It is NOT a strike http://www.drivers4drivers.com/flyer.asp . And it sounds pretty dumb to me . You'd be better off parking than clogging the highways . Every interstate has a minimum speed and anybody trying this nonsense will be ticketed .

They couldn’t ticket all of us. Im sure they would try but around here in the morning yeah right. The limit is 70 and if your not doing 80 your gonna get killed. People do 80+ past the cops and nothing happens there’s to many of them.

wouldnt it have been better to start it on the 5th, seeing as the 1st, everyone is going to be skeptical of it (april fools day??)

protests like this have been done before, and all it serves to do is tick people off who are stuck behind it. how is making thousands of people late for work, late for school, late picking up their kids, etc., going to raise awareness of the plight of the owner/ops, or the hardships of high fuel prices? in the past all it served to do was, infuriate motorists, cause many near accidents, and instill hate and hostility in people, against the group doing it.

my uncle says a strike is a coming. he's been driving for 25 years. I hope it does happen. if only the big firms would do the same. 2 days of no deliveries and this country would be crippled. I've parked my truck and started driving my little car hauling 2x4's,cow feed and other farm related stuff in it.

I keep waiting for a strike. Yes one will help and yes it does help if people get upset, brings attention. I for one am sick of subsidising the cars. Tired of over $1000 to fill my truck.

last time truckers protested was a couple of years ago, 10,000 trucks around the White House, government said they could do nothing to help prices but they went down 20 to 40 cents in 48 hours. Of course it is illegal to drive a truck there now.

Great timing:(. I'm moving from Ohio to Texas on April the 3rd and 4th. I hope I-65 isn't too bad.

Brian, I'd bet the farm you'll be able to get fuel, especially around here.

protests like this have been done before, and all it serves to do is tick people off who are stuck behind it. how is making thousands of people late for work, late for school, late picking up their kids, etc., going to raise awareness of the plight of the owner/ops, or the hardships of high fuel prices? in the past all it served to do was, infuriate motorists, cause many near accidents, and instill hate and hostility in people, against the group doing it.

Exactly. Not a good idea, in my mind.

The idea behind a labor action is to withhold the labor, not to cause direct grief upon the body public.

They wouldn't get ticketed because 45 is the Minimum allowable speed limit.

My question is if they drove that slow and delayed making a delivery, would the people these guys are delivering to re-hire them because they took so long?

So, I understand the protest and I think it would catch more attention to drive slowly than to park the trucks, but I think it would cost them contracts in the future and therefor their own jobs...

Double-edged sword!!!!

I think actions like this show desperation and ignorance, and punish the people who aren't to blame.

It can only go badly for the participants.

I want to know exactly what these people are asking to be done? If they had a specific demand, that would be one thing. (like say, repeal the Fed fuel tax). But it appears they are just whining in general.

This is ill-advised and immature, imo.

No one likes the high fuel prices.

But what exactly are we supposed to do?

Until I see every truck on the road traveling 55mph, I know they aren't serious about fuel pricing. I have yet to see it. My last trip saw me getting passed by big trucks all the time and I was going 60mph.

jmo

Good for the truckers...Americas unsung delivery hero's. We over regulate them with every possible DOT law there is and the high price of fuel is taking a serious toll on their earnings.. Yet through all of this they keep on truckin' keeping our shelves stocked and our tanks full...Thanks Guys!

I for one will give them a thumbs up if I see this take place.....

They don't absorb this cost.

I've got a $2 package of eggs that says the cost is being passed on.

They don't absorb this cost.

I've got a $2 package of eggs that says the cost is being passed on.

Package, is that the same as a Dozen?

Gallon of milk around here is just over $4.00 now. I can remember $2.35 a few years ago. :(

Eggs here are almost $4 a doz.....milk is over $5 Gal....Some of you think that if the independents stopped the larger companies will take over, I say BS, Go to Salinas or Nogales an see how many JB Hunt/Werner trucks are there, or go to a chicken plant in Ar. They know if they want fresh lettuce in Chicago JB's flat beds an dry boxes aint the way to ship. Another thing the large companies can't haul all the freight, with the driver shortage as it is they have a hard enough time haulin the freight they have. I say shut er down, so what if they repo my truck, I hope they repo 1000's, then we can buy them back for pennies on the dollar.

Eggs here are almost $4 a doz.....milk is over $5 Gal....Some of you think that if the independents stopped the larger companies will take over, I say BS, Go to Salinas or Nogales an see how many JB Hunt/Werner trucks are there, or go to a chicken plant in Ar. They know if they want fresh lettuce in Chicago JB's flat beds an dry boxes aint the way to ship. Another thing the large companies can't haul all the freight, with the driver shortage as it is they have a hard enough time haulin the freight they have. I say shut er down, so what if they repo my truck, I hope they repo 1000's, then we can buy them back for pennies on the dollar.
if they want to make their point by not making deliveries, that's their right, and it might bring attention to their cause. if they want to make their point by trying to hold up traffic for a week, by intentionally driving slow on the interstates, they're most likely going to lose the support of the motorists stuck behind them, and may end up looking worse than the oil companies.

Package, is that the same as a Dozen?

