While the results of the Nov. 3 presidential election are being contested and litigated, another protest has gained momentum. The private Facebook group “Stop the Tires 2020” is calling for a national trucker shutdown on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. to protest what it understands to be the policies of presumptive president-elect Joe Biden and his administration.
The Facebook page, created Nov. 6, has grown rapidly as news of the strike spread. Current membership is at nearly 39,000 members, and the group continues to grow.
Creator of the group, Jeremy Rewoldt said in a Nov. 7 post, “We will not participate in the leftist, Biden/Harris Green New Deal.” He added, “We do not support the banning of fracking.” Rewoldt also stated, “The United States of America operates as a capitalistic economy and OIL is the fuel she survives on.”
Although both Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris have called for a complete ban on the practice of hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as “fracking,” Biden backed away from those comments in the waning days of the election. At the second and final presidential debate, Biden said his plan was to transition the country away from petroleum products. He said, “I was talking about stopping fracking as soon as we can,” adding, “no more new fracking.”
Biden also declined to support the Green New Deal, which proposed actions designed to move the country to renewable sources only for its energy needs. He has repeatedly stated, “Climate change is the number one issue facing humanity,” and pledged to work towards solving the issue.
Critics have claimed that Biden changed his verbiage on fracking and the Green New Deal in order to appear more moderate to voters when he, in fact, fully supports both.
On Nov. 10, Cara Carroll posted to the group that she and Jeremy Rewoldt are “the face of the movement,” and both are “co-creators” of and “partners” in the Stop the Tires 2020 group. Carroll claimed that a purpose of the movement is “to protect 19 million jobs.”
A statement released by the Trump campaign Aug. 31 claimed that Biden’s clean-energy plan would cause the loss of 10.3 million jobs in the petroleum industry. That figure was taken from a study by the American Petroleum Institute that estimated the economic impact of the entire petroleum industry, including vendors and investors, at 10.3 million jobs. Biden has claimed his plan would create new jobs in the field of renewable energy, which would replace those lost in petroleum.
In the post, Carroll also clarified the group’s political leanings, saying, “Let us make this extremely clear: While we are a huge group of Republicans and conservatives, our focus in this movement is our blue-collar workers of America.” She added, “We are extremely grateful for what Donald Trump has done for the American people.”
Rewoldt’s post also mentioned that government leaders must “respect that blue-collar truck drivers are having to face domestic terrorism, primarily in Democrat-run cities all over the United States…” He called for a second work stoppage — this one over the four-day Thanksgiving holiday weekend that includes Black Friday, traditionally the start of the Christmas shopping season — if the Veterans Day stoppage is “not effective.”
A key difference between the call for a work stoppage and past labor actions in trucking is that no protests that include truck convoys slowing traffic or other active acts of protest are being called for. Discussion on the Stop the Tires 2020 Facebook page has included a number of suggested actions, including a Washington D.C. protest, but the only action called for by event organizers for truckers to simply shut down.
The movement attracted the attention of several large media sources Monday, Nov. 9, including Fox News, which ran the story on its website and in its programming. The Stop the Tires 2020 group has also used the social media platform TikTok to publish videos of Rewoldt, Carroll and others discussing the strike.
Posts on the Facebook page are generally positive, with a number of owner-operators posting photos of their trucks and pledging to support the strike.
The timing of the first stoppage is part of the group’s plan. Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, and organizers hope to draw additional attention by staging the protests on or near national holidays. The second planned strike would begin Thanksgiving Day; further protests have not been announced.
Those in the trucking profession are accustomed to hearing about potential strikes and other actions. Usually, protests deal with restrictive regulations, freight rates or fuel prices. This action differs in that it seems to be entirely based on politics and what organizers predict will become policy once a new administration is inaugurated. While the impact of the proposed stoppage can’t be predicted, the practice of truckers banding together in protest is sure to continue.
UPDATE: Since this article was published, the group has called canceled the planned work stoppage. Click here to read the story.
Cliff Abbott is an experienced commercial vehicle driver and owner-operator who still holds a CDL in his home state of Alabama. In nearly 40 years in trucking, he’s been an instructor and trainer and has managed safety and recruiting operations for several carriers. Having never lost his love of the road, Cliff has written a book and hundreds of songs and has been writing for The Trucker for more than a decade.
Stop the Wheels. You guys and gals CAN make the difference for many. The swamp is horrific. If you are near Waco, GA, we will give you a hot meal. God Bless and thank you.
