Truckers

INDUSTRY NEWS FROM VHI TRANSPORT

Truckers Blast Their Way into DC Back

It did exactly what it was supposed to do - caused a media sensation and made the national news. That's what happened on Monday of this week when truckers blasted their way into Washington,DC to protest high gasoline prices. Hundreds of truckers drove into town, horns blaring, megaphones blasting and sides of trailers carrying their message. The volume of so many semis blasting air horns at the same time was described by one Capitol Hill employee as "deafening."

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has called on Congress to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserves. The group descending on Washington askedfor the same move as well as an end to exports of oil from Alaska. They also had other demands.

Calling themselves Truckers and Citizens United, the convoy circled the National Mall before parking at RFK Stadium. A rally was planned for later in the day. From there, the truckers marched and took shuttles to the Capitol where they called on Congress to stop subsidizing big oil companies . Small truckers, who comprise some 80% of the trucks on the road, say their cash flow cannot stand the $1,000 and more that it now takes to fill their 200 and 300 gallon gas tanks.

The essence of their message seemed to be condensed into one sign held outside a tractor window by a passenger. It read, "Enough is Enough."