Gallon of milk around here is just over $4.00 now. I can remember $2.35 a few years ago. :(

No, it's a package of 12:D

[QUOTE= Yet through all of this they keep on truckin' keeping our shelves stocked and our tanks full...Thanks guys! [/QUOTE]

I can't stand statements like this. Lets all thank the truckers who haul our stuff just to help us all out, for free, and don't benefit at all. Its their job, they get paid. But hey, thanks for doin' that just for me. I am greatful that they do it, but am not foolish enough to think its just for societies benefit![nonono]

Good for the truckers...Americas unsung delivery hero's. We over regulate them with every possible DOT law there is and the high price of fuel is taking a serious toll on their earnings.. Yet through all of this they keep on truckin' keeping our shelves stocked and our tanks full...Thanks Guys!

I for one will give them a thumbs up if I see this take place.....



Ditto to that. [director]

I can't stand statements like this. Lets all thank the truckers who haul our stuff just to help us all out, for free, and don't benefit at all. Its their job, they get paid. But hey, thanks for doin' that just for me. I am greatful that they do it, but am not foolish enough to think its just for societies benefit![nonono]

+1

I'm not sure I see the same appreciation for all those selfless oil refiners-- serving the public in their noble calling.

I say $6 a gallon to help out those poor guys[laugh]
[tapdshut]

I can't stand statements like this. Lets all thank the truckers who haul our stuff just to help us all out, for free, and don't benefit at all. Its their job, they get paid. But hey, thanks for doin' that just for me. I am greatful that they do it, but am not foolish enough to think its just for societies benefit![nonono]

Nobody said they do it for free. I am sure that there are companies going under BECAUSE of the fuel prices and i for one can understand how hard it is. So many people are saying "they just pass the cost to the consumer" Well yes, they do when they can. It's NOT always that easy.

I frame houses for a living. I do work for builders. For the past 4 years I have NOT been able to raise my prices at all due to all the "will work for dirt cheap" trades out of work. HOWEVER my fuel, materials, labor, workers comp, etc. etc. has ALL gone up. Therefore I am on the verge of saying screw it and throwin the towel in.
I can imagine it is a similar situation with the indepedant truckers. They can't get all the money out of the consumers or they risk losing their jobs.
A few years back there were 2 top jobs in the U.S. that had huge demand. Medical and Trucking....Looks like the second one is gonna be changing.

I support any workers out there that are struggling to make ends meet as a result of this lovely economy.
The bush needs shaved!!!

I frame houses for a living. I do work for builders. For the past 4 years I have NOT been able to raise my prices at all due to all the "will work for dirt cheap" trades out of work. HOWEVER my fuel, materials, labor, workers comp, etc. etc. has ALL gone up. Therefore I am on the verge of saying screw it and throwin the towel in.
I can imagine it is a similar situation with the indepedant truckers. They can't get all the money out of the consumers or they risk losing their jobs.
A few years back there were 2 top jobs in the U.S. that had huge demand. Medical and Trucking....Looks like the second one is gonna be changing.

I support any workers out there that are struggling to make ends meet as a result of this lovely economy.
The bush needs shaved!!! Yup- that's the answer- it's Bush's fault! Bush secretly made deals with Opec and other companies to raise the cost of oil.... and he has hustled in millions of illegal workers from Brazil and Mexico who will work for peanuts.... No matter what the issue someone has to blame Bush. Oh, and of course Obama, Hilary, and McCain have plans to drop the gas tax (yeah, right) and to convince OPEC to lower prices, (yup, sure) and to force the big greedy oil companies to stop making money to lower prices (which will force oil companies out of business in the US.... mark my words- you heard it here first)

Listen, I am just as thankful for truckers as the next guy, but the world changes- change with it or die. Did you know the Teamsters were the death of the railroads? If not for the Teamsters we'd still be shipping freight around the country heavily dependent on the railroads which are WAY more efficient in that service for the amount of goods versus the outlay of fuel and work. Hoffa was an extortionist in certain circumstances- that's how he got his way in several critical instances which put the Teamsters into the power they hold today.
I support any working man who does an honest day's work- but in any industry no matter WHAT you do there will be new comers who will undercut you. Just ask a snowplower that has been doing it for a few years. The trucker strike will do nothing but call attention to the "human interest" story the news media will cover- it's not going to get the feds to repeal the gas tax (they need that money, if they repeal that tax they will just add it back somewhere else- they always do).

Odds are the "strike"will be covered as the truckers trying to save fuel by driving slower in the news, not as a protest. Net gain by the action- zero.

If you want to fight the loss of wages to honest Americans like the building industry support immigration reform that will deport illegals and secure the borders - don't fall for the leftist approach that they are here to better themselves- I'm sure they are, but they are doing that at the expense of our jobs, our healthcare, our economy and our dime!


Oh, and don't forget not only are the costs of milk and Eggs up, but the cost of Corn will be astronomical this year because of the demand for Ethanol- you know, the inefficient gas substitute and additive and soy products will be more expensive because of the demand for soy oil to make biodiesel. Don't think that will not effect you because you don't eat Tofu- soy protein is used in about 70% of products on the store shelves these days....

What! Now they're fooling with the price of soy burgers. Oh the infamy of it all....[laugh][laugh][laugh][laugh][laugh]

Soy burgers, [yuk][yuk][yuk]

"Did you know the Teamsters were the death of the railroads?"

I think emergence jet airliners had a big deal to do with that, as well. Obviously, not for the larger cargo.

