil companies are making roughly .08 to .10 cents a gallon on gasoline ( depending on the grade), then how much are they making on a gallon of diesel? If diesel is a by product, then what are the refining costs compared to gasoline? I know they have some extra cost in refining ulsd compared to lsd. It still costs less than refining all the different blends of gasoline that have to be blended for the different laws of whatever state it is being sent to.

    I understand that there is supply and demand costs as well. But, if we were to shut down, the cost would drop due to there would be less of a demand during the strike. As I stated in my 2cd paragraph, there are many other issues that need to be addressed as well. I’ ve mentioned a few of them in my other posts.

    In any case Alan, we may disagree on striking, but we both agree that we need a change in this industry. Keep on my friend with at least keeping the subject open for change.

    Bob Blessing

    Comment by Bob Blessing | March 24, 2008

22. Bob…
    The ULSD costs a lot more to refine, I’m told. Plus, heating oil is a factor during the winter. Haven’t looked at the numbers the last few days, but the commodities market had declined a bit last week. If that continues, it could drop the price of oil a bit.

    This has been one of my points all along: None of us can afford to shut down long enough to significantly affect oil prices, and that has to be, IMO, our top concern right now. Speed limits, log books, etc can wait.

    But larger market forces can and will have an effect. Current goings-on in Iraq and Iran have a tremendous effect on oil prices, as do the greedy little ####’s in the UAE. I’m as right-wing as it gets, but at present I daresay that the country needs to pull back and tend to our own back yard. We’re wrecking the economy by dumping tons of cash into a country (need I say which country?) in which the people will get right back to killing each other as soon as we leave. Might as well leave now and save a few billion dollars.

    Striking would make a statement, to be sure. But telling the world how angry we are will not have a meaningful impact on fuel prices. It would however, have a disastrous impact on the economy and drive up the prices of consumer goods - stuff that you and I have to have like everyone else - by radically altering the supply / demand ratio. We’d end up with fuel prices not being much different, but food and other items will get pricier as a direct result of our actions. As I said at my site: That ain’t the result we’re looking for.

    Past my bedtime. 5:00 am comes way too early for my taste.

    Best
    AB

    Comment by Alan Burkhart | March 24, 2008

23. A strike isn’t going to bring down the price of oil at the supplier but something should be done about the way that oil contracts are handled. The government regulates everything else but don’t seem to be concerned about energy costs. If I were to venture a guess I would say that a good percentage of the politicians have investments in oil so why would they do anything to drop the price of oil and reduce their income? What we have is a very small percentage of the population raping the rest of the country. I still say EVERYBODY go home and let the whole country get hungry, people will call their congressmen and complain and then maybe something will be done. We can’t shut down every time fuel goes up but what is happening now is uncalled for. If everybody could pull together just once maybe the politicians and the filthy rich oil companies would think twice before letting fuel prices climb so high that the whole economy is affected. I think that the fact that a lot of people are sitting in their homes and having to wear coats to stay warm is a disgrace.

    Comment by d haas | March 24, 2008

24. Alan, I am as right as they come also, but as demand goes down, so do prices. I understand that when we were to get back to work, demand goes up. As I said previously, this is more than just fuel prices. The fuel prices are just “the straw that broke the camels back” as they say.

    There are other issues that need to be addressed as well:
    1. Split Speed limits
    2. Nafta
    3. The lack of respect we get in this industry
    4. Alot of Owner-Operators, Independents cheated out of their fuel surcharge
    5. hours of service rules
    6. We pay higher fines for just about everything
    7. We are taxed more
    8. We pay unfair toll prices
    9. The mexican pilot program
    10.Unfair companies taking advantage of drivers and owner-operators. (just look at the number of lawsuits that OOIDA has filed)
    11.Rates need to go up
    12.HHG miles or pc miles (With the age of computers we should be getting paid door to door miles)
    These are just some of the issues that need to be addressed There are many more problems that we are facing in this industry that should be addressed as well.

    As I stated above, the fuel prices are only part of the problem. OOIDA backs us as much as they can, but they can only do so much. Maybe it’s time for some of these fat-cats to feel the strain that we and the under priveleged
    are feeling in this country.

