A strike - the worst thing we can do, and what we SHOULD do.

[BigDiesel]

If the trucking industry and the driving public changed their driving habits to the goal of reducing comsumption, we could easily reduce our nation wide fuel use by 15 to 35%!
Oil would drop like a rock! The oil companies would be taking a bath in red ink for a change instead of the little guy!All it would take is every body on the same page.

No, oil will NEVER drop like a rock. OUR expenses WILL.

OPEC (and the rest of the germs, including OUR domestic terrorist-like oil companies) will C-U-T production to HOLD current prices (these terrorist arabs LOVE $100+/barrell figures!).

No, we will NEVER B on 'the same page,' too many of us R 2 dumb to know what we're doing.

It is estimated that if ALL the money in the world were gathered and spread out evenly, the ones who have it now would eventually get it back and the ones that don't have any 'now' would eventually have none.

Basic economics.

God Bless

Is this a relative of IE2006 ?????

[no_worries]

Actually, it's not in OPEC's best interest to have $100/barrel oil. The Saudi's, up until the last year or two, had been doing their best to keep oil below $60/barrel. Unfortunately, we've gotten to the point where they are pumping near capacity and no longer have the same control over the market they once did. OPEC's real influence over the oil market is not what it used to be. As far as why it's not in their interest to have $100 oil...THAT'S simple economics; not the nonsense cited earlier

[rgordon212]

I know around here, everyone is talking about a 1 hour HAULT if you will. On April 2nd, from 12pm-1pm they want all the trucks to shut-down for just 1 hour. It is not going to make a difference to any fuel or freight, but is supposed to show the world that we CAN ban together if need be, and are willing.

If you cant get 25-30% to stop for an hour, you wont get them to stop for any longer is my though, so like most people and O/O I know, we are going to stop for 1 hour, and SHUT OFF the truck, what the hell, it's only 1 hour, what's it really gonna hurt to try???

[rgordon212]

Actually, it's not in OPEC's best interest to have $100/barrel oil. The Saudi's, up until the last year or two, had been doing their best to keep oil below $60/barrel. Unfortunately, we've gotten to the point where they are pumping near capacity and no longer have the same control over the market they once did. OPEC's real influence over the oil market is not what it used to be. As far as why it's not in their interest to have $100 oil...THAT'S simple economics; not the nonsense cited earlier

I agree to a point..... what's the point in having $100+ oil when it means LESS will be sold??

But OPEC and the Oil Companies are not really setting the prices, it's just like the savings and loan deboggle, investors are loosing their ***** on the market and are looking for a quick and high profit fix to the issue, so they invest in OIL and it raises the prices. Eventually, the bottom will fall out and it will stop.

We WILL NEVER see $1.50-$2.00 gallon fuel again, but $2.50-$3.00 IS feesiable.

[Twilight Flyer]

It's a Saturday morning and I'm actually working this morning. I picked up the voice messages from last night and there was one from a driver who identified himself as Smith. His message was that we as a company MUST shut down on April 1st for a week to combat high fuel prices. Um, good luck with that request.

As I said before, there isn't going to be a strike and even if there was, a strike would not work. Getting a few hundred truckers to protest in Washington DC will have a much greater effect, but do you think anyone will do it?



Drivers are their own worst enemy. Demanding that companies shut down, threatening to close up interstates, fill the ditches, etc. etc...and you wonder why the 4-wheeling public has such a hefty disdain for drivers. It's truly sad, because it SHOULD be so much better.

[RostyC]

Working on a Saturday? On Easter Weekend?? During a Recession?????????

SLAVEDRIVERS!!!!!!!!! I say!!!

[RostyC]

No amount of protesting or striking will make a difference, I don't think. It's just the economy, it'll get better.
There's lots of people out of work right now in all industries who aren't going to give a hoot about truck owners.

It'll turn around and everyone will be busy again.

[Sonny Pruitt]

I find it funny that independants think once the "weak" are weeded out
The "strong" will have it all to themselves.
As if they are going far far away.
Never to be heard from again

[DaveP]

As I said before, there isn't going to be a strike and even if there was, a strike would not work. Getting a few hundred truckers to protest in Washington DC will have a much greater effect, but do you think anyone will do it?

There's a group in Mid-Georgia (Mostly loggers at this point, I think) that's already shutting trucks down.

Video added...http://www.fox24.com/newsvideo.asp?p...489&video=4125

Also...I've had many folks locally and out on the road the last few weeks (not in the trucking industry whatsoever) who believe a trucker strike would be beneficial and want to know why it hasn't ALREADY happened.

[Twilight Flyer]

who believe a trucker strike would be beneficial

Who is a trucker's strike going to benefit? Who? Serious question.

The answer is NO ONE.

Actually, I take that back. The only thing a strike will accomplish is weeding out some of the weak, nothing more. You'll have guys that are months behind on everything and a sneeze away from losing it all, that will park their trucks for this. Those are the guys that are going to lose, because they won't have anything to come back to. The industry will simply carry on without them.

Ask truckers everywhere, what is the reason they want to strike? Ask a dozen different truckers and you'll get a dozen different reasons. The guy that left the message last night had that many himself. No one is taking anyone seriously about this because there is no leadership, there is no solidarity, and no one is taking the lead on identifying a specific issue and how to combat it. For crying out loud, truckers can't even agree on a date. March 24th! April 1st! April 2nd! April 15th! May 1st! June 1st! July 4th! These are just a few of the dates I've heard drivers mentioning just the last couple weeks and every one of them is saying "oh, it's definitely happening on this date!"

It ain't gonna work, guys...

