Breaking news: Attendance sparse at trucker protest in Chehalis
Saturday, April 12, 2008 1:21 AM PDT
By Tony Lystra
Printable version
E-mail this articleCHEHALIS -- A truckers’ rally to protest high diesel prices was fizzling today, and organizers suggested truckers were too financially strapped to attend.
Only eight truckers were present in a parking lot off Interstate 5 Exit 72 late this morning, and only about 30 had participated in the day-long fuel boycott.
Organizer Sherrie Bond had hoped for at least 50 to 75 trucks but had predicted as many as 300 would join the event.
“I’m disappointed,” Bond said late this morning.
But the combination of record fuel prices, high maintenance costs and a need to keep rolling probably kept attendance down, she said.
“It seems like an obstacle you can’t see beyond,” Bond said.
One of the truckers participating in the fuel boycott this morning was Dan Wallace, 59, of Toledo.
“We’re just trying to get to where a guy can make a decent living again,” Wallace said.
Truckers were parked well off the freeway and had no effect on freeway traffic.
Diesel is selling for an average of $4.16 a gallon in Washington, which record, according to AAA. A year ago, it was $3.02 a gallon.
Truckers are looking for assistance, such as tax relief, from the Legislature and Congress.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s edition of The Daily News.
I am sorry wrote on Apr 11, 2008 1:20 PM:
" My husband is an independent trucker and he was all for this but he can't afford to shut down for a day. Our fuel bill is out of control, along with insurance cost, ect. It's a scary situation right now. I feel for these families. We raise our prices and companies that he hauls for throw fits. What he is suppose to do, haul for free!!! You eat, trucks bring your food, you build a house, trucks bring the lumber. Everything will be going up. "
country gal wrote on Apr 11, 2008 1:39 PM:
" Why aren't our legislatures doing something about it? This should be our number one priority! Not the Sonics or pork barrel or any kind of projects! "
Gas Prices wrote on Apr 11, 2008 1:56 PM:
" That is the problem with this gigantic gas hike. The people footing the bill are the consumer. You hit the nail on the head, you have to raise the price of shipping, because it wouldn't be economical if you didn't. The distributor is going to raise his price, because shipping has risen, and the only person footing the bill is the consumer, which is everyone. "
Gas Prices wrote on Apr 11, 2008 1:58 PM:
" Country Gal, we need to quit looking to the government for help, and try to help ourselves. That was the point of the boycott, but we are in such a hole, we can't truely afford to boycott. Only when things get truely bad (depression bad), when people realize a little sacrifice is needed for the boycott. "
old trucker wrote on Apr 11, 2008 3:03 PM:
" oil companies have us by the kahoniees and are now squeezin them hard. Do we have any way out ? No ! unless we all stop driving . Will that happen ? No.
Do they care ? No. Does Bush care No?
He is an oil man. The poor person is really taking it in the shorts. Does chrissy care ? No , she is going to add more to it in july , Just what we need more F@#$%^ing tax.
If you think oyur food bill is high you have not seen nothing yet. "
Do they care ? No. Does Bush care No?
He is an oil man. The poor person is really taking it in the shorts. Does chrissy care ? No , she is going to add more to it in july , Just what we need more F@#$%^ing tax.
If you think oyur food bill is high you have not seen nothing yet. "
Reality check wrote on Apr 11, 2008 3:05 PM:
" Simple liability insurance about 750.
Permits through Oregon about 85.
Fuel is running about 60% or higher
Federal income tax 28-38%
Food while on the road about 200. pr driver.
You do the math.
When our settlement is 5000. our net comes to about 2200-600 to 700 for road costs. out of that comes my home payment and any yard/home repairs and insurance on the home. Electricity and pet food for my three cats and dog. (I have adult kids living at home to care for it, they support themselves. Not sure what we are to do with fuel costs going up and no end in sight. No local jobs to be had if we come off the road. I may have to sell my home, put all my belongings in storage and live in truck!!! grief. "
Permits through Oregon about 85.
