American Truckers are planning a nationwide strike, beginning April 1st, in protest of current fuel prices as well as increased operating costs and declining wages.

Sunday on FOX NEWS, Senator Joe Leiberman issued a response during a press briefing citing new consideration by Congress to enact further restictions on the Trucking industry. A reduction in the national speed limit as well as more restrictions on engine manufacturers to mandate higher MPGs for cars and trucks alike.

The latest emissions regulations requiring reductions in sulphur content are, in part, responsible for higher diesel prices . Reducing the sulpher content from aprox. 550 ppm to less than 15 ppm, has not only caused numerous engine problems for America’s truckers, but has cost the oil companies millions of dollars to change their refining processes. It has also slowed the refining process causing prices to rise even further.

The latest engine emission requirements(ACERT) have cost American truck manufacturers millions in research and development, driving the truck manufacturers to pass on these increased costs directly to Buyers. Thanks to these new regulations Governing emmisions from class 8 trucks, fuel consumption has actually increased on a per truck basis as well as fleet averages. We put less sulpher in the air but our fuel mileage has decreased by up to 10% on average, as compared to previous models without restricted engines(PRE-ACERT). Do the math. Decreasing fuel MPG from 6 mpg to 4.5 mpg averaging 12,000 miles per month. It doesn’t take a math major to see the LOSS.

American Truckers do not need further costly mandates from the likes of Senator Leiberman. We view this kind of Legislation as the problem not the solution.

As a member of the OOIDA and as a Small Trucking Company Owner, I say what is needed is a CAP on all fuel prices! This would stop all the market speculation and would bolster a fragile and declining economy.

I think that POLITICIANS like Senator Leiberman need to wake up. Threatening an Institution such as the American Trucking Industry may be taken as a Lightening Rod by truckers all over the country. 

Look around your house. If you have it, an American Trucker brought it to you.

Thanks for the insight into your industry. I think most Americans, myself included, blame all of the fuel price increase on the oil company. Now I see that there is much more involved than just the cost of a barrel of crude oil. To think our own government created or at least majorly contributed to this crisis, and will do nothing to lower fuel prices is purely disgusting

I understand that the trucking industry is really hurting do to the rapid rise in fuel costs.  However, by putting a cap on all fuel costs, that means that whenever the price of fuel goes above that cap, the government needs to subsidize the extra expense.  Oh wait.  The government doesn’t have money to subsidize it.  They just take money from the american tax payer to cover the cost.  If the government wanted to be useful, they could lighten up restrictions and actually increase the amount of oil refineries in our country.  We haven’t opened a new refinery in over 25 years. I also don’t know why the trucking industry doesn’t adopt a “cost plus percentage of profit” surcharge.  That way the industry can always cover their cost without losing money.  I would gladly pay more for an increase in my cost of goods if it meant that the government would stay out of my pocket.  Another group to subsidize is the last thing our economy needs.  Our government needs to learn to spend less than it brings in, not more and more.  An author who lived 200 years ago once said that “A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything that you have.” That author’s name was Thomas Jefferson.

The fuel prices are likely to sideline several Southern Gospel Groups this year. We as an industry cannot continue to absorb the increase in costs, at the expense of our families. Truckers are in the same boat. Libierman is at odds with the reality on the ground. Even the Arabs recently said they did not want crude prices nearly as high as they are, and that the price was being driven by speculation in the American market. Stop the trading of oil futures on Wall St. and reel in the politicians with their hands in oil company profits and you will see prices plummet. I stand with the truckers 100%. This is a gouging of the American people by oil interests, Wall Street and political power brokers. It is high time we all stand against this outlandish price gouging. Everyone doing business fairly should receive a reasonable profit. Receiving dividends equal to 500-1000% gains is not reasonable profit, it is racketeering.

acljohnston - 31 March 2008 09:17 AM

I understand that the trucking industry is really hurting do to the rapid rise in fuel costs.  However, by putting a cap on all fuel costs, that means that whenever the price of fuel goes above that cap, the government needs to subsidize the extra expense.  Oh wait.  The government doesn’t have money to subsidize it.  They just take money from the american tax payer to cover the cost.  If the government wanted to be useful, they could lighten up restrictions and actually increase the amount of oil refineries in our country.  We haven’t opened a new refinery in over 25 years. I also don’t know why the trucking industry doesn’t adopt a “cost plus percentage of profit” surcharge.  That way the industry can always cover their cost without losing money.  I would gladly pay more for an increase in my cost of goods if it meant that the government would stay out of my pocket.  Another group to subsidize is the last thing our economy needs.  Our government needs to learn to spend less than it brings in, not more and more.  An author who lived 200 years ago once said that “A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything that you have.” That author’s name was Thomas Jefferson.

