American Truckers At War

The New Conservative Underground - Professional, Polite, Prepared to Kill

Operation Call Washington: Responses

I am in the process of trying to reach our Arkansas representatives.  According to Rep. Mike Ross’ (D-AR) office, he has made “no formal public statement” on the issue of high fuel prices on the American trucking industry, but they will “get me a letter” (which usually arrive two months after I made my phone calls). 

Congressman Mike Ross

Washington
314 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
1-800-223-2220
(202) 225-1314 Fax
El Dorado
Union County Courthouse
Suite 406
101 North Washington Street
El Dorado, AR 71730
(870) 881-0681
(870) 881-0683 Fax

Senator Mark Pryor’s (D-AR) office was more responsive.  I was told Senator Pryor is well aware of the problems facing the trucking industry and he has “several people” working on solutions.  I made sure to give him ours - reduce/completely suspend fuel taxes, increase domestic drilling, use domestic oil we do drill for our county - cease selling our oil to other countries while importing oil for our use from terrorist supporting nations.  I asked for a call back from Senator Pryor, stating that we believe our representatives need to be talking to us not pundits and “advisors”.  I doubt I’ll get that call…

Senator Mark Pryor -

Little Rock Office
The River Market
500 Clinton Ave
Suite 401
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 324-6336
Fax: (501) 324-5320

Toll Free from AR:
(877) 259-9602

Washington, D.C. Office
255 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2353
Fax: (202) 228-0908

Anxiously awaiting a call back from Senator Blanche Lincoln’s (D-AR) office….  We’ll be calling every day until we get some answers.  Remember, when you call your reps, be professional and polite.

Senator Blanche Lincoln


Washington D.C. Office
355 Dirksen Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510-0404
Phone: (202)224-4843
Fax: (202)228-1371
Little Rock Office
912 West Fourth Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 375-2993 or toll free 1-800-352-9364
Fax: (501) 375-7064

Dumas Office
101 East Waterman
Dumas, AR 71693
Phone: (870)382-1023
Fax: (870)382-1026
Community Affairs Specialist: Raymond Fraizer

Jonesboro Office
Federal Building
615 South Main Street
Suite 315
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Phone: (870) 910-6896
Fax: (870)910-6898
Community Affairs Specialist: Roger Fisher

Fayetteville Office
4 South College Avenue
Suite 205
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Phone: (479) 251-1224
Fax: (479)251-1410
Community Affairs Specialist: John Hicks
Texarkana Office
Miller County Courthouse
400 Laurel Street
Suite 101
Texarkana, AR 71854
Phone: (870) 774-3106
Fax: (870) 774-7627
Community Affairs Specialist:Ed French

What did your reps say?

RTaylor

April 1, 2008 Posted by rtaylor83305 | trucking | , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Truckers boycott high fuel prices

Indianapolis - Truckers are threatening to pull over Tuesday and park for the day. They hope a nationwide truckers strike will get the attention of lawmakers and oil companies.

Monday night at midnight, trucker drivers say they will turn off the engine and sit.

“It will be mainly the owner operators and the people that can afford to do it without going broke the next day,” said trucker Ira Price.

An effective strike could hurt grocery stores with empty shelves and gas stations running dry. Most everything we depend on will be sitting in trucks instead of on shelves.  More from WTHR

If shelves are empty, someone will have to ask “why?”  For too long, we’ve been taken for granted and it’s time people - Washington in particular - realizes it’s not Bear Stearns and the airlines who bring the toilet paper and milk to the store.  It’s the American trucking industry and we need some help out here. 

As for us, we’re sitting at ATAW Central Command.  Mark is busy working in the shop and I’ll start making our calls this morning.  Don’t forget - even if you aren’t shut down for the day - take a few minutes to call your representatives and voice your concerns over the fuel issue.  A break in fuel taxes will help immediately.  No need for a long, drawn out discussion over who gets how much.  Just cut the fuel taxes across the board - period..  It’s a start. 