Fuel is running about 60% or higher
Federal income tax 28-38%
Food while on the road about 200. pr driver.
You do the math.
When our settlement is 5000. our net comes to about 2200-600 to 700 for road costs. out of that comes my home payment and any yard/home repairs and insurance on the home. Electricity and pet food for my three cats and dog. (I have adult kids living at home to care for it, they support themselves. Not sure what we are to do with fuel costs going up and no end in sight. No local jobs to be had if we come off the road. I may have to sell my home, put all my belongings in storage and live in truck!!! grief. "
cbears wrote on Apr 11, 2008 3:39 PM:
" Attendance was low because no no one could afford the price of the fuel! "
The govt is more than willing wrote on Apr 11, 2008 4:00 PM:
" to help out the commercial fishermen, and the farmers, but wont lift a finger to help the one thing that gets your product to market. But we should not need govt. assistance we should live in a country that does not tax a business to death. "
town cryer wrote on Apr 11, 2008 4:33 PM:
" Now is the time for all humankind to come to the aid of his/her country. We are all hurting from these high fuel prices. Diesel costs less to produce than gasoline. Those in high places, ie. the oil folks, want to be there exclusively, and have us eating their scraps. If y'all don't wake up and start writing not only your legislators, but also every major letters to the editor in the country, this downhill slide will end up with us getting a number printed on our forheads, just to get a meal. Wake up you sleepers! It is time of change, not the obamaroma type of big talk, but the you and me get out there and say enough!
A bag of groceries at Winco is half the price of a bag of groceries at Safeway, yet Safeways are everywhere...Wake up you sleepers! Anti abortionists line up on the streets with signs, but where are those of you who are anti big oil? "
A bag of groceries at Winco is half the price of a bag of groceries at Safeway, yet Safeways are everywhere...Wake up you sleepers! Anti abortionists line up on the streets with signs, but where are those of you who are anti big oil? "
listening to xm wrote on Apr 11, 2008 4:39 PM:
" upon listening to the xm radio news... protests occurred on both coasts.. dump trucks hit the nation's capitol while our boys were trying to pull themselves together... the ones that could. They stated that log trucks were either coming from or heading to Olympia... more showed up than this story told us of, many in their personal vehicles because they couldn't afford the fuel to bring their trucks. Go drivers... let the polititians know we are tired of the game... the costs are rising, bring up the cost to consumers, bringing up wage costs... no end in sight still!! "
wife of an independent log truck driver wrote on Apr 11, 2008 5:05 PM:
" I agree w/ I am sorry. Its getting harder & harder to make a living & the price of fuel is a bit ridiculous, plus the rising cost of utilities & food. My husband couldn't afford to shut down either cause we have to keep plugging away to keep our bills like tr. ins.,parts bills & tires, plus everything else. Give our truckers & everybody else a break. By the time we get our check its almost over 50% of our gross goes to fuel for our log truck. "
and wrote on Apr 11, 2008 5:49 PM:
" The government makes more money on a gallon on gas and diesel as compared to "big oil". Its the government who wont let oil drilling take place, its the government who wont let refinerys be built without huge permitting processes. Its the government who wont allow for exploration. The government wants high gas and diesel prices so they have a chance to step in and promote cap and trade, along with this foolish global warming agenda. Dont look to the government to do anything in this country, its all driven by an agenda to turn this country into a socialist society. So, go ahead and vote for Obama beleiving his wasted words of change, and free health care based on your right. If I could clear up one additional point of this republic -- you dont have a right to health care, you have the right to the free pursuit to health care. There is a huge difference in what people beleive to be rights, and the pursuit thereof. "