"Did you know the Teamsters were the death of the railroads?"

I think emergence jet airliners had a big deal to do with that, as well. Obviously, not for the larger cargo.

CSX and Norfolk Southern haul a lot of freight through this area. I guess someone ought to tell them they're dead.

...and before long a dozen/package = 9 items, a case = 20 and priced the same to make you think your to benefit.

Actually..If I recall correctly, It WAS a shrubs idea to give out "work" card for illegals to work cheap in the u.s.
I'm not really blaming hm for causing it, just denying that IT is here.

"Did you know the Teamsters were the death of the railroads?"

I think emergence jet airliners had a big deal to do with that, as well. Obviously, not for the larger cargo. Not really- the Teamsters were in full swing and the railroads were in decline before the jet engine even existed. The Railroad was the major route for cross country transportation of all goods and long distance transportation for almost all goods until the 1930's. A train could and still can go all night at a steady speed where a truck then had to contend with terrible roads, poor quality tires (or solid tires), limited fuel supplies, and the stress on the driver.

CSX and Norfolk Southern haul a lot of freight through this area. I guess someone ought to tell them they're dead.
In the midwest there is more rail usage, and with the costs of fuel and expenses over the past decade there has been a revival in rail use. When you look at the playing field tho, There are only a few players, with CSX being the largest in the country.... There was a time when all cars were shipped by rail not on car carriers, when factories received and shipped by rail- buildings had private railheads for such things- now every commercial building has loading docks...

Compare how many tons of goods ship on CSX in a year versus how many tons Yellow ships, or CF, or overnight, there's an imbalance, especially when you stop at any truck stop and read the free drivers magazines with ad after ad for freight companies looking for teams and owner ops for long haul routes. Those should be rail goods, not truck goods routes. Most trucking companies got their start doing rail yard to local runs.
The real death for the rails was the 1950's.


History is written by the winners- remember that. A great many of the innovations and inventions we take for granted were accidents (like microwave ovens, lucite, plexiglass, hula hoops) and even more interesting are the stories behind them the history books leave out- like the story of the diesel engine- which Rudolph Diesel designed to run on Peanut oil, not #2 fuel oil. When he went missing and his "partners" took the design they converted it to #2 fuel oil because that was what was commercially available and they realized they could market it and sell not only engines but fuel. Diesel himself was against petroleum oil as a fuel. He disappeared in Sept 1913 from the SS Dresden and was found 10 days later off the Dutch coast.
Also interesting is why the world uses AC electricity and not DC- we almost did and in fact in many cities DID use DC. It's a prime example of what we view as history today being a very glossed over simplified view.

CSX and Norfolk Southern haul a lot of freight through this area. I guess someone ought to tell them they're dead.

I have the same problem with the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe here. 'I see dead industry. It's everywhere'.

Also interesting is why the world uses AC electricity and not DC- we almost did and in fact in many cities DID use DC. It's a prime example of what we view as history today being a very glossed over simplified view.

Huh? HVDC wasn't even commercially viable until the introduction of the static mercury arc valve in the mid 1950's. Even now, HVDC only makes sense over long distance runs. I enjoyed the rest of your post though.

Also, it wasn't to many years back when many of the ommon farm engines ran on kerosene.

.
which Rudolph Diesel designed to run on Peanut oil, not #2 fuel oil. When he went missing and his "partners" took the design they converted it to #2 fuel oil because that was what was commercially available and they realized they could market it and sell not only engines but fuel. Diesel himself was against petroleum oil as a fuel.
Another example of the winners writing history.....IMHBAO it was Hemp seed oil.

CSX and Norfolk Southern haul a lot of freight through this area. I guess someone ought to tell them they're dead.

Bin working the ports here in Norfolk/Portsmouth/Newport news's now for over 15 years and the Rail comes in and out of Norfolk 2 times day. So their is a lot trucks not being used for that. 400-500 Box's each trip out of the port.[verymad]

So say no to the trucks and we say no to imports were you getting all of your summer close from? Walmart. Most of your merchandise comes from over seas it's not made IN USA eny moor:(

Huh? HVDC wasn't even commercially viable until the introduction of the static mercury arc valve in the mid 1950's. Even now, HVDC only makes sense over long distance runs. I enjoyed the rest of your post though.

Off topic.

HVDC as in High Voltage Direct Current? Try Googling up Thomas Edison / Nikola Tesla. Those two had a war about what form of electricity we should use. Edison was stuck on LOW VOLTAGE DC. Tesla knew AC was more efficient (as did Edison), but they battled it out for a few years anyway. The first electric street lights were ran on DC current.

You think shipping prices are going up now,wait untill the independants,and smaller companies,give up,or are forced out of buisness,by fuel prices. We have allready saw what no competition has done to fuel prices.:o

Yep, america is slowly turning into one big monopoly!!!

It looks like the (cargo) rail system is upgrading and prepping for better/more efficient movement of goods/cargo. In the last few weeks, I've seen a couple of real positive articles regarding this.

From the Wall St. Journal - Feb 13, 2008
New Era Dawns for Rail Building
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120179835382432337.html

From CNN Money - March 20, 2008
Why Warren Buffett is buying railroads
Improved technology and fuel efficiency have made the rails a perfect industry for the 21st century.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/07/pf/sivy_apr.moneymag/index.htm?postversion=2008031218

This is good news for overall movement of goods. I can't say it's all bad for OTR truckers, because we (the US), will keep growing in size and using more and more goods that aren't made/grown anywhere near where we need/use them.

