The dreaded Shut Down Option!

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Did the shutdown work? Will more shutdowns lower fuel prices?

With enough oil in Alaska alone to supply America for the next 200 years, why are we buying oil from foreign countries, and why does it seem that all the strikes and shutdowns NOT force fuel prices down?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock all year, you’ve at least heard about the shutdowns and protests that have taken place by Truckers since April 2008 in an effort to get the government to do something about the rising cost of fuel in the USA.

While these actions did get some media attention, the attention quickly faded in favor of other topics, and if anyone hasn’t noticed, fuel prices at the pump have continued to rise, both for diesel and gasoline.

The USA isn’t alone in this crisis. Truckers in European countries have been protesting as well, but while we were able to gather a small handful of Truckers, they were able to gain the support of 70,000 Truckers, but their fuel prices didn’t come down either.

Why not? Because oil is a publicly traded commodity, and like anything else, the higher the demand for a product, the higher the price.

Truckers aren’t the only ones that have been trying to fight back. People have been boycotting Exxon gas stations around the country, but the majority of Truckers buy there fuel at large chains like Pilot, Flying J, Petro, TA, Loves, and other large truck stops that don’t have the name Exxon on their pumps, and the majority of Truckers are company drivers, so they have to buy their fuel where their company tells them to.

So are Trucker shutdowns the answer to getting lower fuel prices? Apparently not, especially here in the USA where we can’t even get close to getting the majority of Truckers to join together.

I’ve suggested the Truckers organize and agree on state-by-state fuel boycotts to get the attention of the individual state politicians, and get them to listen and work with us in putting pressure on the federal government, but this method will take time, and most drivers oppose it because they want to see an immediate change nationwide rather than taking smaller steps. Other opponents have argued that this will disrupt the economy, but these opponents fail to realize that if there ever was a successful nationwide Truckers shutdown, in order for the shutdown to last long enough to get the attention and involvement of the federal government, the impact on the economy could be devastating. Remember, when negotiating with the federal government, changes don’t happen overnight. Our government isn’t set up to allow changes to take place quickly. Getting a bill into law, or any other changes, takes months, and even years. Most Truckers aren’t willing to wait this long for changes, and shutting Trucks down long enough for these changes to take place would throw this country into a depression the likes of which have never been seen before.

Could you imagine the economic impact if every truck on the road actually did shut down for a month? Every business nationwide would be closed. There would be no food on the shelves of the grocery stores, no gas, no diesel, no lumber, nails or other construction materials, no clothes or appliances, or anything else being delivered.

For those that say we could get what we need from trains, remember that while trains may deliver massive amounts of goods to distribution centers, Trucks transport those goods to the retail and wholesale outlets.

Even if we increase our research in alternative fuels, or the government did agree to allow drilling for oil in ANWR or elsewhere in the US, that oil has to be refined, and there will be a major impact on the loss of value of the US dollar in the foreign market. Even if we accept that fact and the consequences involved, eliminating our dependency on foreign oil isn’t going to happen in a few weeks either. If it ever happens, it’s going to take years.

So what is the quick answer to getting the fuel prices down to a reasonable level? I don’t think there is one. Right now we’re paying over $4.00 a gallon for both gas and diesel, and people are still driving. They have to. While a lot of people may be reducing the amount of unnecessary driving they do, everyone has to get back and forth to work and to the grocery store. Even if the prices continue to rise, we will adjust. People will continue to drive, busses will continue to roll, and trucks will continue to deliver goods. The only thing that is going to happen is that many blue collar workers might start demanding raises at their workplace, large trucking companies start demanding higher rates or charging higher fuel surcharges, and the cost of living will increase as all of these costs are passed on to the consumer in the retail and wholesale market.

The only way we are going to make any changes in this country is if people start working together in their communities to form small groups dedicated to government reform, and these small groups organize and begin to work together to create an agenda that will put pressure on the elected officials on local, state and federal levels.