RTaylor

April 1, 2008 Posted by rtaylor83305 | economy, trucking | , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mile-high tower: Saudi prince promises £5bn desert spire TWICE as tall as nearest rival being built

On a clear day, the view from the top will take in the Middle East, North Africa and the Indian Ocean - providing you’ve a head for heights.Plans for a mile-high tower in the Saudi Arabian desert have been unveiled by the billionaire owner of London’s Savoy Hotel.

At 5,250ft, the £5billion project, masterminded by two British engineering consultancies, will be twice as high as its nearest rivals, skyscrapers under construction in Dubai and Kuwait, and almost seven times as high as the Canary Wharf tower in London’s Docklands.  More from The Daily Mail

I suppose he can do whatever he wants with his money.  However, with skyhigh fuel prices, the refusal for domestic drilling and folks going broke just to fill their tanks, it is rather sickening………

April 1, 2008 Posted by rtaylor83305 | trucking | , , , | 1 Comment

At Up to $1,200 a Fill-Up, Truckers to Strike Over Record Diesel Prices

MEDFORD, Ore. —  Some independent U.S. truckers are planning to stop hauling freight on April 1 in protest of record-high diesel prices that are cutting into profit margins.

Independent truckers, who constitute 90 percent of the nation’s trucking fleet, are caught paying the high diesel price without any increase in their rates, according to a trade organization.

“Diesel used to be 30 to 40 cents cheaper than regular gasoline; now it’s 30 to 40 cents more,” said independent truck driver Gordon Gravely, of Helena, Mont., who stopped at the Phoenix Petro Truck Stop on his way to Roseburg, Oregon.  More from FoxNews

At least the concerns of the American trucker are getting through to the mainstream media - now to make our voices heard in Washington…  There isn’t much more that needs to be said here.  I’ll be calling Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) and Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR) tomorrow, as well as Gov. Beebe (D-AR)….

RTaylor

April 1, 2008 Posted by rtaylor83305 | economy, trucking | , , | 2 Comments

Government searches for ways to help airline

Gov. Linda Lingle, while expressing sympathy for Aloha Airlines workers, announced a plan yesterday to fight the carrier’s intended shutdown of passenger service.

Lingle said the state would ask the federal Bankruptcy Court not to permit the shutdown until the airline has shown it has exhausted all avenues for staying in business. The state will also seek to have Aloha provide financial information to determine if the shutdown is truly necessary.

“We are deeply disappointed that Aloha Airlines has made the decision to cease operations of their interisland and trans-Pacific passenger flights,” Lingle said in a message posted on her Web site. “Our main concerns are threefold: first and foremost the 1,900 employees and their families, the need for continued air service for our residents and visitors, and protection of the state’s long-term fiscal and economic interests.”  More from the Star Bulletin

Perhaps if our representatives had as much concern for the trucking industry, we would not been talking about shutdowns.  Our fellow truckers would not be losing their rigs because the fuel bill is increasing almost daily.  Yes - let’s bail out the airlines so vacationers can spend a few days at the beach, but let’s ignore the truckers that deliver life’s necessities….  Don’t forget to call your Federal and state reps tomorrow and let them know the American trucker needs their attention now - not tomorrow - with realistic, common sense solutions to keeping the trucks rolling.

Reduce fuel taxes, increase domestic drilling to name just a few.  If Washington will keep an airline from shutting down, there is NO EXCUSE why they cannot give the American trucking industry a break!

RTaylor

April 1, 2008 Posted by rtaylor83305 | Uncategorized | , , , | 1 Comment

Fewer Trucks on the Road Tomorrow?

The speculative chatter has been mounting over the Internet and at truck stops throughout the U.S. about an impending trucker shutdown on April 1, 2008 — on April Fools’ Day.

The issue for truckers, as claimed in media reports and on discussion boards and elsewhere, is primarily the upward spiral in the cost of diesel fuel, which has the effect of substantially reducing their income. Owner-operators in many cases are not making enough profit to pay the costs of operating their vehicles.

Nationwide, diesel is currently averaging $3.989 per gallon and has gone up 70.9 cents in the last five weeks — all of which have been record-breaking — according to the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Association (EIA). In some parts of the U.S. diesel is already exceeding the $4 per gallon mark.  More from ThomasNet

April 1, 2008 Posted by rtaylor83305 | economy, trucking | , , | No Comments