Boston Tea Party! wrote on Apr 11, 2008 6:04 PM:
" Our country was founded on the idea of freedom, and a group of settlers outraged over paying high taxes on a much wanted import(Tea) decided to show their dissaproval and board those ships and dump all that tea into the sea!!! Those men are looked today as heros who helped get this free country started.....fast forward to today, and the USA has become an oppressive mess.....with freedom only applying to people that have an education and pay taxes....Taxes, Taxes, TAXES! Now are fuel prices are going through the roof, and our politicians just love to add more tax, tax, TAX so they can make their own little mark on the world......so, my question is....how do we SERIOUSLY stage a modern-day Boston Tea Party without a few select martyers spending the rest of their lives in JAIL!?? That is the big question.....because it's gonna take another Boston Tea Party to get anyone's attention, and these protests will do absolutely nothing.....how do we let these people know that we have had enough and do it legally???? I don't want to be responsible for starting a Revolution but what the heck else can we do!? "
trucker wrote on Apr 11, 2008 6:33 PM:
" for you truckers that voted for bush twice you made your bed so sleep in it.but i think the rest of you truckrs should turn the key off and sell out ive done log truck and i think you loggers are gettin screwed "
Wrong blame wrote on Apr 11, 2008 7:28 PM:
" I own stock in an oil company, and I expect dividends on my investments; oil companies expect returns on their investments too or they are out of business. We live in a capitalistic economy, so the president does not tell companies how to run their business.
Seven things are driving up prices: (1)Worldwide demand is increasing rapidly; (2)Other countries are bidding on available oil supplies and driving crude prices up; (3)Supplies of crude oil are dwindling; (4)Demand for fuel in the USA outstrips supplies; (5)Sweet light crude is getting scarce, and heavy crude is much more expensive to refine; (6)The USA is now importing refined gasoline and other fuels to try to meet demand in the USA, and (7)the weak U.S. dollar. OPEC and overseas refiners can demand whatever price countries around the world will pay - and they are getting top dollar at the expense of U.S. consumers. So, if you want to take away "profits" from oil companies, you will have no gas, no diesel, no natural gas, no plastics, no tires, no lubricants, and so on. It will be back to burning coal and wood and steamers for cars. "
Seven things are driving up prices: (1)Worldwide demand is increasing rapidly; (2)Other countries are bidding on available oil supplies and driving crude prices up; (3)Supplies of crude oil are dwindling; (4)Demand for fuel in the USA outstrips supplies; (5)Sweet light crude is getting scarce, and heavy crude is much more expensive to refine; (6)The USA is now importing refined gasoline and other fuels to try to meet demand in the USA, and (7)the weak U.S. dollar. OPEC and overseas refiners can demand whatever price countries around the world will pay - and they are getting top dollar at the expense of U.S. consumers. So, if you want to take away "profits" from oil companies, you will have no gas, no diesel, no natural gas, no plastics, no tires, no lubricants, and so on. It will be back to burning coal and wood and steamers for cars. "
to trucker wrote on Apr 11, 2008 7:40 PM:
" So Bush is the reason for high fuel huh? You have no real debate to bring, so you rely on the "It's Bush's fault!!" retort. "
reply: wrong blame wrote on Apr 11, 2008 7:58 PM:
" As A 100% capitalist I agree with you. However you have not done your homework, if you had, you would realize your points 1 through 6 are completely false.
There is no "shortage". Demand is actually down right now.
So let me educate you. Oil is high because the dollar is low and commodities traders are betting on that.
Need me to explain speculation, futures and hedge funds as well? "
There is no "shortage". Demand is actually down right now.
So let me educate you. Oil is high because the dollar is low and commodities traders are betting on that.