Off topic.

HVDC as in High Voltage Direct Current? Try Googling up Thomas Edison / Nikola Tesla. Those two had a war about what form of electricity we should use. Edison was stuck on LOW VOLTAGE DC. Tesla knew AC was more efficient (as did Edison), but they battled it out for a few years anyway. The first electric street lights were ran on DC current.
Yup and some homes and many city buildings- (in Sept 1882 he powered 59 customers in Manhattan) and, it was Westinghouse, who had a personal issue with Edison's methods of convincing the public that AC was dangerous by publicly electrocuting animals (dogs, elephants...) that ultimately sealed the fate by choosing Tesla's system to base his company and designs for plants such as Niagara Falls. Edison didn't invent the light bulb- he perfected a commercially available light bulb. Another example of history being skewed- the light bulb was invented by Charles Volta. Edison was the equivelant of the modern day BASF- they don't make many things you buy or use- they make many of the things you buy and use better.

please return to the 1st grade and learn what happens when you hold up the lunch line!!!!!!!


[laugh][laugh][laugh]thats perfect.

i tend to agree though. this strike is going to do nothing but make everyone stuck behind way more agitated. I think parking them would prove to be more effective. but only if everyone is in the same mindset. and from the sound of it, they arent.

Off topic.

HVDC as in High Voltage Direct Current? Try Googling up Thomas Edison / Nikola Tesla. Those two had a war about what form of electricity we should use. Edison was stuck on LOW VOLTAGE DC. Tesla knew AC was more efficient (as did Edison), but they battled it out for a few years anyway. The first electric street lights were ran on DC current.

Off Topic:

HDVC - Yes, sorry about that. You're correct.
Had a hard time finding this again (because I'm waay off topic[duhhh]).

Yeah, I know about the War of Currents. I'm just sayin' DC was ultimately an inefficient method of distribution. I live on a farm and if DC was used, I'd be too far from town to get electricity on Edison's Low Voltage system. Plus, I use 110, 220 and 440 here. That'd be a lot of wiring compared to the simple transformer on a pole I have now!
My point is, market forces would have gone the way of A/C eventually anyhow. It's cheaper and more efficient.

Back to your regularly scheduled program!

This thread is typical of the general public. Only those involved with trucks can understand, or give a crap. There is NO support for trucks from the general public. The general public is afraid of trucks and most just plain hate them. They have no idea that if there was a shutdown for 24 hours there would be no food on the table unless you already had it. A shutdown is the only way as proved by history that the government and the public catches on. It would in no way "hurt" the reputation of trucking in general.

There is a fuel surcharge that rarely goes to the trucker. Most truckers are not able to set the rates they have to take what is offered. In my case, I do set my rates but I put a big increase in a couple of months ago. With no cost of living increase the rates now reflect $3.50 a gallon. And I lost customers doing that. Nothing covers the increase in other costs. Last year a gallon of oil cost $5.18 a gallon, now it is ten or twelve. We have to eat also, that is dramatically higher. Many independent truckers are parking. Company trucks cannot do the job that owner operators and independents do.

Look at the situation... To use a credit card or debit card it costs six cents a gallon more, so now cash is the only way. It costs me over $1000 to fill the truck. I have over $300 a tank less than I did last year in money to live on. Birmingham to Atlanta and back costs almost $200 in fuel alone. That is 300 miles more or less. Now why are truckers mad?

Diesel fuel is a cheaper fuel to produce than gas. Right now I am paying almost ninety cents a gallon more than the car going on vacation for spring break. Why is that ? Simple, the truck does not have a voice in the government, the cars are the voters and complainers that get things done. Trucks are subsidizing the vacationers. Diesel is also 30% more efficient than gas and all other countries recognize this and produce diesel cars in majority numbers, but not here. Don't bust the gas bubble, do anything to keep America Dependant on other countries.

The US government collects almost half of the profits of gasoline in taxes, It is the largest tax income in America. The higher the prices the higher the taxes paid. The government has not good reason to try to control the excess prices, they love it. Oil taxes pays about half as much as income taxes, look into it. The government makes far too much money to help the plight of the truckers. They don't care.

If there is a shutdown it will do good as happened a couple years ago. The prices were too high and forty cents a gallon higher than gas. 10,000 trucks circled the white house. The government said that could do nothing but... In the next few days the price of gas went up 20 cents the price of fuel went down 40 cents. Then they outlawed trucks from Washington to prevent that happening again.

Trucks are not what all your problems are, they are what keeps you fed and alive. In the future I am sure you will see that when it is too late.

"This thread is typical of the general public. Only those involved with trucks can understand, or give a crap. There is NO support for trucks from the general public. The general public is afraid of trucks and most just plain hate them. They have no idea that if there was a shutdown for 24 hours there would be no food on the table unless you already had it. A shutdown is the only way as proved by history that the government and the public catches on. It would in no way "hurt" the reputation of trucking in general." -- Haulin_in_Dixie

The is thread hasn't been about a shutdown. It is about truckers slowing down on the interstate and creating rolling roadblocks, the havoc that would cause, and the public's reaction to it. Two completely different things. Period.

