Truckers To Shut Down America

[<MADDOG>]

Have you guys heard of this?

"The American people are sick and tired of the corruption that is destroying America! We therefore declare a GENERAL STRIKE on the weekend of October 11-13, 2013! Truck drivers will not haul freight! Americans can strike in solidarity with truck drivers!"

https://www.facebook.com/truckerstoshutdownamerica

[Irving]

If it's on Facebook it was probably started by idiots. One weekend? Big deal. 2006 wants their "Don't buy gas on Wednesday!" back.

Just in case, I'm going to buy my Halloween costumes early.

[hatidua]

We therefore declare a GENERAL STRIKE on the weekend of October 11-13, 2013! Truck drivers will not haul freight!

My guess is that there is about as much solidarity among truck drivers as there is across the spectrum of gun owners....not very much.

[sniper7]

Except for the Mexican trucking outfits that will happily drive during those days with ill equipped trucks for much lower rates....dont even get me started on this.

[XC700116]

Except for the Mexican trucking outfits that will happily drive during those days with ill equipped trucks for much lower rates....dont even get me started on this.
^^ This

[Bailey Guns]

They think they're gonna get enough participation to shut down America with a 3 day strike? Good luck with that.

[wreave]

If it's on Facebook it was probably started by idiots. One weekend? Big deal. 2006 wants their "Don't buy gas on Wednesday!" back.

Just in case, I'm going to buy my Halloween costumes early.

2006?

Man, I was getting "don't buy gas for a day" crap back in the 90s.

[Bailey Guns]

2006?

Man, I was getting "don't buy gas for a day" crap back in the 90s.

And you probably bought gas anyway. Now look at what you've caused.

[roberth]

Except for the Mexican trucking outfits that will happily drive during those days with ill equipped trucks for much lower rates....dont even get me started on this.

exactly

[KevDen2005]

If it's on Facebook it was probably started by idiots. One weekend? Big deal. 2006 wants their "Don't buy gas on Wednesday!" back.

Just in case, I'm going to buy my Halloween costumes early.

All I can say to this is LOL

[Irving]

Actually, I'm going to go as a truck driver on strike for Halloween. Won't even have to buy a costume, just stay home.

[Rucker61]

We have French truck drivers?

[Bailey Guns]

We have French truck drivers?

Ha! I don't know about French but there's a bunch of Russians behind the wheels.

[BPTactical]

Hmm,a few individuals with a common interest wanting to change the status quo.
Starting a small movement to rebel in what to them is a meaningful manner.
Seeking support and growth through social media.
A lot of people saying: "Silly, stupid, it won't work."

You know, I recall a lot of people saying the same thing about a small movement to recall a couple of legislators here.......
How did that work out?

You guys see what is happening? People are starting to stand up and push back, so what if they use a different medium?
They are pushing back on the same thing we did, over reach, corruption.

Good for them and I hope they succeed.

[Bailey Guns]

I don't have a problem with the idea but I also don't see them as really serious. If they were really serious they wouldn't: 1) limit it to 3 days, 2) do it over a weekend when less freight moves anyway, 3) do it over a holiday weekend when even less freight will move than on a normal weekend.

Or maybe they're just really bad at planning strikes.

[alxone]

if the trucks stop going to nyc it would only be about 18-24 hours before they start running out of food

[Bailey Guns]

Maybe Bloomberg will starve.

[alxone]

Maybe Bloomberg will starve.or maybe he will choke on pennies like a seal at the zoo

[BushMasterBoy]

America shut down when it elected Obama...

[Clint45]

If the Teamsters aren't involved, it's probably just a few dozen independent drivers about to lose their contracts. If even 50% of the truckers nationwide decided to strike for 3 days, that would have a major impact.

[Tim K]

Their actions, if there actually are any, would have the effect of hurting those in solidarity with their cause as much as those against it. If trucks actually stopped running for any length of time, it'd put me (and most of you) out of business. I find it difficult to see how that's a positive. I applaud their motive, but the idea itself is flawed. In what way does a 3 day strike affect the dipsticks in Washington?

[Zundfolge]

What exactly are they protesting?

All their complaints are so vague they could be protesting over sized government or they could be doing the bidding of the Occupy folk ... I can't tell.

[wctriumph]

Good for them, stand up for what you believe in, screw Washington.

