Truckers blocking I-5 and other freeways in LA area to protest high gas prices

KTTV-TV/DT Los Angeles - Fox 11 - "Good Day LA" | 4.30.04

[mhking]

I-5 NB in Commerce (north of Los Angeles) is completely stopped right now with multiple trucks (at least seven) which are stopped on the highway. The truckers then got out of their trucks and left.

There are reports of similar blockages on I-10, CA 60 and other highways across the Southland.

It is unknown whether there are other protests of this sort across the nation.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Gee, I guess the people don't like paying more for that "environmentally safer, specially formulated gasoline" they have to buy and sell in California. Too bad.

Made bed...sleep in it.

[OXENinFLA]

but they are being stupid and selfish.

No argument on that.

[TBall]

This is terrorism. I wonder how many people out there are now needlessly stuck in traffic who need to get to a hospital.

[Old Sarge]

There were truck strikes tried, and failed. You can't get three drivers to agree on three different things, let alone a strike.

You could get the Teamsters to stop, but there's always the independents out there who will just shout, "Great, more freight for ME!" and charge what they like to haul your food and high-tech toys. At best, you'd get 15% of he industry to strike. Not effective on a national scale.

[Publius6961]

I agree these guys are acting like French jerks, but let's get real. This has nothing to do with unions, but independent truckers who are expected to honor commitments while the price of fuel skyrockets.
Maybe their contracts should be modified.

[BenLurkin]

These jerks are 'stupid and selfish' BUMP!

[Snardius]

I-5 NB in Commerce (north of Los Angeles) is completely stopped right now with multiple trucks

They're in the wrong part of the country. If they were to do this on the Beltway, locking those commuting congressmen up in a huge traffic jam, maybe there would be an incentive to lower the federal tax on gas and diesel.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

The best way to lower the gas prices is to vote out of office those Democrat impediments to exploration and nuclear power plants and new refineries.

Gee ...the Saudis are willing to foot the bill for two new refineries.

What is the matter with our government?

It should jump at that opportunity.

[EGPWS]

I-5 NB in Commerce (north of Los Angeles) is completely stopped right now with multiple trucks (at least seven) which are stopped on the highway. The truckers then got out of their trucks and left.

Gee, we should all anticipate a drastic decrease in fuel prices by morning now!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Sounds like Mikey's way of saying FU to the car dealer that was about to repo the Bentley. Tyson has blown just about all of his money. If he doesn't box again, he is not only dead broke, but he'll spend the rest of his life paying back creditors.

[Baseballguy]

Well it works in France!

[antivenom]

Yea...what if a ambulance is blocked and prevents saving a life?

HMMM might be a good time to commit petty crimes near the freeway too...police probably can't get around very well either...

CRIME SPREE and CHAOS for ALL!!!!!!!

[eastforker]

As a former driver I agree, I don't understand the mentality of anyone working themselves broke.A former boss of mine once said there is nothing wrong with going broke but it's damn stupid to be wore out and broke.

[mhking]

Per KTTV, a couple of trucks have been moved on I-5, however, there are no keys in any of these trucks, and quite possibly no distributor wires. At least one trucker was seen reaching under the hood of his truck after stopping it.

KTTV has video of the truckers hopping into an SUV with a banner protesting gas prices on the back, then taking off.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Sounds like the DemonRats called in some favors from union bosses to protest Bush's "awful" economy. I say seize the trucks and their cargo, put them in the "Dear John" bay for abandoned cargo, and sell it at auction.

[TheRightGuy]

Exactly my thoughts...union thugs out to hurt Bush in an election year.

Not likely, most all union drivers are paid be the companies they work for and gas prices are not directly an issue for them. My guess is these guys are independent owner-operators who pay the high fuel prices directly out of their revenue generated.

[MineralMan]

"quite possibly no distributor wires."

Unlikely, since diesel trucks have no distributors.

[Alberta's Child]

Truckers in the Midwest staged a similar protest a few years ago when one of the states (Ohio, I think) engaged on some kind of ticket-writing campaign to raise revenues. Their major gripe was that truckers were being targeted because so many of them were from out of state.

They didn't abandon their trucks on the sides of highways, though -- they simply spent several days driving all over the state's highways at about 35 mph with their hazard lights on.

[mhking]

New info per KTTV: I-5 being reopened by CHP tow trucks; new truck blockages on I-10 and I-110 just south of Downtown Los Angeles.

[MineralMan]

"My guess is these guys are independent owner-operators who pay the high fuel prices directly out of their revenue generated."

You're almost certainly right. And guess what: Most of these owner-operators vote Republican every time.

I don't like what they're doing, because it affects everyone except the people who need to get rid of the gas taxes. The poor commuter on the freeway has nothing to do with gas prices or taxes.

This is a bad protest.