Yes and see the attitude. I am in favor of anything that will get the plight of truckers some news coverage. You don't like it, complain to your government. Just what we need. Besides, look at all the fuel that they will save... you too!

Guys I really don't think the price of fuel can be lowered . The fuel companies are barely getting by as it is. Their earnings from last year are a reflexion of this and that was before the recent price increase.
I honestly don't think price gouging exists when you only profit a record 40 billion.

Diesel fuel is a cheaper fuel to produce than gas. Right now I am paying almost ninety cents a gallon more than the car going on vacation for spring break. Why is that ?

Supply and Demand. The gov't doesn't set prices, hence "not having a voice" is irrelevant. Remember when we were waiting in lines for rationed gas? Both times? What could the gov't do then? Nothing!


Simple, the truck does not have a voice in the government, the cars are the voters and complainers that get things done. Trucks are subsidizing the vacationers. Diesel is also 30% more efficient than gas and all other countries recognize this and produce diesel cars in majority numbers, but not here. Don't bust the gas bubble, do anything to keep America Dependant on other countries. You have a vote, I have a vote, they have a vote. One per person (unless you are a Chicago Democrat, but I digress)[laugh]

The US government collects almost half of the profits of gasoline in taxes, It is the largest tax income in America. The higher the prices the higher the taxes paid.

Simply not true. Taxes are levied PER GALLON. Not on a percentage basis. if anything, the higher price reduces tax revenues because it discourages consumption. If you're using the same amount of fuel, you may pay more out, but the gov't is still getting the same amount-- they don't benefit from higher prices.

If there is a shutdown it will do good as happened a couple years ago. The prices were too high and forty cents a gallon higher than gas. 10,000 trucks circled the white house. The government said that could do nothing but... In the next few days the price of gas went up 20 cents the price of fuel went down 40 cents. Then they outlawed trucks from Washington to prevent that happening again.

Trucks are not what all your problems are, they are what keeps you fed and alive. In the future I am sure you will see that when it is too late.

That shut down was a temporary hiccup. How long did the prices stay lower-- 3 days? Four? All it did was shift demand from one day to another-- and the market knew that, so the real effect on pricing was nil.

NO ONE is claiming that trucks are the problem at all. At least, not that I have seen. Everyone here is hurt by fuel prices-- not just truckers. The higher cost of fuel makes EVERYTHING more expensive.

Trucks don't keep me fed and alive-- the free market does. If there weren't trucks, it would be by rail or plane or something else. We just happen to have favored trucks because we have the infrastructure to pull it off and it's the lowest cost way (still) to get the job done. China has very little trucking, and they still survive. India has next to nothing for trucking, and yet they survive. Europe moves a LOT more by rail than by truck, and they seem to be doing just fine.

The image of the trucker as hero is popular, but it's just another job. Like any other job, if you don't like your current job, like you have to find another one. That's the downside to our free market.

I know it's hard. I'm unemployed and trying to switch careers in the middle of a not-so-hot economy. But there are jobs out there with good companies.

h

Ahhh, I wrote a long response, but why bother, erased it. You have no idea what is going on. And the pergallon taxes are but a small part of it.

I actually think I have a pretty good idea what's happening.

A couple issues of The Economist will get almost anyone up to speed in no time.

Ahhh, I wrote a long response, but why bother, erased it. You have no idea what is going on. And the pergallon taxes are but a small part of it.

I know where your coming from, I drove Truck Trailer for a few years.

You know whats really worrying in all of this.. is that taxes are levied in US dollars and as the dollar becomes worth less and less, the amount of real money the government takes in becomes lower. They will be looking to our wallets soon, mark my words.

I say shut em down. The rolling protest is childish at best.

I say shut em down. The rolling protest is childish at best.

i agree...... and don't forget to turn off everything that runs on electricity tomorrow night at 8 pm for 'earth hour'. [laugh][laugh][laugh]

If they wanted me to do that then dont have "green hour" during March Madness. :D That and the fridge keeps the beers cold, that baby doesnt get shut down unless it is a power outage.

Even more than usual (and I notice many other people are doing it too) I'm doing only 59-61mph. My odo reads 580ish and my MTE reads 230ish.

Slowing down does help.

I FEEL for the truckers. BUT when they go flying by me at 70+ I don't quite UNDERSTAND 'em.

And I see more flatbeds running empty than I think is healthy.

I am riding it in overdrive at the lowest economy rpm, which is about 1250 and gives me about 1 mpg better mileage. I never idle but use a generator. I get 8.3 to 8.5 average, loaded and empty. Plan to pull the power divider axle and run single axle for another 1 to 2 mpg. Trying for 10 mpg on a condo with 500 hp. Most truckers that I tell that to do not believe me at all. I run light about 60 to 65k loaded but with lousy aerodynamics.

I might add that you will never slow down company trucks, they don't pay for the fuel. Around here the average truck is doing 60 or less. A few doing 70, which is the speed limit, but rarely see the cowboy at 80 or so.

I thought all this was smoke and mirrors until today. Trucker that delivers to my feed store said his company was seriously considering shutting down along with everyone else. And yes, it is a company truck. Needless to say if they don't run, I won't have any horse feed. Store gets one to 3 trucks a week and sells just about all of it in a week. They have already changed there governors to 62 mph.