I’m an o/o I will fully support this please send me information and timelines for planned events
Sorry for what you are having to endure. My uncle died doing trucking before all this stuff happened ,just working
Please let everyone know that Biden isn’t President ELECT, and Harris isn’t Vice President ELECT. Let everyone know. Thanks
Nonsense, completely incorrect and another reason NOT to support this.
Lol they aren’t though. The electoral college hasn’t met and cast their votes yet. It’s literally a fact. The can be the presumptive winners of this race but it doesn’t mean they have won yet.
gotta be non-union who destroyed the business.
👍👍👍
https://www.history.com/news/electors-chosen-electoral-college
Hillary told the Electoral College to change their votes for Trump and give her their votes. Dems were threatening all of the Electoral College voters so she could win their votes too. Isn’t that called Dictatorship?
Hillary told Molesting Joe not to concede and yet when Trump actually doesn’t concede they all go nuts.
We need to buy these crying babies their prescription pacifiers.
Libs are such hypocrites.
I agree
Yes. What a treat to celebrate one’s birthday, don’t you think? We give so much and every year cost of living expenses goes up but drivers are living on wages from before 2011—-The wages do not match upper middle class living. Some drivers are forced to be on welfare in order to manage. Racing to the bottom for just a penny profit per mile is not worth the miles driven! Trucking industry moves products and without this industry everything everywhere comes to a screeching holt!
There is no need to strike because Biden will not be Elected!!!! The voter fraud committed was so massive an Trump and the DOJ are on top of it. Just take a chill pill, stop listening to the fake News! It will all shake out soon!! Paul
While that’s still within the realm of possibility with the tactic the Trump team is employing in their beefiest lawsuit to date (a rather clever using of a Bush v Gore precident), I TOTALLY agree that the planned Veterans Day strike is a silly jumping of the gun — just as the AP was silly in declaring Biden the President Elect as if the Constitution says it is the news media that gets to determine the winners of Presidental Elections.
Such a strike is better saved for if and when Biden is confirmed and installed in office — though I will concede that a Thanksgiving Weekend blockage of everything could be a very powerful thing.
But if we truckers are expected to take yet another loss in income, let’s wait until there is just cause and not ask such a sacrifice just for a poorly-timed gesture of displeasure.
No offense Paul but what planet have you been living on? Please watch, read or inspect ALL information before opening that thing on your face. You must digest more than one Outlet. You are sorely mislead and one day you will smack your hand on your forehead and shake your head in shame. No need for a reply oh, I already know the gist of what you would write.
Agree– so funny, maybe 5 dimwits will fall for this farce!! Will laugh all day..
Well said!!!
Y’all need to slow down!!! Why is it that every time a democrat wins election it’s a problem for racist Republicans?
And what’s pissing me off is the fact that y’all fighting with others for peanuts while the top 1% who’ve gotten over 1 trillion dollars from Trump tax cut.
And also, Biden is not even in yet and y’all getting burned off.
Stop all these bullshits and let’s strike for what’s making since.
Like: poor rages we’re getting, brokers getting too much over head etc…..
When are we going to stop these fights against each other, when others are getting super rich.
This is the United States of America! We stand together, not destroyed one another.
I voted for Trump before, but for me he didn’t deliver the merchandise. For those on top, yes! But for maine street it’s horrible.
Let’s wait for Biden before we start fighting.
I love you all and hope we all can get along.
Thank you!
“racist republicans”???
Who opposed desegregation as a senator so his kids wouldn’t grow up in a “racial jungle?”
-Joe Biden 1977
Who said this about Obama? “you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean”
-Joe Biden 2007
What does he mean by this? Were all others prior, dumb and dirty?
Let’s go a step further…California Kamala. Her Grand-father was a slave owner, and why that’s terrible I take bigger issue with her policies and actions.
MAINLY: Her stance on SB 145 while Attorney General in CA. She refused to enforce residency restrictions, (meaning that sex offenders could live next to schools) which has now led to sex offenders (including pedophiles) the ability to be removed from the sex offender registry.
I’ll bet you think we should bring back Blacksmiths and get rid of automotive travel as well!! Time to get your head around the fact that this is the 21st century, Fracking and Oil is done!! Get with the program or get left behind.