    I have even thought that maybe boycotting one or more states at a time from buying anything there for a certain period of time. When they feel the pressure of no revenue coming in maybe something will get done. For e.g., Split speed limit states would be a good start. Unless you work intrastate there, all companies that work interstate and are just passing through do exactly that; pass through without spending any money there. Grant it, the state is still going to charge us fuel taxes for the miles travelled in that state.

    However, how much revenue will the statrt lose from the sales tax that vendors pay them every month? How many vendors will complain to the state that something needs to be done to help them stay in business? I don’t know. I’m just saying…

    I’m not saying that I have all the answers, but I know we can’t continue as we are.

    Bob Blessing

    Comment by Bob Blessing | March 24, 2008

25. YOU SAY GOING ON STRIKE WOULD BE A FORM OF ECONOMIC TERRORISM! YOU SHOULD SITH BACK AND THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE! WHO MAKDE RECORD PROFITS, BUT YET AND STILL WHY THE COST OF FUEL WENT UP! YOUR SO CALLED OIL COMPANIES AND WHAT NOT ARE THE TERRORIST! THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING RECORD PROFITS WHILE THEY HOLD THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HOSTAGE WITH HIGH FUEL PRICES! THIS IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF WHY THING CANNOT GET DONE IN THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY! SOME SAY STRIKE, SOME SAY SIT BACK AND RIDE IT OUT! NO ONE CAN AGREE ON NIGHT AND DAY! AND DONT SAY THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM! THEY SEE IT EVERY DAY WEN THEY GO TO THE STORE TO BUY PRODUCTS! MILK, BREAD, WATER! IF SHUTING DOWN GETS SOMEONES ATTENTION, SO BE IT! YEAH SO SLOWING DOWN SAVES FUEL! BUT AT THE RATE IT IS GOING UP, WE WILL ALL BE DOING 45MPH! THE HIGHER IT GOES, THE SLOWER YOU WILL HAVE TO GO TO MAKE A PROFIT! WHEN AND IF IT HITS $5.00 A GALLON, AND YOU ARE GROSSING 78,000LBS, HOW SLOW ARE YOU GONNA HAVE TO GO TO MAKE THAT TURN INTO A PROFIT! 45MPH,50MPH! SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE! ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WE ARE GONNA SHUT DOWN! THE FUEL PRICE MIXED WITH CHEEP FREIGHT IS GOING TO START TO HURT EVERY TRUCKING COMPANY, AND INDEPENDENTS! DOORS WILL START CLOSING,COMPANIES WILL START DOWN SIZING, AND SOME WILL START CUTTING PAY! CUT PAY WILL LEAD TO DRIVERS QUITING AND GOING HOME TO FIND JOBS! WHY BE OVER THE ROAD WITH CUT PAY WHEN U CAN BE AT HOME MAKING THAT PAY! WE HAVE SAT BACK TO LONG FIGHTING EACH OTHER AND THAT IS WHY THE GOV DOES WHAT THEY DO! THEY KNOW THE AMERICAN PUBLIC CAN NOT COME TOGETHER ON ANYTHING! YA’LL NEED TO QUIT READING THE BLACK AND WHITE AND START READING THE GREY WHERE THE SOLUTION IS!

    Comment by chris | March 24, 2008

26. Bob - Frankly, if they’d leave the HOS where they are, I’d be happy with them. I like being able to drive 11 hours and I like having the 10-hr break after a long day.

    Split Speeds: OH is the worst in my view, because they basically admitted the split speed limit was all about money. They did this when they upped our speed on the toll roads to get us back on them. Long (I mean LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG) convoys at 50 - 55 mph across Ohio would be an attention getter. Cops couldn’t stop everyone.

    NAFTA: I’m divided on NAFTA. There are good and bad points. The next stage, being pushed by our genius-boy in the White House smells of disaster, though. I want no part of the “NAFTA Superhighway.”

    Congress is fighting Bush tooth and nail on the pilot program. I think we may win this one, at least for a time.

    HHG vs. point to point: That would be something to be hashed out between shippers and trucking companies. Don’t need gov’t sticking its nose in it. Perhaps boycotting a shipper until they agree to it? Not sure if that’s even legal. Could end up looking like coercion.