Long story short. If the truck drivers do pull it off and get most of the trucks to park let's see how you feel when you can't get groceries, fuel, and bare essentials. Then you will see the light.

By the way, I say "go for it". I will suffer through it for there cause. Who cares why, it's just the point of it all. Maybe it will bust that oil per barrel bubble the investers have built. Every now and then you just have to stick it to the man any way you can.

Long story short. If the truck drivers do pull it off and get most of the trucks to park let's see how you feel when you can't get groceries, fuel, and bare essentials. Then you will see the light.


you make it sound as if we're anti-truck driver, and pro-high fuel prices. i would say that just about everyone on this forum has issues with the price of diesel, and thinks that most truck drivers are hard working, honorable individuals. so, as a result of this strike, are the oil companies going to 'see the light' and become concerned citizens and drop the price of fuel, or is the gov't going to 'see the light' and stop collecting fuel taxes? not trying to be sarcastic, but i am really wondering where the price relief is supposed to be coming from.

How about raising gas and lowering fuel about 45 cents. Diesel is a rip off at 90 cents more than gas.

How about raising gas and lowering fuel about 45 cents. Diesel is a rip off at 90 cents more than gas.

i certainly have no problem with that, but that falls into the 'oil companies becoming concerned citizens' category, because by increasing the price of gas, people will drive less, therefore decreasing the amount of money that the oil companies take in. most people know that for the most part, diesel is a fuel of necessity, so it will be bought in pretty much the same amount, no matter what the price is.

i certainly have no problem with that, but that falls into the 'oil companies becoming concerned citizens' category, because by increasing the price of gas, people will drive less, therefore decreasing the amount of money that the oil companies take in. most people know that for the most part, diesel is a fuel of necessity, so it will be bought in pretty much the same amount, no matter what the price is.

No, laws should be enacted. Cars can buddy up and save fuel, trucks cannot. There should be fair pricing legislation where the oil company has to show why a product is price elevated. How about those poor slobs in the northeast paying four dollars less road taxes for a low grade refine? They are paying 3.65 to 3.70 to heat the house. Read ripoff, why? Because they can get away with it.

Here is some info on the truck problem:

http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2008/Mar08/032408/032808-01.htm

Yeah, that's what we need... more laws.

IMHO, these are some of the big contributors to our current high diesel prices:
1) more diesel cars and trucks on the road in the US than ever before;
2) Americans driving more "miles per person" than ever before;
3) "our" method of producing fuel results in a higher gas-to-diesel ratio than other countries' production method;
4) higher speed limits;
5) worse traffic in most areas as the recent housing boom (R.I.P.) allowed huge numbers of people to greatly expand the suburbs far beyond the cities (yo, drivers! Can I get a "speak it, preacher!" on that one?);
6) the few refineries we have in the US are dated and, in many cases, partially non-functional due to fire, explosion, Katrina, etc.

On the other side, I think that a $40 billion dollar profit is unconscionable. Someone needs to get mule-kicked in the stones until they decide to be a bit less mercenary.

No, laws should be enacted. Cars can buddy up and save fuel, trucks cannot. There should be fair pricing legislation where the oil company has to show why a product is price elevated. How about those poor slobs in the northeast paying four dollars less road taxes for a low grade refine? They are paying 3.65 to 3.70 to heat the house. Read ripoff, why? Because they can get away with it.

Here is some info on the truck problem:

http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2008/Mar08/032408/032808-01.htm

So let me guess.. in the 1980s you were in favor of legislation to take money from the trucking companies and give it to the ailing oil companies that were going under when crude was $10/bbl? If not, why are you willing to turn the tables? Is it purely a function of personal comfort over fairness?

Oh, and on the concept of "fairness" I must confess my incredible uneasiness with the idea of "that's not fair, there oughtta be a law..." Fair to whom? According to whom? Most "fairness" doctrines are just ways for a minority to tyrranize the majority.

There are no guarantees in this life. Cheap fuel is certainly not one of them.
Heck, a JOB isn't one of them either. We have to compete to keep one, don't we? Isn't it a dog eat dog world where we each have to find a way to make it?

What makes an oil company special in that it has to justify its pricing? People don't do the same things for other oligopolies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligopoly) like cell phone service, do they? What about your sewer and trash services? Electricity? You don't have a choice with that-- you pay for how much you use, and you have no control over the rates.

Trucks can certainly save fuel. I can't tell you how many thousands of deadhead miles Landstar had my stepdad pulling last year because of botched planning a poor communication. Deadhead miles are the epitome of waste.

Trucks can also slow down, though I've seen almost no evidence of that happening yet. Around here, they are driving just as fast as ever.


I'm honestly very scared by the current situation-- BUT NOT because of the problems we now have. NO-- I'm FAR MORE SCARED for the FUTURE problems we will have that are the direct result of the "fixes" being enacted right now.

The Fed as we speak is "fixing" us right into the "stagflation" (remember that?) of the late 1970s. Their actions could produce conditions far worse than now exist. Even now, they are taking steps towards converting the economy to one that is more centrally planned and regulated, and this Soviet style superbureacracy will cost us our ability to compete as well and our future economic growth that would result.


