Truck drivers may soon be pulling over for an extended rest stop. A possible trucker strike could stop goods from making their way out of Charleston’s port, one of the largest ports in the nation.
The dates are set for April 1st, 2nd, and 3rd and truckers are trying to get the word out to park their trucks.
Truck drivers are feeling the strain of rising gas prices.
"That four dollars a gallon, the average operator is putting six to a thousand dollars in his gas tank per fill up," said truck driver, Chris Walz.
And truckers say it’s drying up their funds, leaving them with barely enough to make it.
"Folks are giving up their trucks and trying to find other employment, especially independents, because they simply cannot just make it," said ILA Head Kenneth Riley.
Head of the local ILA, Kenneth Riley says ten percent of his new employees are truck drivers who have given up their trucks and he says this strike is their last resort.
"This is an act of desperation as we know before fuel costs began to rise, these drivers were already feeling the crunch," said Riley.
And a strike could make many more feel a crunch.
"If the trucks stop, the ships eventually have to stop, the trains will have to stop, and all of us that work the docks will have to stop," said Riley.
Riley knows about strikes. He represented the Longshoremen back in the late 90's when they went on strike and protesting got ugly. He says a trucker strike would definitely get people's attention.
"It wouldn’t take very long for the message to be sent in this industry if there’s an action, be it by the truckers, longshoremen, ships, whoever because with 'just in time' delivery, goods need to get where they need to go at a specific time, one day could have a serious impact," said Riley.
One of the strike organizers, Jason Jones, from Savannah says truckers would like to see proof from the shippers that they are receiving their entire fuel surcharge, which many times they do not receive.
Jones also says they'd like the federal government suspend the fuel tax on diesel for six months, then gradually bring it back within the next 12 months. He says without this, he doesn't think most independent truckers will stay afloat.
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