It is ludicrous. They haven’t given the Biden a chance yet. So go throw your temper tantrums. You are lucky to even have a job. Get over yourself…Biden won.
he hasn’t won until the courts say all the votes are legal, and most have already been proven fake. plus we republicians are not the ones to throw a temper tantrum no when we get pissed we rise up and stand united and take back the country. remember even though it was the north in the civil war that won they were republician consertive party. we are strong, hard working, GOD fearing, guns loving, pro life people. we don’t throw fits, tantrums, riot, loot, steel, or burn down buildings instead we get justice and we fight for our rights. so liberal little baby sit down in your little safe spot with your binky us adults are trying to have a conversation.
No, you just run over people with cars or shoot them.
AMEN Crystal! Especially – as if no democrat in the world isn’t racist in one form or another! Racism exists and always will just like prostitution! It doesn’t mean it’s right – it’s just a reality. AND listen to current RAP songs or better yet – look up the lyrics! The African Americans rapping use the N several times. The only difference is that it ends in gga instead of gger. What’s up with that? Additionally, those songs also reference sexual positions etc. Our teens that don’t even know if they are Republicans or Democrats listen to that crap. My friend is a teacher and is not allowed to discipline ANY child who is not white just because the first thing they or their parents say is the teacher is racist. Give me a break! It’s an excuse for bad behavior!
Yet the AP proclaimed Trump won Alaska. Go figure. Take back the country? This country belongs to all of us, not just Trump supporters.
You are such an idiot to have voted for biden u want th we united states to be run by other country’s so u don’t have to think about anything u democrats are as bad as ur so called president elected Joe blow biden
Just to open his mouth is a loss and lie he has fooled all o fb you to think he has plans to change the USA he wants to shut down our country so he has control of all u puppets while he plays with ur children and Harris lets all the pedophiles run free and takes baby’s an s kills them to sell there body parts to the highest bidders take off ur binders before they are glued to ur face to forever be fools
You need to get your facts correct about the Trump tax cuts. They did MORE for the middle class than for the elite. You’re listening to the wrong sources if you think otherwise. Biden’s plan to reverse the tax cuts and raise taxes WILL hurt you directly. Biden has not offered a single idea to benefit Americans and he’s instead looking to bring back the same idiots that Obama had to implement his changes. The next two years will not be good for the average American!
What did the tax cuts do for you? How much did you see in your paycheck? Seriously, how much? If you are not able to state exactly how much you have received, you have been conned. Also, when you say a few cents or a couple dollars, think about that and compare it to the millions the 1% have received. There in lies the problem, don’t you think?
If you take away the incentive for people in a country that is based on capitalism to no longer have an incentive to go work harder than you… sometimes 20 hours a day to build a business to better their family’s lives… they will no longer be willing to do so and then… YOU will no longer have a job. It’s not rocket science!
Hey Dodo, what an a asinine comment “Why is it that every time a democrat wins election it’s a problem for racist Republicans?”
Because someone is concerned about their country and their livelihood you suggest they are “RACIST”. Only a liberal dolt is that quick to attach that label.
Disgusting !
We are praying for this, Paul and are confident that our President will prevail. The thought of four years of this Anti-American agenda makes most of us really sick and sad for our great America. We are a Transportation Broker and work with many small trucking companies and owner operators and we understand. We appreciate everything our truckers do for us. Until the time when these idiots look around for goods on shelves and realize that “IF YOU GOT IT, A TRUCK BROUGHT IT” they will not understand. We must keep up the good fight and continue to support our President.
Face it Donald has LOST, and be known in history as a horrible, divisive 1 term, impeached Potus.
Ya’ll need to use what little brainpower you have and find some real news sources.
+ accurate, losers can’t handle reality.
James R Igou – I can see from your comments that YOU ARE THE LOSER! Educate yourself! Hopefully you know how to use Google. Research what presidents have done the most for the economy! Oh – BTW – did you keep the $1200.00 you got from President Trump? Did you collect unemployment PUA plus $600? What other President would do that for US citizens in order to help them out during this difficult time? Shame on you for even taking the time to make your silly comments! Again – EDUCATE YOURSELF!
Seriously???? President Trump didn’t send ANYONE $1200. That was the government of the United States of America. Some people seem to forget that. Same for the unemployment benefits. We ARE NOT a dictatorship much to Trumps displeasure. He is not the government and he didn’t even pay his fair share of taxes (which is what ACTUALLY paid for the stimulus) thanks to very shady accounting and tax loopholes Republicans have pushed through for years for their billionaire buddies. Republicans have traditionally increased the deficit and hurt the economy. EDUCATE YOURSELF!!!
