Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/204210
Voices Hot Buttons SHUT DOWN How to bring real change The planned Oct. 11-13 Ride for the Constitution received widespread coverage by trucking publications as well as national press in the week preceding the event. The mostly negative stories highlighted lack of organization, early failure to Other relate trucking concerns, diverse non-trucking demands and unrealistic goals, such as impeaching President Lawmakers would see It would tarnish truckers' economic impact and Obama. Reports said only about 30 rigs took to the public image listen more to Washington, D.C. Beltway Oct. 11 in protest. trucking concerns Following Oct. 11, conversation continued among There would be no drivers and other trucking advocates. Talk was ceneffect whatsoever tered largely on how exactly to pursue change for the A few minor better in trucking, whether via a coordinated effort on supply disruptions and minimal a single issue or by other means. Those shutting down political leverage would lose business "Duh," noted Richard Wilson, commenting on to those who didn't low participation in the event. "Why don't the soThe public would Freight rates called 17,000 drivers [a number that Ride promoters better appreciate would rise offered in advance of the event] converge on D.C. truckers on December 9 and flood the [Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee public] meeting? That's where these ridiculous regulations start! If half of these NEGATIVE: 29% POSITIVE: 67% drivers who confess to be advocates got off of their This poll ran over the weekend of Sept. 29-30, two weeks before the air-ride seats and showed up at a MCSAC meeting Ride for the Constitution and prior to most negative publicity. A majority of respondents generally saw potentially positive results in a shut… we'd have the numbers to … make the committee down, assuming wide participation. revisit the regulations. "Take the time to come up with quantified data" on regulations' economic impact, Wilson continued, Overdrive columnist, radio host and small fleet owner "and how the regulations affect you! Do it smart." Kevin Rutherford launched the "Truckers Against Gordon Alkire: "This strike or shutdown or the Ride for the Constitution" Facebook page. On whatever in D.C. was the brainchild of a nontrucker Oct. 14 he asked: "We all agree something needs to with no trucking ties whatsoever. Poorly planned, if be done. And we all agree there was way too much any planning was used. Begging for money to suppos- negative associated with the Ride. We need something edly help buy fuel for the trucks that show up." positive that gets the point across. Should it just be Karen Moore: "If every trucker and owner-operabout trucking issues? Or should other political issues ator in the country would do nothing more than pick be included?" Responses ran the gamut of issues; to up the phone and call their senator or congressperson read them or weigh in with your own, search the page once a month, you would see things change. It's very title on Facebook.com. easy to do – here's the phone number for the Capitol The protest effort "was doomed because of Switchboard: 202-224-3121. Ask for your congresspernegative publicity, mostly generated by the truckson or your senator or any other representative. The ers themselves," wrote Dave Tyler, commenting at OverdriveOnline.com. "The switchboard will plug you right 'arrest congressmen/throw out in with a live person who will If you missed our series on the Ride for the Constitution and its the president' rhetoric did it in. listen and make a record of organization, scan the QR, or visit … Get better organized, and your opinion and pass it on to OverdriveOnline.com/topic-tag/ 'roll' again." your representative. It works!" trucking-shutdown. What would be the primary effect of a wide shutdown by independent truckers today? 4% 2% 35% 9% 4% Watch for our Hot Button questions and have your political voice heard at: 7% Facebook.com/OverdriveTrucking OverdriveOnline.com poll 21% 18% @OverdriveUpdate 12 | Overdrive | November 2013 Voices_1113.indd 12 10/29/13 10:42 PM