Let's keep in mind what's causing all this panic. We had greedy people buying more house than they could afford by getting loans from equally greedy lenders. Then, when they default we are supposed to feel sorry for the overspenders. Then we're supposed to use TAX DOLLARS to bail out the greedy lenders who are now in hock up to their eyeballs with bad debt!

This fear then caused the Fed to start cutting rates, which leads to inflation (which is WAY up as of last qtr 07). What happens to crude prices when the US dollar inflates? BINGO-- HIGHER CRUDE PRICES.

So next time you get sick of paying $4.25 a gallon, first blame the schlep that bought a McMansion he couldn't afford, then blame the bank that gave him the money, then blame the Fed that tried to bail out the bankers.

I sometimes wonder if we even have the stomach for a free society anymore. Exhibit a= airport security. Exhibit b= moaning about fuel prices.

If you can't see how those are related, then I guess ...

jh

Spooler,

"Long story short. If the truck drivers do pull it off and get most of the trucks to park let's see how you feel when you can't get groceries, fuel, and bare essentials. Then you will see the light."



What light will I see and how will it change anything?

John

Hohn you got it all figure out, huh. Are you telling me that there are a lot of speeding trucks doing 70 or more in the Chicago area? Get real.

Oh yeah, you brought up the '80s and if you remember it had the "excess profits tax" which kept oil companies somewhat in line. Per barrel may have been only $10 but the inflation adjusted price was almost as high as now.

Oh yeah, you brought up the '80s and if you remember it had the "excess profits tax" which kept oil companies somewhat in line. Per barrel may have been only $10 but the inflation adjusted price was almost as high as now.

the 'windfall profits tax' of 1980 (under jimmy carter) has actually been blamed for furthering our dependence on foreign oil, as immediately after this legislation was enacted, the incentive for the oil companies to invest huge amounts of $$$ to explore and drill for less expensive domestic crude was removed, because if successful it would have resulted in higher profits, which would have gone straight to uncle jimmy in washington. today, it would likely lead to lower production, which would wreck havoc on supplies, and cause prices to skyrocket.

Oh yeah, you brought up the '80s and if you remember it had the "excess profits tax" which kept oil companies somewhat in line. Per barrel may have been only $10 but the inflation adjusted price was almost as high as now.

Sorry to let facts get in the way, but the reality says otherwise. In constant 2006 Dollars, oil in the 80s dipped as low as about $30/bbl. (constant dollars means inflation adjusted to remove the effects of inflation, and all prices are quoted in the average value of a dollar for a given year)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Oil_Prices_1861_2006.jpg/800px-Oil_Prices_1861_2006.jpg

Hohn you got it all figure out, huh. Are you telling me that there are a lot of speeding trucks doing 70 or more in the Chicago area? Get real.

Yes, I am. It's even worse in Michigan. On my recent trip, I was getting passed left and right by Class 8s. Posted truck limit was 65mph, and I was going the posted car limit of 70.

I drive through Chicago at least 3 times per month...both ways...in to get a trailer and out. I get passed by other RV haulers and big rigs even when I am doing 65-70 mph in the 55 zone just to keep with the flow! I have to say that I did notice on the past two trips...big rigs on average are not going nearly as fast now. Listening on the CB the big talk is about fuel costs and how the driver is not getting compensated as fast the the price is going up. If the driver loses money why do it? Because he/she is welded into a loan or lease on their equipment, because they have family to consider...they all need food etc too so the driver keeps going. All in all its not a good picture no matter how you look at it. Even if a driver or drivers [cars trucks buses whatever ] did slow down...its still not enough to curb the appetite that people in the USA and Canada have for consuming everything and anything they can. Borrow money, eat too much, spend too much, gripe too much etc etc. Is that what some of these folks say is their CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT?
Enjoy your rights but take a look around...we have [speaking generally since some folks will say they are doing what they can] bulldozed, plundered and polluted well beyond what we can fix in our lifetime and more.

I did what I could with my truck to improve my mpg. I netted a 38% improvement right across the board on my previous trip. This trip I stayed under 65 mph and I improved that to 44%. I cannot discuss part of what I did due to site rules. However, I am within what is legal where I am registered and that is what is required where I live. A savings like this still does not put me where I was when I started hauling but I sure am pleased with the fact that I am not burning as much fossil fuel.

The solution for me is to do something else as well as change my way of thinking about stuff and take action as opposed to belly aching and factualizing, rationalizing and intellectualizing what I see as a grim future for my daughter. Times a changing...and I will too.

Time to recycle my soap box I was standing on...hmmm should I burn it to heat the house? LOL

Scotty

Well anything said is twisted. Fuel is not too high, we deserve paying 90 cents more than gas, its all our fault. There are too many diesels even if they are 30% more efficient and most of the world uses diesel for the average vehicle. Trucks drive too fast, they drive too slow and block traffic. They deprive all those suv's from going on vacation. We are so bad, I feel so guilty.

America is on the way down folks, wake up. Let Castro drill off Florida, Russia off Alaska, cap out wells, close refineries, we don't need them. At least with gorbal warming we will be warm standing in the soup lines. Meanwhile just follow, bite the bullet, let our life deteriorate. But the environmentalists will be happy, hungary but happy.

Maybe I can get a job laying train tracks to the Walmart, another line, filled with illegal Mexicans, oh well. I deserve it. Meanwhile gentlemen, I am a survivor, always have been.