Harinama….you’re funny (sarcasm) ..said 70 million people. Curious…Do you burn cities or support it when things don’t go your way? Does anyone else wonder why there is no such thing as a republican riot? My money says that the half of the country that voted for Trump pays at least 3/4 of the taxes in the country that foots the Bill for the something for nothings.
I say no deliveries to the urban shitholes that cheated
Y’all need to slow down!!! Why is it that every time a democrat wins election it’s a problem for racist Republicans?
And what’s pissing me off is the fact that y’all fighting with others for peanuts while the top 1% who’ve gotten over 1 trillion dollars from Trump tax cut.
And also, Biden is not even in yet and y’all getting burned off.
Stop all these bullshits and let’s strike for what’s making since.
Like: poor rages we’re getting, brokers getting too much over head etc…..
When are we going to stop these fights against each other, when others are getting super rich.
This is the United States of America! We stand together, not destroyed one another.
I voted for Trump before, but for me he didn’t deliver the merchandise. For those on top, yes! But for maine street it’s horrible.
Let’s wait for Biden before we start fighting.
I love you all and hope we all can get along.
Fuck you
Amen Ricky! Someone didn’t follow up on what Trump delivered! He’s the only president who did! I bet Dodo gladly accepted his $1200.00 stimulus money! AND because he sounds poor, I bet he accepted his extra $600.00/week on top of his unemployment pay! Thank you President Trump for trying to take care of USA citizens!
Racist republicans? Your boy Biden said Senator Bryd was a “mentor”, “a friend”, and don’t forget Bryd was a Ku Klux Klan member, recruiter, and started his own Klan chapter. Bryd also said he would never serve in the military because he wouldn’t serve with blacks. Bryd was a democrat senator for over fifty years.
So you figure Joe praising the Klan leader makes republicans racist? Interesting.
You are all true heroes!!!!!
God bless all of you
God bless your patriotism
God bless all of us
Nicole, you apparently have fascism mixed up with patriotism.
And refusing to deliver goods to specific areas is asinine.
Maybe we will just have to train and hire new drivers.
Bunch of asses Biden is the best choice
You need a drug test
He’s right, and you need a mental health exam.
Agree!
Bunch of asses Biden is the best choice
Go teamsters
Won’t never happen drivers have never stuck together on a strike..
👍👍👍
It is ludicrous. They haven’t given the Biden a chance yet. So go throw your temper tantrums. You are lucky to even have a job. Get over yourself…Biden won.
This needs to be done not just for political but wake up america of the real importance of truckers to their needs
Wake up Folks,trump is Not on Our Side.He Signed elogs into Law,Remember? He is Simply Trying to Stay Out of Prison. Putins Puppet Must Go. Ride Safe Folks
You are a dumb ass
Trumpers HATE the truth. They only believe lying propaganda that fits their warped, selfish worldview. I’d pity you if you weren’t so dangerous to the safety and security of this country.
I’m in, it’s time we stand up we support our President now, surely not what’s coming. Biden Harris will destroy what America stands for, green new screwing we will definitely get.
The country will move forward into the 21st century with or without you rethug regressives. Biden has won the election, and your impeached 1 term DontheCon will become the infamous Worst Potus in History.
Sleepy joe has not won, only in his own mind
Let’s see if Biden and Harris give up their salary to support causes, such as the VA as President Trump has. I bet NOT! Still like to know how Biden owns 4- $3,000,000 mansions on a 200,000 salary a year. Democrats are just pissed because Trump is financially smart and they can’t seem to budget.
As far as reducing income taxes, yes, Trump actually did that for the lower and middle income families. My paychecks increased by $60.00 biweekly. That is a hell of a chunk per year.
Biden did state in his debates, he was raising the income tax, fuel tax, and cutting the exemptions back to 6300.00 that was under Obama/Biden administration for a single person. Trump set it at 12,200 for a single person. So just wait until you file your taxes under Biden/Harris. You will get no refund and if you pay in every year, you will pay double in taxes. Before you democrats run your mouth, here is your proof of his presidency income and where it was donated.
https://www.snopes.com/news/2019/12/13/president-trump-salary-donation/
Self driving trucks NOW. Replace this industry with automation as soon as possible.
BIDEN-HARRIS AND THE DEMS ARE GONNA TURN THE US INTO A DARK SPOT ON THE MAP LIKE NORTH KOREEEAAAAA!!!! How soon do you think the oil will stop flowing? March ’21? December ’21? and you’ll all be unemployed? don’t be ridiculous. it’ll be at least a decade before renewable energy infrastructure can be built out to the scale necessary to power homes and offices, light industry, but oil-dependency isn’t going anywhere until at least 2040. until then, getting buildings off of oil-based energy means demand drops, ppb drops, price at the pump drops. workers are employed building out new energy capacity. unfortunately oil companies are going to lash out when the subsidy teats are taken away.
