Feb 21, 2000 - 06:29 PM

Truckers Head to DC to Protest Fuel Prices Associated Press Writer

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Organizers of a trucking protest said that a demonstration Tuesday in the nation's capital against soaring diesel fuel prices is a battle in a fight to save their livelihoods.

"Hopefully, Congress is going to come out and not ignore us," said Bill Dickens, Jr., an owner-operator from Baltimore said Monday.

Organizers said from 300 to as many as 500 trucks might participate. A convoy of 60 rigs could stretch as long as a mile in length, but police and protest organizers said attempts would be made to avoid traffic disruptions.

Police in the District of Columbia have arranged parking for most of the rigs as some of the truckers visit the Capitol. But many lawmakers will not be in town. Although the Senate returns from its Presidents Day recess on Tuesday, the House was not returning until Feb. 29.

"We will escort the truckers to the 14th Street Bridge (crossing the Potomac from Virginia) around 2 p.m.," said D.C. police spokesman Sgt. Joe Gentile, expressing confidence that the demonstration will be over before the evening rush of commuters.

The truckers are frustrated by soaring fuel prices in recent weeks that have added to long-standing disenchantment among truckers over low freight rates and the condition of cargo equipment provided by freight companies.

"We're basically running for the same rates we were in the seventies," said Dickens, adding that many drivers are parking their rigs and refusing loads from shippers who do not pay fuel surcharges.

State police in New Jersey and Maryland have agreed to escort convoys through their states. "We want to ensure that traffic keeps a safe and steady flow," said Pete Piringer, spokesman for the Maryland State Police.

Diesel prices in the central Atlantic and New England regions have risen 43 and 55 percent respectively in the past six weeks, according to the American Trucking Association, the freight hauler trade group. The high prices have forced many independent owner-operators to park their rigs.

The trade group has taken no position on the demonstration.

"It used to cost an owner operator $220 to go a distance, now it costs $500," said Jackquie Medaglia, whose husband is a second-generation owner-operator.

"We watched the fuel jump three times in one day," said Chris Van Schaick, a driver from Levittown, Pa.

He said he parked his rig after he saw one dealer boost prices by 97 cents to $1.98 per gallon on fuel already in his storage tanks.

Despite trucker assurances that they have no interest in disrupting Washington traffic, some motorists feared the worst.

"We could be in a situation where we're at complete gridlock," said Mantill Williams, a spokesman for Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Automobile Association.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGIEBOHPY4C.html

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), February 21, 2000

Answers

WOW! Now that would be a sight to see! wonder if CNN will cover?

-- Hokie (Hokie_@hotmail.com), February 21, 2000.

What are the truckers complaining about? The government has told us that their is no inflation. After all, food and energy don't count.

-- Mr. Adequate (mr@adequate.com), February 21, 2000.

LOL, thinking of all the high priced diesel they'll wastse driving to DC to protest.

-- rocky (rknolls@no.spam), February 21, 2000.