For the Government to lighten restrictions would be helpful. I don’t forsee our current “democratic controlled” congress doing anything like that. Bush couldn’t even get it done before the latest congressional coup.

As to the Trucking Industry adopting a “surcharge”, we have. You are paying for it. We all are. It has trickled down to every thing you buy. Milk, Bread, clothing, autos, you name it and the price of fuel has driven the cost up. Not only does it cost more to get these goods to market, it cost farmer more to raise crops and get them to market and so on,and so on. Furthermore, The High cost of fuel has slowed the construction sector to a crawl. This is key. A large percentage of the trucking industry is dependant on the construction sector. Since it has slowed it has resulted, consequentially, in an increase in competition for the freight that is left. This has driven rates down even further. Large fleets are scrambling for what little freight that is availiable, just to keep meeting their bottom line. Small fleets and independants cannot compete in this kind of volitile market.

I think the point the pontificators are missingis the economic slow down, and the mortgage crisis as well as many other econimic problems are all a result of the price of Fuel. People can’t pay their mortgage payments because they are spending so much more on fuel and increased prices for all the other consumer goods as well. Even electricity price hikes are the result of higher fuel prices.

The EPA has mandated these new formulas for fuel and it is all a big smoke screen. The new fuels do not burn nearly as efficiently nor do they have the lubricating properties needed . How can it be better for the “planet” if we are burning 10% more?

Clear Creek Singer - 30 March 2008 07:36 PM

...As a member of the OOIDA and as a Small Trucking Company Owner, I say what is needed is a CAP on all fuel prices! This would stop all the market speculation and would bolster a fragile and declining economy…

NO! NO! NO!  The gov’t has NO BUSINESS setting prices.  If they cap fuel prices, they’d have to cap prices on everything else.  Would you advocate that they cap your income?  Let the market determine prices.  Also, we need to find oil in our own country.  I think I heard that in North Dakota there has been a large amount of oil found underground.  Let’s go get that and ANWaR, and tell the Saudis to play ball.  NO TO THE GOV’T FREEZING PRICES!!!

I saw where someone from the UN is asking for a stop to all biofuel production.  He says it is causing food costs to sky-rocket and thus called the production of biofuel a crime against humanity.  I don’t believe the biofuel is driving the prices.  I believe the high cost of traditional fuel is causing inflation on food and many other commodities.  Everything we purchase in the US is carried on a truck at some point in time.  Crops are planted and harvested with diesel.  We can’t help but see trickle down affects if the fuel costs continue to skyrocket.

I don’t necessarily agree with the govt subsidizing fuel prices.  However, we need to find alternate fuels and give farmers some of the breaks that large corporations are enjoying.

FamilyMan - 28 April 2008 09:50 PM

I saw where someone from the UN is asking for a stop to all biofuel production.  He says it is causing food costs to sky-rocket and thus called the production of biofuel a crime against humanity.  I don’t believe the biofuel is driving the prices.  I believe the high cost of traditional fuel is causing inflation on food and many other commodities.  Everything we purchase in the US is carried on a truck at some point in time.  Crops are planted and harvested with diesel.  We can’t help but see trickle down affects if the fuel costs continue to skyrocket.

I don’t necessarily agree with the govt subsidizing fuel prices.  However, we need to find alternate fuels and give farmers some of the breaks that large corporations are enjoying.

The problem with “bio-fuels” as they relate to the global food supplies, is this:
Corn is the main crop used in ethanol production. Corn is not a very efficient way to do it though. The problem is the yield from corn is not very good. It takes alot of corn to produce a small quantity of fuel. There is also switch grass as well as many other crops that have a much higher “fuel yield” per acre than corn. For some reason though, the ethanol producers(which are now controlled or owned by the oil companies) are resisting these alternative crops. If I were to take a guess as to why, I would have to guess profit and market control.

But, as to the question of threatening the Global Food supply? With the current rates of production of Corn based fuels, there should be no interuption of the food supply. However there is enough shift in these comodities to cause the market speculators(profit traders) to drive the prices of these comodities up significantly. This is probably the focus of the outcry that we have been hearing from the Global communities.

The price of crude today hit 120+$ PER BARREL . Yesterday I paid $4.39per gallon for diesel in Colorado. Have I had to raise my rates? Of course. Will it be trickled down into other goods and services? You Bet.

Yesterday a group of united truckers went to Washington with a list of demands . Of which, one, a price cap on fuel. I haven’t heard the official congressional response as of yet. As soon as I do I will post it here.

A NOTE:
I would like to thank everyone who has responded to this thread. I look forward to even more discussion on this topic. I thinkwe all agree that something has to be done. We may differ in opinion on the best solution, but I feel that we are all in agreement that there is a great problem that MUST be solved.

Thanks

Keith