    Comment by Alan Burkhart | March 25, 2008

27. Chris (post #25)…
    First, all-caps is bad netiquette. It’s considered shouting, and this is a civilized forum. Be civil.

    Second, nothing personal - but… um… well, proofreading is a wonderful thing, OK?

    AB

    Comment by Alan Burkhart | March 25, 2008

28. Alan, my point on the HOS is exactly as yours. They need to leave it alone! I’m not asking the government to take up every issue because not every issue is theirs. Alot of these issues need to be addressed with the trucking companies, and shippers/receivers as well. We have a real chance here to finally get some of these issues addressed.

    It’s not illegal to boycott companies that don’t want to work with us or are fair to us. Respect needs to be on both sides. There are too many shippers/receivers that mis-treat this industry and the trucking companies allow them to get away with it. Also, Profits need to be made by all parties involved.

    Bob

    Comment by Bob Blessing | March 25, 2008

29. Its an election year and its the stock market driving the price a

    Comment by Robert earnest | March 26, 2008

30. OK SO I’VE READ YOUR OPINIONS. FIRST, NO ONE HAS ADDRESSED THE REAL ISSUES. THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO KEEP EVERYONE BROKE AND NEEDY. THAT WAY NO ONE CAN GET TO A BETTER PLACE AND REALIZE WHAT TOTAL SLIME THEY ARE.
    NEXT, WE DON’T EVEN NEED FOSSIL FUEL. DO YOU RESEARCH THERE. JUST ONE MORE FALACY FROM BIG BROTHER TO KEEP YOU BROKE AND SCRAMBING.
    IN ONE WEEK WE COULD MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.
    NO ONE WILL STARVE TO DEATH OR ANYTHING ELSE IN ONE WEEK.
    PUT YOUR DRAMA AWAY.
    ME AN OLD GRANDMA NOW, WAS RUNNING NEW YORK CITY IN THE 70′S HAULING SWINGING AND DRIVING A TWO STICK SOLO.
    YOU YOUNG WHIPPER SNAPPERS NEED TO SHUT UP, SIT DOWN AND LISTEN.
    IF ONE WEEK MAKES THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE IN YOUR WORK LIFE YOU NEED TO GIVE IT BACK NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!
    PUT YOUR BIG BOY AND GIRL PANTIES ON AND DEFEND YOUR CHOSEN PROFFESSION. EITHER STAND UP AND STAND FOR SOMETHING OR SHUT UP SIT DOWN AND TAKE ‘WHATEVER’ IS DISHED OUT TO YOU.
    PS. QUIT WHINING !!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Comment by LINDA EVANS | March 27, 2008

31. Hell yea, my CDL Brothers and Sisters. $4.00 Dollar a gallon fuel is not only crazy but unaffordable. I remember when I started driving a truck, Fuel was $.89 per Gallon (1996). I as a person and fellow TRUCK DRIVER (I’m Proud to be)hereby supports a three (3) week shutdown. I’m a member of the Teamsters AFL-CIO L.U. 41, and this is the main subject for all of us owner-operators and Large Carriers. A (3) week shut down should bring these SKY HIGH F*cking Fuel Prices back down. We are all consumers, yet we have to deliver these products to dealerships, stores, building-sites, and etc. ENOUGH is ENOUGH,these F*cking trade agreements (NAFTA,CAFTA,INDIA,CHINA,TAIWAN,RUSSIAN,and SAFTA) is the cause and effect of all of the United States problems.

    I Forgot. Its time to BRING AMERICA HOME WHERE IT BELONGS…

    And for the wacko, being a spokesman for ATAW (ALAN BURKHART). I would give you my address to see if you can pull me out of my house and put me into a truck. I have some news for you budding, you might not be going home after that…. I WILL MAKE YOU HAVE A VERY BAD DAY VERY QUICKLY. CCU if you know what I mean.

    Its because of all of you so-called rep’s and politician’s are the reason why this country is going to hell in a hand basket.

    I will call you out…Alan Burkhart you dont even know what you are talking about… Do you remember the 70’s trucker strike… It will become 300 times worse then what it was back then.