Need me to explain speculation, futures and hedge funds as well? "
Californian wrote on Apr 11, 2008 8:05 PM:
" LET'S GET TO IT - Our country has become far too dependent on oil, and WE, collectively, did it to ourselves. All the finger pointing and name-calling will change NOTHING! Instead of being so negative,we need to be proactive to solve the energy problem - and do it NOW - because the problem is going to get worse - MUCH WORSE! What we need is a national commission, composed of citizens, oil companies, congress, various types of companies, scientists and universities, and public input - but not in the ridiculous Contressional hearings format. Based on recommendations, Congress and whoever is president need to act to provide funding for rapid development of alternative energy resources, implementation, and distribution to reduce dependence on oil. Forget foreign opinion and influences, we need to fix the U.S.A. first. "
Citizens wrote on Apr 11, 2008 8:15 PM:
" At a THOUSAND DOLLARS A TANK TO FUEL UP
I AM NOT SURPRISED THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO COME.
The Longshoremen are going to shut down the west coast shipping to protest the War soon, I don't have the date... maybe you could help join in that one. "
I AM NOT SURPRISED THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO COME.
The Longshoremen are going to shut down the west coast shipping to protest the War soon, I don't have the date... maybe you could help join in that one. "
call him greedy wrote on Apr 11, 2008 9:01 PM:
" I like the coal and wood idea , to smoke out blow hards like you . MR. wrong blame . Of course if you own lots of stock you could care less , just like the oil companies. Out of oil . LOL
That was the excuse used in the 70's to ration fuel, or do you remember that and the 55mph speed limit? . That Oregon still uses to piss off truckers.
You do not have a clue about doing with out , and being forced in to a bad situation. "
That was the excuse used in the 70's to ration fuel, or do you remember that and the 55mph speed limit? . That Oregon still uses to piss off truckers.
You do not have a clue about doing with out , and being forced in to a bad situation. "
Re: Californian wrote on Apr 11, 2008 9:37 PM:
" Every time a group comes up with an idea for an alternative energy source another group is against it.So what do we do. "
To: Citizens wrote on Apr 12, 2008 10:00 AM:
" Longshoreman are going to close the ports? So there will be no freight to haul. And trucks will sit idle. And bills will not get paid. And the people will suffer for something they did not have anything to do with. All because the Longshoreman have declared it. Brilliant. I have an idea..... after May first, if you have a Longshoreman come into your business, refuse him service. Don't sell him food or gas or let him use your restrooms. If they want to make you suffer, serve it right back to them. This protest is as smart as the Day Without Immigrants. It's nothing short of blackmail. "
What a joke. wrote on Apr 12, 2008 10:28 AM:
" Ya Know? You people are all a joke. You come on this little web site and complain complain complain. Wake up. Do you really think anyone important is reading this. The only way anyone will hear you is if you ALL get out there and PROTEST on the street corners. Look at the guy that stands out by Walmart protesting. You may not agree with him but, You cant help but see him everytime he is out there. Until America Stands Up UNITED we will continue paying these outrageous prices. And in my opinion, NOBODY is gonna do anything. You would all rather sit in your little house and Whine about it all on your PC. WHAT A JOKE. "
Frederick (SilverSurfer) Schaffner wrote on Apr 13, 2008 7:14 AM:
" This is an issue effecting all of us and we MUST take a stand NOW. Our government IS a major contributing factor in the outrageous price of fuel, and the struggle American citizens are experiencing making ends meet. We must take action to get their attention. All other avenues has only fallen on deaf ears - our government is ignoring the will, and needs, of the American people.
STAND UP, SPEAK OUT OR ACCEPT WHAT COMES!!!
www.theamericandriver.com
www.theamericandriver.com/files/wp/april_28_dc_rally.html
www.theamericandriver.com/files/wp/national_shutdown_flyer.html
http://truckersandcitizensunited.theamericandriver.com
"
STAND UP, SPEAK OUT OR ACCEPT WHAT COMES!!!
www.theamericandriver.com
www.theamericandriver.com/files/wp/april_28_dc_rally.html
www.theamericandriver.com/files/wp/national_shutdown_flyer.html
http://truckersandcitizensunited.theamericandriver.com
"
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