Trucker protests delay freight movements in California ports

Avatar photo

OAKLAND, Calif. — Independent truck drivers protesting high diesel prices held up freight in California ports Friday.

A Union Pacific Railroad spokesman said the protest had substantial impact on its operations at the Port of Oakland. Earlier in the week, a similar protest in Stockton reduced volume 80 to 95 percent. The protest also snarled morning commuter traffic for miles on Interstate 5 south of Los Angeles when truckers parked or jackknifed three big rigs, then sped away in a car. Other trucks slowed on Highway 110 between downtown Los Angeles and the ports, causing minor traffic delays, authorities said.

The drivers say they haven’t had a pay increase in more than 10 years while the price of diesel fuel has climbed from $1.05 to more than $2.30 a gallon (prices in U.S. dollars). They want their trucking companies to negotiate higher rates with terminal operators that will cover the higher fuel costs.

“This is not a business any more,” Ruben Lopez, an owner-operator from Newark told the San Franscisco Chronicle. “We’re just making enough money to cover our bills.”

Avatar photo

Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry.


Have your say


This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.

*