The Trucker's Strike

Well, today is the trucker's strike, well not exactly. The truckers aren't exactly on a strike. They are just going to park it along the roads today. Some analysts are saying twenty-four hours isn't going to make a difference. You know what maybe not. But these people are making a statement and getting people's attention. I say good for them. I owned a car hauling company and between the rising fuel prices and the dishonest employees I had to close the business. Most of my friends got out of it too. One guy gave up before me, I was doing dispatching for, he had a one ton dually pick-up and a three car hauler. He had been a CDL A driver for most of his life, as has his dad. He gave up his own company to work for someone else because he couldn't make it. Our other friends had a six car hauler, had been in business for two years and they had to give up their company from the rising prices. People need to realize your lucky if you can get eight miles to the gallon out of the semis and about ten out of the dually trucks. You can get the ten if you stay on flat ground, don't drive like a maniac and coast if you get the chance. Seriously, when these people say they get ten miles to the gallon out of the semi trucks I say let me see your quarterly IFTA tax return. I did good getting between six and eight mpg with a single axle day cab and a four car hauler. The only businesses that can make it now are the ones with the credit and that usually means the ones that have been in business forever with multiple trucks. So far, that has been the biggest disappointment in my life, watching as my own business failed. I can do the accounting so I knew if we didn't get a good driver something would have to give. In a year, we lost everything. The failing economy and the high cost of fuel and expenses did us in. When anyone asks if this strike is a bad thing, I would have to say Heck no! They're still in the game and they're trying to win. What I am most surprised at is the fact there was plenty of business before, when I was in transportation that I can't see how the industry isn't swamped trying to keep up with everything that needs to be transported. God Speed, truckers. I am in awe of all the owner operators who are still on the road in this economy unless prices have gone up since I got out of it.