Our country is looking at a ten trillion dollar deficit. I didn’t use zeros because I’m not even sure how many zeros are in a trillion, and to be honest, ten trillion dollars is an amount of money I can’t even comprehend. I couldn’t begin to guess how many truckloads of hundred dollar bills it would take to reach a trillion dollars, let alone ten trillion.

This is a Trucking site, and when I started it, I focused on changing legislation that affected the Trucking industry, not the cost of fuel, but our current economic crisis has forced me to address this issue, and it affects everyone, not just Truckers.

I have my own opinions about what changes need to be made, but some consider me a radical and have opposing opinions. I have been trying to get Truckers to get organized for over twenty years now without any success, so I wouldn’t know where to begin when it comes to starting an organization of this magnitude. I know there are a lot of special interest groups already in place that charge a membership fee and focus on the Owner Operator, but it’s going to take a lot more than just getting Owner Operators organized to make any kind of positive change. In fact, a group that only focuses on the interests of the Owner Operator and ignores not only the Company Truck Driver, but the impact on the American public in general could have more of a negative impact on our economy, and that’s not what I want. I don’t want to see diesel prices or diesel fuel tax brought down if it means an increase in gasoline prices to recoup the loss in revenue. I don’t want to see an increase in freight rates unless there are provisions in place to prevent the cost from being passed on in an increase in the cost of living.

I don’t have all the answers, and the ones I do have are apparently too extreme for many people to accept, so all I know is unless the American people start working together within their own communities and start coming together on a national level to force a complete reform in our government, we could be in for a major financial crises in the next few years.

I guess now it’s up to the individuals that take the time to read this to decide whether or not they want to surf the web for answers, or start coming up with the answers on their own.

It’s up to you America.

The following are comments or excerpts that people have written making suggestions about what we can do now following the April strike/slowdown/rallies. If you feel any of these ideas are feasible, then start talking to your neighbors and coworkers to start making these changes take place in your community, and then hopefully create a movement that will spread nationwide.

I am suggesting that we all go with the anonymous flyer and shut down the 28,29, and 30th or for the rest of the week for that matter! A lot of truck drivers and citizens will be in DC on the 28th. The MOMENTUM will be strong! I believe that would be the best time to show them we are not joking!

I'm an independent documentary filmmaker and organizer. In light of the perpetual war in Iraq a shutdown is absolutely necessary. We need to stop the government at the wheels of production! I support you in all of your efforts. Let me know how I can help.

I have been thinking about the gas problem a lot, so since the strike/sit out didn't help much. Instead of saying not to buy gas or to park your trucks (which no one can really afford) Why not force the gas stations to start a gas war? this can be done with all drivers and not just truckers. Why not list a few gas stations to not buy gas from. This will force them to lower there prices. If we do this several times with several different stations they are going to have no chose but to start gas wars in prices. and in order to get our business back they will have to lower the prices.

I live in Ontario CA an I was wondering because the fuel prices are just as high here to, can Canadian drivers get on board?
Reply: If anyone has friends or relatives living in Canada, or you are a Canadian reading this, then by all means start forming organizations in Canada and use this website or any other means of communication to work together with the U.S. on this issue.

Someone told me that on fox news one of the analyst or think tanks they had on there called all of the truckers that were on strike blue collar terrorists... maybe since it's an election year we should write someone in on the ballots that we can all agree on and not vote for a single one of them. You know maybe someone like blue collar that can maybe identify with the "blue collar terrorist"

I do think this [the shutdown] needs to be repeated... only we need to set up dates - bridge the major holidays.
May 1 for Memorial Day. July 1 for Independence Day. Sept 1 for Labor Day.
Set up events across the country. Include the general public. Everyone who drives or owns a car , pickup , motorcycle should be involved.

