Rumors of a truck strike???

[mikeschn]

This is not like me... two off topic threads in one week... but I have to ask;

Has anyone else heard rumors of a truck strike? Do I need to go and stock up on food?

Mike...

[prohandyman]

In the news today - they say that the truckers will drive slow during rush hour this week, and maybe park them for a few hours Tuesday. Not a full blown strike - but that's the media's version!

[Wimperdink]

If you have XM radio, The Rolleye James show talks about this almost nightly. Yes they are talking about a slowdown but not an out and out strike. I think its been agreed that a strike would have to much effect on the economy.

[Mike C.]

Mike,

Are you thinking maybe this truck strike?

Shutting down April 1st, for 3 days, mostly independents.

http://www.myfoxorlando.com/myfox/pages ... 1.1&sflg=1

[mikeschn]

Okay, sounds like it's pretty much a non-event.

Mike...

[elmo]

You would never get enough drivers on board to cause a difference, besides not a lot of independents out there that can afford to do it at this point or even enough to put a dent in things. Kind of like stop buying gas for a day idea to drop prices.

[Bobgorilla]

When I drove over the road this was a constant rumor. Every few weeks someone would set a new date where all drivers would park and it never happened. I didn't know anyone then that took it seriously. Of course this idea then was for better pay and conditions and not survival, like it might be thought of now.

[Alphacarina]

We really need a good truck strike . . . . so we can get back to shipping things by rail like we used to. There's a railroad commercial airing now which talks about the amount of cargo a train can move on a gallon of fuel - I don't recall the particulars, but it's 50 times or more cargo per mile than a truck can do

In much of Europe (where most things ARE shipped by rail) they have special permits so trucks can drive on the roads on the weekends . . . . but the permits are so expensive that very few trucks opt to move on Saturdays and Sundays . . . . when the majority of the public are on the roads

Really works out like a charm - We've needed something like that here for . . . . ever!

Don

[sledge]

I was the manager of a Truck Stop shop on Interstate 81 for 13 years , 1976 to 1989 . and back in the mid 80's there was a trucker strike for about a week. I could never tell any shortage on anything anywhere ..... But, I did see a lot of Broke and unemployed truck drivers. , there was 2 trucks left on our lot for a longtime, the drivers just left them and it took the bank a longtime to find them. at that time I'd say fuel was about $1.50 a gallon here , so.......... at $4.00 , can't be good now.

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Just saw a notice from a local eatery, saying their prices are going up because they have had an increase in costs of $7,000.00 per month for supplies being trucked to them...

[mandy]

Over Her in ABQ the independent truck drivers are picketing for a dollar more a mile to cover gas prices. It seems that they are the ones taking the brunt of the gas increase not the company. So how is it that they keep raising prices if it's not going to the truckers for gas? It's not a strike yet but it might go that way here anyway.

Laters
Mandy

[Alphacarina]

Over Her in ABQ the independent truck drivers are picketing for a dollar more a mile to cover gas prices. It seems that they are the ones taking the brunt of the gas increase not the company

An extra $1 per mile?

A typical semi gets 8 to 10 MPG, so the difference between $2 diesel and $4 diesel is 25 cents per mile . . . . not a dollar

Don

[Kevin A]

Over Her in ABQ the independent truck drivers are picketing for a dollar more a mile to cover gas prices. It seems that they are the ones taking the brunt of the gas increase not the company

An extra $1 per mile?

A typical semi gets 8 to 10 MPG, so the difference between $2 diesel and $4 diesel is 25 cents per mile . . . . not a dollar

Don

You're a bit conservative on the fuel mileage, many of the older trucks averaged between 3-5 MPG. Seems the newer trucks are getting on average 6 MPG.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_typic ... he_highway

[Alphacarina]

You can find all sorts of numbers

I found this (also on wiki) "I get 9.20 miles per gallon empty and average 6.75 to 7 miles per gallon loaded to 80,000 lbs. This is very good for a semi."

Not all trucks are full and even when they are, not all are carrying 80,000 pounds

Don

[caseydog]

I'm wondering why Diesel is so much more than gasoline, right now.

It could be a supply and demand issue, but why now.

If I bought into conspiracy theories, I'd think that the Oil Barons and GM-Ford-Cryco want to keep those furrin' diesels cars from catching on by taking away the cost advantage. God forbid the oil companies should have to invest in refining capacity for diesel, or that GM-Ford-Cryco should have to create new products.

It is funny that the price of diesel is just high enough to wipe out the efficiency advantage of diesel engines.

Like the saying goes, if you want to know the truth, follow the money.

CD