    Comment by Edward Wagner | March 29, 2008

32. Buddy… Opp’s miss-spelling

    Comment by Edward Wagner | March 29, 2008

33. Hi Bob Blessing, and Linda Evans, Alan Burkhart and all you fellow trucker drivers out there,

    John Bootie here again, Yes Ed Wagner most of the blame does go to the Politicians, but who keeps re-electing them time after time?

    Bob, your right, we need to make changes and yes a Nationwide strike would bring our great nation to its knees. The National Guards of each state is less than 50% used in Afghanistan and Iraq. There is plenty left in each state to do domestic things like making sure that necessities like food and medicine are delivered. They wouldn’t be going 45 MPH either. DOT regs would be waved for such a use as this. You have to remember the GOVERNMENT NEVER ACTS IT RE-ACTS.

    If you could get drivers to go through with a total nationwide strike you could bring everything to a halt, I agree. But do you honestly think that you would get the respect of the citizens of this nation?

    I am a company driver for a small manufacture, I am a teamster on withdrawn. Meaning I work a non-union JOB at present. If you do remember the strike in the late 70’s you also remember it was very limited and didn’t get the desired results.

    Tomorrow I have NO choice in going to work. I do have a choice in driving and doing everything legal, and I will be praying for you. I will do what I can legally to help out but I wont get fired in the process.

    Union contracts prevent their drivers from joining a work stoppage or slow down. The Union also didn’t get what they wanted in the last strike, if I remember correctly. Do you remember the VIOLENCE that went along with the last strike? I DO!

    Today in Harrisburg, Pa, they had a slow moving convoy ( the news reports say about 100 trucks going about 40MPH) go into down town at rush hour. Do you think the commuters are with us after that?

    Bob, Alan, Linda, Ed, honestly we are all working for the same objective. Just different ways. The problem is no one is willing to give or take to agree to do it one way, and get the News Media to help out with the cause. The way to solve this is to get national media coverage. And to get the everyday public behind US….

    In my campaign for President I can’t get the media or even you to take me seriously. So I just keep working the best I can. I want to get to Washington to try to make the required changes. But someone has to help me, help the people.

    Anywhere from 10 to 25 of us independent and third party candidates are going to Cincinnati for a convention style debate this weekend the 5Th and 6Th. To get together and try to advance our goals. It’s a long hard road that won’t be solved over night. And I agree with Alan it won’t get solved with a limited strike.

    Bob I have used that same saying for decades since my Dad told me “that we truly are either part of the solution or part of the problem”.

    GOD bless you one and all and drive safe,

    John Bootie

    Comment by John Bootie | March 31, 2008

34. Professional drivers are asking American Citizens to participate with us in the “National Shut-Down”

    This is an issue effecting all of us and we MUST take a stand NOW. Our government IS a major contributing factor in the outrageous price of fuel, and the struggle American citizens are experiencing making ends meet. We must take this action to get their attention. All other avenues has only fallen on deaf ears - our government is ignoring the will, and needs, of the American people.

    In The Last Year
    (63,000 Jobs Lost)
    (2 Million American Citizens Lose Their Homes)
    (28 Million American Citizens Projected To Be On Food Stamp Programs)

    Our government officials are eating good dinners, are living in beautiful homes, are driving brand new vehicles and are collecting large salaries…on the American Citizen’s dollar. It’s time to take our country back.

    STAND UP, SPEAK OUT OR GO BROKE!!!

    http://www.theamericandriver.com/files/TruckersAndCitizensUnited.html
    http://www.uscattlehaulers.com
    http://www.thetruckingindustry.net/strike.html
    http://www.truckdriversunited.com/truck_stop_talk.htm
    http://www.thetruckersvoice.net/

    Comment by Frederick (SilverSurfer) Schaffner | April 1, 2008

35. HI they call me witchypooh and I have been out on the road with alot of the drivers and met a lot of people . I belive that we as truckers and truckers wives should stand behind what ever decssion is made as to strike or not. But rember we are the ones that makes the tp go around. but what ever the drivers want to do I will give them my full support;

    Thanks WITCHYPOOH MILE HIGH

    Comment by cindy | June 9, 2008

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