I think the key to getting what we want is to have more participation. I think it would be much easier to get widespread solidarity if you made it easy for everyone to participate. My idea is to have a shutdown for only one hour on May 1st at high noon on the shoulder of any major highway. Anyone and everyone can participate in this sort of shutdown and nobody has to worry about getting fired, losing money etc. If you could get 80 to 90% of the trucks on the road to pull to the shoulder and shutdown, it would get more attention than a few hundred trucks driving to some destination or just parking in a truck stop somewhere. ALSO, most drivers have cell phones so we could use them to call the local media wherever you are and tell them there's something going on because all the trucks are sitting on the side of the road. We could make their switchboards go CRAZY with calls. Another idea is the rolling billboard that the side of a truck is.. get some large sheet paper and write your grievances in big letters and tape it to the side of the truck. That way when the media helicopters go over (which they will if we get enough participation) then our message will be broadcast on every station coast to coast. I think the place to start is to create solidarity. Once you get most truckers in on the deal and we all see how many of us there really are, I think even the four wheelers might join us because they're sick of these ridiculous fuel prices too. After shutting down for 1 hour, make a promise that next time it will be for 1 day and it will keep increasing until someone starts listening! Anyway, that's my plan.

I want to address something that I feel some may be overlooking. This is not just about Truckers, it's about everyone here in this country that owns a vehicle! I support the truckers 100% as I stated in my other posts. BUT, the truckers can't do this by themselves. They need everyone's support and to get on board. If everyone on this forum would spread the word, stop buying gas, write your congressman, and your local news agencies that's a start. I would be for a rally on Washington.

I live in Oregon where gas an diesel prices are outrageous. and I support the strike... I think we should have a national gas out day. where nobody buys gas, that will have a impact on gas companies.

I want to make an impact; however, I can't do it on my own.... I have an idea, please give me your opinion.
I suggested to other drivers in El Paso, Texas that we should boycott (1) gas station a day. I believe it's impossible to boycott all gas stations in one day. If possible & the word was spread thru all the states, do you think if everyone did not buy gas from (1) particular gas station one day & then another the next day, & another gas the day after that.

I was talking with a guy that came up with a idea on a way we might could help on getting the fuel price brought down without striking and without shutting down. I dunno alot about this but what he said seemed to make a little since. He stated that if everyone would pick one company to stop buying fuel from all together that after a while of not having any sales they would have to drop their price which would in turn cause the other companies to have to drop their price to be able to compete. this way we could all keep working by buying fuel from a different company. I dunno if this would work but let me know what you think.

I put signs in front of our office in support of the truckers. I see where several non-truckers are asking what they can do. You can call the Capital Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and tell them your zip code and ask to speak to your senators. You will talk to one of their aids. Tell them that you expect our elected officials to do something about the high cost of fuel or you will remember their lack of help in the next election. If you call and spread the word to your friends and relatives, and then they call, when the switchboards are jammed with angry voters, they will be forced to do something. It is up to everyone, not just the truckers to make their voices heard.

I will Do Anything to Help this Cause That I Possibly Can. I Feel that we need to start doing thing's to Raise Money to Help this Cause, I Have A Terminal setting Empty Here in Lexington NC & I'm willing to Help. What can I Do to Help? Can We Sale Patches for Coat's & Jackets/ Stickers for windows & Bumpers, What Can we DO?

I really wish there was a way to shut down the fuel/gas tankers because if we can't buy fuel the we can't roll.

If truckers would shut down Washington, DC for 1 day . that would show the government what trucking is all about. nothing in & nothing out.

I think the state by state is a good idea, however maybe all the trucks that can should pick a day for ALL of them the drive downtown DC. If hundreds or thousands of trucks show up in DC at once I'm sure that will wake up the government!!

You have my support!! I wish the whole country would stand up and fight!! I would be willing to give up a few days of pay and not commute to work to try to get this gas regulated

I've heard many suggestions for all drivers to do so, including not buying fuel on certain days, etc. This will not work, as the oil companies know we will just buy the next day.
The only viable option I've heard, is to stop buying fuel from one company. The best choice is Exxon-Mobile, since they continue to brag about their "record breaking" profits.
Reply: Remember that to do this, we have to identify all of the stations that are getting diesel and gas from Exxon-Mobile. There are only five companies now that own all of the oil refineries. Many stations purchase their fuel from different suppliers, including Exxon-Mobile, but aren't Exxon stations.