Well anything said is twisted. Fuel is not too high, we deserve paying 90 cents more than gas, its all our fault. There are too many diesels even if they are 30% more efficient and most of the world uses diesel for the average vehicle. Trucks drive too fast, they drive too slow and block traffic. They deprive all those suv's from going on vacation. We are so bad, I feel so guilty.


you need to go back and re-read the posts in this thread. no one is saying we deserve to be paying 90 cents more than gas, but you're saying the government needs to step in to adjust the pricing, which would likely result in the oil companies slowing down production, which would probably cause the price to rise even more. you said that the windfall profits tax 'kept the oil companies in line', which it didn't- it actually caused us to import more foreign oil, and in the end, caused even higher prices. i personally don't buy the 'there are more vehicles running on diesel in the U.S. now, then in years past' argument that some have put forth. i don't believe that the small increase in U.S. drivers owning diesel cars/trucks has had any bearing on the rediculous rise in the price of diesel fuel, but it's just another reason that's been thrown out there, to keep the sheep (us, the consumers) in line.

Meanwhile gentlemen, I am a survivor, always have been.

And you, Sir, are the reason there will always be hope for this country. As long as it is populated by people who are committed like you are, then nothing is going to take us out.

If it's Haulin In Dixies fault that trucking prices are so hi then it must be my fault natural gas is so hi as I work (Independent Gas Co) in the Gas Patch....

I grew up in the oil and gas fields and I saw this coming a longtime ago, as we over regulated and over taxed the Oil Companies to the point that they had to go offshore for so called cheap oil----(boy that one backfired on us!!!) now we're doing it with everything else.....

LIKE DAH!!!! -- HELLO ANY INTELLIGENT LIFE FORMS LEFT OUT THERE --

---- Everybody wants the latest and greatest toys in the front yard but not the factory that builds them in the back yard -----

Most people don't have a clue whats it takes to put food on the table and fuel in the tanks...heck there are actually some people who think chocolate milk comes from brown cows... It's just sad how dependent on foreign factories we have become and by doing so we can no longer control our future...

Just my (not-so-humble) opinions from the Gas Patch

Hohn,
I'll just bring up one question since you used examples in one of your posts. That is, should fuel be considered a utility? You mentioned electricity and phone service, which are both considered utilities and are regulated to some degree. Now, fuel is not a utility but when the general poplulation is dependent on a commodity controlled by oligopolies or a monopoly, sometimes govt. oversight has made sense.
And there has been some evidence of collusion in the oil industry. Hell, OPEC is the epitome of collusion/price fixing. But the gas companies have also got some dirty hands wrt potential collusion.

Hohn,
I'll just bring up one question since you used examples in one of your posts. That is, should fuel be considered a utility? You mentioned electricity and phone service, which are both considered utilities and are regulated to some degree. Now, fuel is not a utility but when the general poplulation is dependent on a commodity controlled by oligopolies or a monopoly, sometimes govt. oversight has made sense.
And there has been some evidence of collusion in the oil industry. Hell, OPEC is the epitome of collusion/price fixing. But the gas companies have also got some dirty hands wrt potential collusion.

great post- natural gas is already regulated as a heating fuel, so the regulation of pump gas would not be that great a leap.

Oh yeah, you brought up the '80s and if you remember it had the "excess profits tax" which kept oil companies somewhat in line. Per barrel may have been only $10 but the inflation adjusted price was almost as high as now.

if you didn't know, the "excess profit tax" was passed on to the stock holder, the oil companys laughed at it.....
(signed, a flying J stock holder)

I say go on strike, drive slower. But it takes several lives to put in a traffic light so what will it take to get exxon or who ever to get off there money. I say do and do it till they fix it, ***; will Bush do an exc order to ban striking who knows

Who cares who it was passed on to? The result was an almost immediate adjustment in the price of fuel. The oil companies scaled back and did cap a lot of wells. Guess what; there was still plenty of affordable fuel and the Windfall Profits Tax worked. This time it may need to be extended to include the speculators that are driving up oil prices. When monopolies get out of control it is time for government regulation. As far as I am concerned fuel should have the same oversight as electricity and natural gas.

Interesting... Owner operators and independants are small businesses. No Presidential order can demand that they run. Strike is a poor word for it. They do not work for a company to strike against. They just stop running, big difference. After making the one post I realized that I used excess instead of windfall, look how long it took to have someone correct that. See only the older drivers would remember all that. That mess was driven by a shortage, we have no shortage, just high prices. And probably the 55 back again as is proposed in alabama.

I deleted my earlier post because one of my facts was wrong. It was windfall profit tax, not profits tax, because it only applied to the profit on a barrel of domestically produced crude.

Is it any cheaper now? :D

one thing is for sure this country is in trouble.

Yes Floorman this country is in trouble. And we can discuss it, pro's and con's, but inreality I have little to nothing to do with what happens, just have to live with it, same for everyone else. Truckers do not have a central forum to get together on issues, I have no idea of what other truckers are figuring and planning. If bricks start missing my windshield like they did in the '70s I will shut down. I was down for about a month in that one. On the first I will load in Atlanta.

Slightly different thought but along the same lines. Where can I purchase 50 or a hundred gallons of #4 or #6 diesel, or as it is sometimes called, bunker fuel? Want to return the oil to the fuel and not be obvious in road checks, that is the ticket.