China Joe will be 1984 on steroids.
You are a dumb ass
This dumb ass and the rest of us patriots will have to save your sorry ass. WEF1984 meet AMERICA1776.
There’s no unity in this industry. Especially with so many foreigners in it now that only see the money side of it . A good crushing blow would be to hand Papa Joe a real crisis the day he takes the office if he does. A trucker strike nationwide would show him and America the power that we the American truckers have . But all this is just talk. Christ will return before the truckers unite, and he’s been absent for 2000 years .
So I guess if this really works I’ll get in my car and drive 50 mph up and down the roads every day to slow you down you guys get paid more for on time loads be careful
Really You wont strike over good wages You wont strike over poor working conditions You wont strike over high fuel cost but you will strike because a democrat was elected president. Hey idiots Trump screwed your HOS Trump screwed trade with Mexico Trump screwed trade with china . hell Trump is a traitor and a theif but you just keep believing him. And oh by the way he lost the election.
Thank you!
very observant. thank you
Obviously, you aren’t educated Susan.
I don’t care about DT or JB all I care about is Money! If you want strike more money for me!
We’re not taking any illegal votes especially if they came from dead people and deceased pets! All LEGAL votes must count. There’s a massive fraud and if you don’t see and hear them, you must have locked yourself in the basement just like the BIDENS! Creepy Joe is unfit to be the President of this great Nation. He will sell us to China and a lots of jobs will be lost! Many will go to Washington DC for the Caravan for Truth from different States. Truckers joining will be a great addition so all the 72Million Trump supporters will be heard and represented!!! LET’S SUPPORT POTUS!!!
Your delusional! I am a Trucker I am not dumb to join a scam, loser loser. I just want make more Money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Face it, DontheCon LOST to Biden in a LANDSLIDE result because patriotic Americans have had enough of his ignorant, sociopathic incitement of his low information, ignorant base.
No thanks, he lost. Get over it.
Hey James and Harinama – this must be the first time either of you ever voted! Since when has the USA not known on Election Day who was the President for the next four years? Since when were states still counting votes from Americans who sent in their ballots late as if they didn’t have enough time to be responsible US citizens? You two can keep hiding your heads in the sand. It’s so obvious that something is wrong. And just think what the government could/would be able to do in the future if they can change the rules that have been established since way before you were born! With Biden we’ll have a socialist country and then perhaps a communist country just like China! I hope you’re young enough to enjoy the loss of your freedoms!
If your ignorance wasn’t so scary I’d feel sorry for you. The only way we have ever “known” the results of the election on election days is by the media calling it. And, they have almost always been right. 100% of all votes have NEVER been accounted for on election day. Every state has different voting regulation but all mail in votes have to be sent postmarked by election day. Those ARE legal votes. No one is counting late votes. No fraud. Just losers grasping at straws to maintain power. This undermining the confidence in our voting systems based on falsehood and outright lies is the most Unamerican thing possible. Questioning the integrity of local poll watcher, both Democratic and Republican simply because you lost is disgusting. That is something Communist China would do!! How you sleep at night baffles me. So many Trump cultists selling out their own country is appalling!
Oh brother. It’s like they’ve never watched returns. The only reason it’s a big deal is because the losing party is making it a huge deal to keep the donations coming in to pay down 45’s campaign debts, and to keep believers outraged so that they turn out for the GA runoff. Legal challenges are being struck down every day. Lawyers (lawyers! kripes!) are backing away to keep the stink off of them (LAWYERS!!). Meanwhile, our country is now the largest $h!thole in the world, with a banana republic, a ruling party that is sowing doubt and division over a free and fair election, and a health crisis so great that Doctors Without Borders is coming HERE. But sure, believe the election was hinky.
Republicans selling out their country? Good grief, get your stuff correct. Trump brought back jobs from China, that the Clintons sold to China taking jobs away from the actual working Americans.
Did you all forget that the last 4 yrs the democrats have been screaming and plotting false accusations against the Trump/Clinton election? Screaming russian interference. Who are the damn cry babies? What is good for the goose, is good for the gander. How does it feel to have the tables turned?
Actually this is the year for the Tecumseh Curse, your cheating just saved our President Trump from assassination. I applaud you for that one.
