Truckers Threaten to Park Rigs Thursday

Posted: Updated:

Many truck drivers say they'll park their rigs to take a stand against the sky-high fuel prices.

CHATHAM COUNTY, GA (WTOC) - In less than 24 hours, many truck drivers say they'll park their rigs to take a stand against the sky-high fuel prices that threaten to force them out of business. No one knows how many truck drivers will take part, but the Intermodal Owner Operator Association of independent truck drivers said hundreds of drivers in the Coastal Empire may participate. Truck drivers around the country are also talking about shutting down.

For drivers like Anthony Fields, there's nothing like being on the road. "I just like the open road," he said. "I like being out there. There's nothing like having the 18 wheels rolling, 52,000 pounds of weight is back there and you're controlling it."

This week, Fields and many of his fellow independent drivers will trade the open road for a parking lot. They're shutting down over the high cost of doing business.

"A lot of times I had to choose between my family and my truck," admitted Fields. "And that truck is never coming before my family. I do this so I can take care of my family and it's been killing me lately."

With diesel prices hovering at $4 a gallon and with the current state of the business, Keith Liverman said he won't be able to stay in business. "I don't know of anyone who can (stay in business) under these circumstances," he said.

Liverman said it costs him about $0.70 a mile in fuel to drive. He said when you only make $1.05 to $1.10 a mile, it is just not enough of a profit margin.

"That works out to $0.35 to $0.40 that you're getting to take care of a truck and take care of a family," explained Liverman. "We also have to buy our own health insurance, we have to pay for our own retirement. That math just doesn't work out."

The shutdown is not only about the hundreds of dollars it takes drivers to fill their diesel tanks. They said the bigger issue is the fuel surcharge, money the motor carriers collect to cover the high cost of fuel. Drivers said they're not seeing that money.

"We deserve 100 percent of what's paid by the customers and the steamship lines to the motor carriers," said Liverman. "We deserve 100 percent of that money. They don't own the trucks. They don't put the fuel in the trucks. That's our money and I don't see where they have any right to it."

WTOC spoke with the manager of a local motor carrier company who said they pay 70 percent to 80 percent of the fuel surcharge to their independent drivers, but this is one figure from one company. Many truck drivers would like to see an independent agency monitor or regulate the surcharge that comes in, along with the payment the drivers receive.

Reported by: Liz Flynn, lflynn@wtoc.com