High Fuel Prices Drive Truckers To Protest

(CBS/AP)  As top oil executives were trying to deflect lawmakers' criticism about their record profits in comparison to sky-high prices at the pump Tuesday, independent truckers across the country slowed to a crawl or pulled their rigs off the road to protest fuel costs.

Some truckers, on CB radios and trucking Web sites, had called for a strike Tuesday to protest the high cost of diesel fuel, saying the action might pressure President Bush to stabilize prices by using the nation's oil reserves. But the protests were scattered because major trucking companies were not on board and there did not appear to be any central coordination.

On New Jersey's Turnpike, southbound rigs "as far as the eye can see" were moving at about 20 mph near Newark, said Turnpike Authority spokesman Joe Orlando. Other truckers had gathered at a service area near Newark chanting and protesting.

Outside Chicago, three truck drivers were ticketed for impeding traffic on Interstate 55, driving three abreast at low speeds, said Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Luis Gutierrez.

Near Florida's Port of Tampa, more than 50 tractor-trailer rigs sat idle as their drivers demanded that contractors pay them more to cover their fuel and other costs.

"We can no longer haul their stuff for what they're paying," said David Santiago, 35, a trucker for the past 17 years.

Santiago, like many of the more than 50 truckers gathered on a side street near the Port of Tampa, said he can't support his family on what he makes. "If it wasn't for my wife, we would have been bankrupt already," he said.

Some other truckers, however, didn't join the protests, saying they doubted a strike or mass demonstration would be effective because trucking companies are not on board and there is no central coordination.

"The oil company is the boss, what are we going to be able to do about it?" said Charles Rotenbarger, 49, a trucker from Columbus, Ohio, who was at a truck stop at Baldwin, Fla., about 20 miles west of Jacksonville. "The whole world economy is going to be controlled by the oil companies. There's nothing we can do about it."

Jimmy Lowry, 51, of St. Petersburg, Fla., and others said it costs about $1 a mile to drive one of the big rigs, although some companies are offering as little as 87 cents a mile. Diesel cost $4.03 a gallon at the Baldwin truck stop.

Gas prices may be sitting near record levels, but the owners of local gas stations are struggling.

Profit margins on gasoline sales are razor thin. Indeed, some gas stations are losing money on credit card sales, once the fees are factored in.

How do they stay in business? More and more a gas station's bread and butter is, well, bread and butter - and the coffee and candy bars it sells in its convenience store. Most of these items generate much higher profits than gas.

"Gasoline is a relatively low margin part of what we do," said Jay Ricker, president of Ricker Oil Co. in Anderson, Ind.

Increasingly, a station owner's biggest challenge is convincing drivers to step inside the store after they gas up.

"It's all about trying to sell other things," said Scott Hartman, president and chief executive of Rutter's Farm Stores, a York, Pa., company that owns and operates 51 gas stations.

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[swwils]

When the truckers go on strike who will fill up the stores the oil executives.

[sjashby1]

the problem is that most truckers broker loads to get back to there own customer freight the broker is collecting fuel surcharge on his freight from there customer but not passing that through to the trucker to help him offset the cost of fuel.

let''s strike against the broker that isnt doing fair buisness!!

[truckersgirl]

My man is out on the road 6wks at a time trying to make a living for his family. It is far from being a glorious lifestyle but when trucking gets in your blood you want to be part of that road. My father did it for 42 yrs and things were so much different back then. Back before government deregulated the trucking industry a trucker could make a good living driving truck. Now the brokers are selling loads for less than what it takes to fuel up a truck. These guys are not out there running for free. We have a friend who''s company just laid off all their drivers and closed their doors because he can not afford to pay the high fuel prices. When is enough going to be enough? I am tired of big government helping out everyone else but this country. We need to get these prices lower and tell the oil industry we have had enough. Alternative fuel is years away...that is not going to help us now.

[candy-apple]

Posted by vegasresiden at 06:01 PM : Apr 01, 2008

Not all truck drivers are alike. Most of them that I know would have stopped and helped the couple on the side of the road. So don''t throw them all inone pile.

In spite of what some people like to believe, independent truck-drivers are far from being rich. The overhead alone is usually enough to keep you broke. One really has to love that type of work. My husband did it for ten years. Loved to travel, hated being away from home. Compromise is a B***h when it comes to paying the bills. The next time you see a truck-driver (male or female) think about the time they spend on the road away from their family and frineds so that your family and friends can have the everyday enjoyments of life. The only thing in your home that doesn''t come by way of a trucker is your wife and kids!!

[jortu]

Good for you !! and thank you !!
Just think of the impact that would be made if this could be done in an organized fashion with every trucking company participating! A major slow down in deivery of product to some of the larger retailers in the nation would perhaps put enough a dent in the economy to pressure responsible parties to take a closer look at the current unjustifiable price of gas.

[urlnts]

BILLIONS and BILLIONS in PROFITS and these war profiteers get more tax breaks from CONGRESS,save the crying for the oil companies!

[catlady1412]

If the gas stations want us to go inside, post the MILK prices outside! I have heard they sell it cheaper than the grocery stores.

But I don''t understand one thing: How is taking away the tax breaks going to lower the gas prices? Wouldn''t the oil companies just jack up the price to cover that too? I would like to understand this better!

[j-whitman]

dumbneasy,,,, Slower speed limits, would be the quickest solution

[dumbneasy-2009]

Well, J. Whitman, I get what you''re saying, but understand, the fattest cats at the trough is government. Not only is government the fat cat, but it is that same Congress who refuses to enact a sound energy policy. Can you say Anwar? Can you say Continental Shelf? can you say Gulf? Can you say Off the Pacific coast?

Alternative energy is years away and while it all sounds good, it isn''t really practical for the moment.

The public doesn''t need any more costs passed its way. Our families are taking it in the shorts already. And we certainly don''t need more finger pointing by Congress....unless they''re standing in front of mirrors.

[l8c6]

blackwater66

That''s "black gold" "Texas tea". It''s always been a valuable commodity to those who control it.