Stop all deliveries going out off refineries to gas stations. This was done in Canada gas stations had no gas this seem to be a better way than disrupting traffic

The unscrupulous brokers and agents out there are stealing and cheating us out of our due. Drivers need to contact their Congress People and Senators to push legislation to ensure we get our due. The need to be prodded to pass laws taking oil off the free market and regulate the price. They already regulate 90% of our industry, why not something that would actually help us?

I think the brokers are a lot of the problems with independent drivers not making any money. They get a good rate and try to move for a cheap rate they are making $500 to $800 off some of their loads. I think they should only be able to take 10% that would stop a lot of this.

I am showing my respect and support by putting a sign on my car ( that while this is going on is only driven 18 mls per day), telling all who will read it to eat next month we have to support our drivers not just today, but next yr and so on. If more people that are not drivers would make signs for their vehicles or their front lawn to show everyone we support y'all, might help some. Cant hurt. After all it is not just y'alls future here nor is it just y'alls responsibility, it is everyone's.

From: a freight forwarder. Truckers are targeting the wrong people, All trucking companies charge a 20%-27% fuel surcharge which the drivers are not seeing. Last I checked drivers are getting 2-5% fuel surcharge, which which covers a little more than the cost of a coffee at a truck stop that's an additional +20% profit for the companies and brokers.

From: Just A Friendly Broker. To ALL the truckers out there, I salute you ALL for a job well done. If it weren't for ALL of you, America and the world would not have food, clothing, furniture and any other product. So again, I salute you ALL for a job well done.
As a broker, please DO NOT get upset with ALL the good paying brokers out there. It is the brokers that want to keep all the money that is causing lower rates for carriers.
Not only if the truckers stick together, but if ALL us brokers join forces also and just say no to the shippers that want to pay cheap rates, we would all benefit from it.

As opposed to boycotting fuel, would it be at all helpful to start boycotting ancillary products that are sold at gas stations and truck stops, such as soda, cigarettes, chewing gum, fast food?
Those items are really where stations and travel stops make the biggest amount of their profit, while fuel is almost a break-even for them. Especially Diesel.
This is a way that not only you as a trucker can participate, but your families could boycott as well.
As a consumer I have to purchase fuel to get to work, but I don't need the pack of gum, cup of coffee or anything else my local Chevron or Exxon has to sell, so I don't purchase it there in support of the truckers. If truckers are not profiting, why should my local gas station?
When the service stations and truck stops start losing money because they are not making the profits they are used to, then maybe they will put some pressure on the distributors of fuel, who can put pressure on the gas companies. Sort of a hit them where they live theory.
Not sure it will work, but if so, everybody who purchases gasoline could stand up for the Independent Trucker by refusing to help their local gas station profit off the ancillary item sales.
I hope that makes sense. :)

We should also urge the government to increase the production of oil shale to usable oil from the Green River Formation located in Wyoming, Colorado and Utah. With over 1.7 trillion barrels of oil out there, it's time for us to tell OPEC to drop their prices to $10 a barrel or force them into bankruptcy by not buying their oil.
It takes 2-3 years to heat oil shale to a liquid state. This started on a small scale in 2005. It needs to be increased so that we are no longer dependent on OPEC.

Let's start digging in ANWAR. The impact in size of this desolate iceberg is minimal. Compare it to taking a quarter and placing it on the corner of a 12 foot by 20 foot area rug. I care about the environment, as a farmer my livelihood depends on it. Four dollar plus a gallon for diesel means 3 dollar a loaf of bread. It is that simple. An old racing buddy is a geologist for Shell oil. A massive oil shale is in the Colorado region. More than most middle eastern countries! Am I the only one who is fed up?!

I have found a product... that uses used fryer oil, without the time and hazardous chemicals of traditional biodiesel, you use all the oil. We should encourage the restaurants you haul to to save, or donate their used oil which would reduce what we use now in petrodiesel. This process can be mixed on the spot, and put right into the tank.