And the bottom line is that a trucker's strike is going about it all wrong. If your issue is with fuel, take a protest to DC and protest fuel prices. If your issue is with brokers, stop using them. If your issue is with FSC, stop hauling for customers that don't have an adequate FSC. The solutions are easy enough to see and don't involve a mythical strick. Striking is going to do nothing. Period.

want to know why it hasn't ALREADY happened

Because it's talked about 80 times a year, every year, and the worst that happens is a dozen or so trucks park their trucks on the side of the road for an hour and yak on the CB.

It's old and one of the reasons why non-truckers view the industry is badly as they do.

I'm not disagreeing that their are issues and I'm not saying that you should just sit back and take it. But holy schnikes! Do something positive about it for once! Organize it, follow the correct action, follow a leader, and follow through.

[dangwabbit]

Actually for a strike to work.....need to shut down two days before a long weekend and two days after the long weekend.

Next weekend to do this is Memorial Day weekend....would it make an impact....oh yeah! Heck I'm not sure John Q public could handle the two day prior to the weekend.

As far as the strike weeding out the weak....nope it just makes a point is all.

Will there be a strike .... uh nope can't get two of us together to agree on anything....look at this dang board.

Will I ever quit and become a company driver. Hell no....retire first. Can I make it with the fuel prices where they are at....hell yes, consumer is just going to pay more for food. Have you looked at the price of eggs? How about milk?

[rgordon212]

who believe a trucker strike would be beneficial

Who is a trucker's strike going to benefit? Who? Serious question.

The answer is NO ONE.

It will benifit me, casue the week everyone shuts down, I'm gonna charge $8 mile and it WILL get paid no problem, espically if the BIG companies shut down, which they wont cause then they will lose a **** load of business!!!

[Dejanh]

Looks like fuel might be starting a downward trend along with the rest of the commodities so we'll see.

Dollar right now isnt worth a *****, and as long as this trend continues, fuel aint comming down.

trend continued this last week when Fed dropped interest rates again, guess what dropped with them...$$$$$$$....

[crazyfox]

Actually, it's not in OPEC's best interest to have $100/barrel oil. The Saudi's, up until the last year or two, had been doing their best to keep oil below $60/barrel. Unfortunately, we've gotten to the point where they are pumping near capacity and no longer have the same control over the market they once did. OPEC's real influence over the oil market is not what it used to be. As far as why it's not in their interest to have $100 oil...THAT'S simple economics; not the nonsense cited earlier

I agree to a point..... what's the point in having $100+ oil when it means LESS will be sold??

But OPEC and the Oil Companies are not really setting the prices, it's just like the savings and loan deboggle, investors are loosing their ***** on the market and are looking for a quick and high profit fix to the issue, so they invest in OIL and it raises the prices. Eventually, the bottom will fall out and it will stop.

We WILL NEVER see $1.50-$2.00 gallon fuel again, but $2.50-$3.00 IS feesiable.

You will NEVER see fuel at $3.00 a gallon again. (ANYBODY, want to bet?) Once fuel hits, $4.00 a gal, it will NEVER be less than $3.89 a gallon!! I'll bet ANYTHING you want to bet..

[BigDiesel]

Actually, it's not in OPEC's best interest to have $100/barrel oil. The Saudi's, up until the last year or two, had been doing their best to keep oil below $60/barrel. Unfortunately, we've gotten to the point where they are pumping near capacity and no longer have the same control over the market they once did. OPEC's real influence over the oil market is not what it used to be. As far as why it's not in their interest to have $100 oil...THAT'S simple economics; not the nonsense cited earlier

I agree to a point..... what's the point in having $100+ oil when it means LESS will be sold??

But OPEC and the Oil Companies are not really setting the prices, it's just like the savings and loan deboggle, investors are loosing their ***** on the market and are looking for a quick and high profit fix to the issue, so they invest in OIL and it raises the prices. Eventually, the bottom will fall out and it will stop.

We WILL NEVER see $1.50-$2.00 gallon fuel again, but $2.50-$3.00 IS feesiable.

You will NEVER see fuel at $3.00 a gallon again. (ANYBODY, want to bet?) Once fuel hits, $4.00 a gal, it will NEVER be less than $3.89 a gallon!! I'll bet ANYTHING you want to bet..

[no_worries]

Almost every year diesel peaks in May then comes back down until the heating oil season. No reason the think this year will be any different.

I wasn't implying that OPEC didn't want higher oil prices because it would lead to fewer sales. At some level that might happen, but we're nowhere near there, even at $110. Currently, the global appetite is nearly insatiable.

[GMAN]

Current prices have little to do with demand or production but more to do with the futures market and speculators. I have seen diesel prices almost $1/gallon more than gas. Keep in mind that diesel is a byproduct and was once thrown away. There is absolutely NO reason for prices to be so high other than greed and manipulation of the markets.

[no_worries]

Speculation is occurring in the oil markets, relatively little occurs in the gasoline or diesel markets. So while it adds a modest increase, the relative prices of the fuels would remain the same. In other words, if gasoline is $3.20 and diesel $4.00 now, if you take out the speculators you might have $3.00 and $3.80. Lower, but still the same relative difference. Diesel is higher now due to dramatic changes in global consumption patterns over the past several years. Also, the seasonal patterns still hold true. Diesel is higher in winter because it's made from the same stock as heating oil. As the temperatures rise and refineries stop producing heating oil, there will be more distillate available for diesel production and prices will come down. Gasoline and Diesel are two completely different products refined from different parts of a barrel of oil. The only commonality they have is the price of that barrel.

[allan5oh]

exactly no worries, you can only get some of each gasoline and diesel from each barrel. The % doesn't change.

Say for example 55% gasoline, and 45% diesel.

If consumption is 50/50, of course the price of gas is going to be less then diesel. Doesn't matter if gasoline is more expensive to produce. There's excess capacity on the gasoline side.