While there’s no denying diesel fuel prices are hammering away at the nation’s trucking industry, rumors of a strike coinciding with the first of the month have no legitimacy.
In fact, it would serve only to multiply the pain in civil lawsuits and violations of antitrust law, the vice president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association told The Center Square on Monday.
“Truckers keep a close eye on diesel prices because fuel is one of the biggest operational costs for owner-operators,” said Lewie Pugh. “Small business truckers make up more than 90% of the trucking companies in America, and they are the first to feel it when prices jump. Our members often work load-to-load and can’t simply raise their rates when fuel spikes the way their larger competitors can. While big oil companies have seen their profits nearly double this year, the sharp increase in diesel cost has quickly eaten up what little margin mom-and-pop trucking businesses have left.”
Two weeks ago, multiple social media sites trended posts saying a strike was coming. In one post, the author writes, “Truck drivers fed up with Trump’s high diesel prices are staging a boycott and parking their rigs. Things are about to get real. Stock up on as many groceries and essentials as you can. Things could get really ugly very quick.”
The reference ties to second-term Republican President Donald Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Feb. 28 having America and Israel launch military strikes into Iran. Monday represented Day 213 with no end in sight and instability in the Strait of Hormuz that before the strikes was moving about 20% of the world’s oil.
Nationally on Monday according to AAA, the averages are $4.47 for unleaded regular gasoline and $6.45 for diesel. The national record for diesel was set on Tuesday of last week at $6.52. Three states are above $7 per gallon for diesel, led by California ($8.39), Washington ($7.41) and Hawaii ($7.14).
A strike, however, isn’t realistic.
“Legally chartered unions made up of employees for the purposes of collective bargaining enjoy certain exemptions under the labor law that allows them the option of strikes and boycotts under specific legal guidelines,” Pugh said. “It is not possible for OOIDA to organize such an action because of the makeup of our membership. Owner-operators are not considered employees but rather individual small business operators. As such, for us to get together for the purpose of collectively setting rates or organizing boycotts would be a violation of antitrust laws.”
Additionally, any business or individuals believing the action caused them harm could claim damages in a civil suit.
OOIDA bills itself as the largest national organization representing small-business truckers and professional drivers.
“OOIDA has worked hard over the past 53 years to establish a strong presence and be the voice of truckers before federal and state governments,” Pugh said. “We have made tremendous strides. Lawmakers know the name OOIDA. We have gone from calling on members of Congress to having members of Congress call upon us. Putting anti-trust laws aside, if we called for a strike that was unsuccessful (and it would be) we would lose all of our credibility. We would be back to square one and it would take many, many years to get back to where we are right now.
“Unfortunately, there aren’t any shortcuts. The only sure way to affect the system is to work within the system and find the ways to make the system work for us. Our growing membership numbers and the growing participation of members in our ongoing efforts help to consistently increase our effectiveness.”
