Independent Truckers Threaten to Strike

Angered by a hike in diesel fuel prices, many independent truckers are threatening to strike beginning Thursday in an effort to halt freight traffic nationwide.

The planned weeklong protest, organized by a loose affiliation of truckers, could lead to widespread disruptions and delays in shipments if as few as 10% of all drivers--independent or not--honor the strike, according to David Titus, a spokesman for the California Trucking Assn.

“You would see disruptions at (ports). You would see disruptions in agriculture,” he said.

But it is not clear how many independents--who move an estimated 15% of long-haul freight shipments--would actually participate. While most large trucking firms have vowed to continue operating, many of their drivers might stay off roads to avoid potential violence.

The uncertainty has led some companies that depend on truck shipments to make alternative plans.

“We’ve been loading as many trucks as we can early in the week to avoid the problem,” said David Diener, owner of Florance Distributing Co., a Los Angeles company that ships California produce. “If they go out Thursday and Friday, it’s going to disrupt things, but not to a large degree.”

Protesting truckers hope to overturn an increase in the price of diesel fuel. On Oct. 1, the federal government raised fuel taxes by 4.3 cents a gallon and required the use of cleaner-burning but somewhat more expensive diesel fuels. California required even cleaner-burning diesel.

The result has been increases in diesel fuel prices of between 10 and 40 cents a gallon. The fuel increase is the most recent financial blow to hit independent truckers, whose average income has remained virtually flat during the past decade.

Many independent truckers are also angry over proposals for more stringent safety and inspection regulations.