[DavieD55]

They can go ahead and start with the food and fuel trucks into D.C.

[DireWolf]

They can go ahead and start with the food and fuel trucks into D.C.

Now that would get someone's attention!

[trlcavscout]

One day of no shipments to Walmart would create a lot of empty shelves and chaos. I don't know any Monday through Friday truck drivers so even on a weekend 3 days would cause a big ripple effect. Good for them.

[blacklabel]

I remember my dad, he's been driving OTR for 20 years, telling me about all of the talk about doing this every year or two due to fuel prices. I'll be delightfully surprised if it actually happens this time.

[Tinelement]

I hope they do it.

[DFBrews]

I applaud the effort but It would be tough as the owner operators and lease drivers already barely make ends meet - a lease driver for swift or transam is paying close to 3000 a week just to stay on the road the company drivers would be let go quick status as well

[Irving]

I don't have facebook, but tried to take a look at the page. It is refreshing to see that people are increasingly upset with how things are run. Doesn't seem well organized though. Get the attention of people in D.C., then what?

[streetglideok]

One thing about truck drivers, that anyone who has been one knows, they can not unite for a single thing. They will talk until they are blue in the face, but the reality of paying their bills, and losing a job trumps any political protest. They were talking about doing stuff back in the mid 2000's when I drove. Now one thing many of them would support, boycott all loads to the north east. Let them miserable toad suckers suffer up there. The harassment those state give to truckers is uncalled for.

[sniper7]

Hmm,a few individuals with a common interest wanting to change the status quo.
Starting a small movement to rebel in what to them is a meaningful manner.
Seeking support and growth through social media.
A lot of people saying: "Silly, stupid, it won't work."

You know, I recall a lot of people saying the same thing about a small movement to recall a couple of legislators here.......
How did that work out?

You guys see what is happening? People are starting to stand up and push back, so what if they use a different medium?
They are pushing back on the same thing we did, over reach, corruption.

Good for them and I hope they succeed.

I can see what you are saying, but what happened here was quite a bit different than a boycott of driving trucks for a few days.
People didn't jeopardize their jobs or not nearly on a massive scale as what is being proposed.
There was clear intent as to what the results would be (2 state senators recalled). Not really sure what the truck drivers will get out of this.

I just don't get what their ultimate goal is, what point will truly be made. I know if all truckdrivers quit driving then we would have serious issues across the country. Same as if all pilots said to piss off, we aren't paid enough and won't take it any more so we aint flyin. or if all fastfood workers didn't show to to work for a week. A point is made, sacrifice is made on both sides, but what is the end result. what are we going to get out of the boycott/walkout/etc.

I definitely agree that more and more people, more groups of people and more organizations/etc are all starting to realize what is going on is too much and it is time to take a stand. What still needs to happen in a consensus on an end result.
Just as the revolutionary war decided enough taxes/oversight/etc was enough and the end result was a new country, new laws, new rules, new life. We need to come up with the same. the major difference is we have the same landmass currently controlled and there isn't a definitive redcoat army standing around enforcing the law of the land.

[sniper7]

I applaud the effort but It would be tough as the owner operators and lease drivers already barely make ends meet - a lease driver for swift or transam is paying close to 3000 a week just to stay on the road the company drivers would be let go quick status as well

this precisely. One of my best friends is the mechanic for his dad. owner/operator running about 12-15 trucks. run from their home. family business since as far back as I can remember. Everyone dependent on the trucks running as much as possible. The Dad still drives all night, picks up any shifts as necessary, my buddy works as long as needed, goes in as needed, makes things happen. I have been over there a lot, learning, helping, meeting the drivers, working on the trucks, etc.

I just don't see this happening. There is no big net gain or huge point to be proven other than we rely on trucks/drivers to get things where they need to go.

[Zundfolge]

Hmm,a few individuals with a common interest wanting to change the status quo.
Starting a small movement to rebel in what to them is a meaningful manner.
Seeking support and growth through social media.
A lot of people saying: "Silly, stupid, it won't work."

You also just described these people:

http://usbacklash.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/astroturf-obama-admin-anti-capitalism-occupy-wall-street-riots.jpg

I just wanna know what these truckers are really protesting ... I would hate to find out I ended up supporting some sort of Occupy/SEIU/Teamsters crap.