Trucker protests caused delays in Los Angeles and San Bernardino freeways Friday: major demonstrations planned across the country this week
Truck drivers across the country this week staged demonstrations protesting low freight rates, volumes, increased operating costs and lack of freight broker regulations as freight volumes and rates tumble as a direct result of COVID-19.
On Monday, a group of roughly 75 drivers demonstrated on the side of Interstate 610 in Houston by stopping their trucks in the breakdown lanes and exit ramps, protesting low rates, broker price gouging and high operational costs. The protest caused major delays on the interstate, causing the Houston Police Department to temporarily shut down the highway in order to relocate the truck drivers into a nearby parking lot. According to the Houston Police, 75 truck drivers were cited with Class-C misdemeanor charges for obstructing a highway. One woman was arrested, charged with inciting a riot and obstructing a highway.
On Friday, a group of roughly 100 truckers performed a “slow roll” demonstration on freeways in Southern California, causing major traffic delays. Half of the trucker’s gathered in Fontana by the Auto Club Speedway around noon, said trucker Thomas Ramirez in an interview with the Daily Bulletin. The other half, truck drivers who mostly haul goods from the region’s ports, started from Long Beach according to the article.
The two groups met along the 10 Freeway near the 605 Freeway in the San Gabriel Valley around 12:45 p.m. And by Ramirez’ count, the caravan had swelled into more than 100 truck drivers, cruising west into downtown Los Angeles. Some of the drivers taped signs on the back of their trucks: “No cheap freight,” and “Don’t haul cheap.” According to Ramirez, roughly 10-15 drivers were cited for impeding traffic.
This week additional coordinated protests are planned across the country as drivers have had enough. As part of a nationwide effort to bring general awareness to the conditions truckers face everyday, drivers are coordinating protests in several cities across the country, from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles. The events are part of a national effort dubbed “Mayday” to inform the general public of the issues over-the-road truckers face each day.
Some drivers feel that freight brokers (companies who arrange the transportation of goods between shippers and carriers) are taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic, drastically cutting carrier truckload rates. Others are participating to draw attention to ever increasing operational costs required to maintain a trucking operation.
Local and state governments enacted restrictions forcing the closure of “non-essential” businesses last month, causing load volumes to become non-existent causing rates to plummet. In addition, truckers who previously pulled dedicated freight for some of these non-essential businesses were forced to move to the daily spot market, adding additional capacity to an already flooded market driving rates further down.
Some shippers and brokers have reportedly taken advantage of these supply and demand issues, offering truckload rates far lower then the trucking industry has seen in years. in-fact, several markets are showing rates far below the operational cost just to operate a truck.
Because of this, truckers are again left to fight for survival. Most of the general public do not understand the trucking industry and some of the challenges truckers face. While there seems to have been an outpouring of support for truckers since the coronavirus began, many drivers still feel they are being mistreated and overlooked. Many are hoping the protests this week will shed some light.
Any driver’s participating in these protests and would like their voices heard can email live@www.ptnewsnetwork.com. We will help get the message out.