Everyone is closed today? Do it tomorrow when there are loads and money that will be impacted by such actions!!!!!
Sounds like really good IDEA!!
I Know it’s been hard to watch all the strange things that have been hidden! BIDEN is NOT GOOD FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS!!!!!!
THANKS FOR TRYING AND I THINK WE SHOULD ALL SHUT DOWN OUR COUNTRY.
THEY SAY JOE BIDENS CONTRIBUTORS ARE FACEBOOK EMPLOYEES… UNIVERSITIES and the Elite……
President Trump’s CONTRIBUTORS
POLICE. THE MARINES. HOME OWNERS AND RANGERS…
SO WHO DO YOU THINK RUNS THIS COUNTRY!!!???????
Intelligent working people run this country, which pretty much discounts ALL republicans.
Fuck you – you communist!
To all of you striking. THANK YOU! As an American I am in your debt.
So why would Biden/Harris try to shut down our fracking & oil jobs here in the United States? Odd, while he was in the Ukraine making a fortune & pushed for more fracking & oil there?
Obviously you did not watch the Presidential debates, good grief. SMDH
Lots of people out of work. Not so hard to drive an automatic semi. Could be permanent replacements. That’s what they do, play us off one another.
I wonder what would happen if we all threw temper tantrums and stopped doing the jobs we chose to do and got paid for because the nation exercised it’s right to vote.
This was a monumental election. More people voted than ever before and the people have spoken. I wonder though. What if we all chose this route. No schools last election, no doctors… interesting that the truckers feel thuggish enough to punish the American people for using their right to vote.
Actually, you have no schools now and many Doctors won’t see patients because of the lock downs that they have mandated. What many don’t realize is that your right to go into a store and purchase a product, is because a Trucker brought it. We, as Americans have a right to a fair election, a transparent election and an honest election. There is proven fraud and anyone would exercise their right to uncover all of this fraud. How in the world can we ever be assured of our election process without making sure of the illegal votes and who actually won the election? I know who was the winner on Election Day and then Wednesday morning, everything changed. That is what this is about.
Show me ANY fraud. There wasn’t any, and now your president is trying to over rule the results of s valid election.
A fascist coup, leading his deluded followers.
Get real James! And go educate yourself! And you too Debbie!
How about 100K votes showing up in Detroit at 4AM in open boxes, 100% for Biden? How about Trump leading by hundreds of thousands of votes in 5 battleground states who all stopped counting around the same time, and when the came back, Biden was in the lead? How about the water main break in Atlanta at State Farm Arena that caused counting to stop, except that there is no work order for the repair, and under a freedom of information inquiry, the only record of the event was between the facility owner and the Falcons owner stating that there was a minor leak, it was fixed promptly, and that the media blew the whole thing out of proportion? What about 3000 people from California voting in Nevada even though they are not registered in NV and already voted in CA? The only reason you don’t see fraud is because you don’t look for it. The mainstream media will not report it. You want to know what has been found? Go to tatumreport.com, thefederalist.com, spectator.com, theepochtimes.com.
i am not a driver but i stand with you guys
I say let the Union companies like ABF your business. Go Teamsters union drivers
Yes you nuts go ahead and shut down, Hell shut do for a month! That means the rates will go up and I will make more money moving freight.
I’m a Republican who voted Biden. To be clear, this was never about a difference of political opinion. We’ve gotten through that before. This was about a fundamental difference in morality, integrity and decency and a person who exemplifies none of those things.
Exactly right AJ.
Anyone who still supports sociopathic narcissist DontheCon is not worthy of my respect.
Biden was not my choice (Bernie fan), but I support wholeheartedly him and a return to common decency, intelligence and diplomacy in the Whitehouse which we have not seen in 4 years.
Thank you! Besides stopping trucking only gonna hurt my pocketbook and the family’s who depend upon us in need of food and medical supplies during a pandemic, America is under enough stress as it is! I stand with Biden, “Time To Heal America”.
~*~ Four Bore Years ~*~
I haven’t found a way to vote in the last 2 presidential races – we need to see someone emerge who is appropriate to lead the free world, before we burn down the Republic, or it rots from within….
That’s OK. The democrats voted your vote for you.
Obviously you like lying politicians and not someone who tells it like it is! Maybe he doesn’t have a lot of tact – but he sticks up for the USA!
How bout looking at accomplishments. Biden: 1. sponsored the 1994 crime bill that drove mass incarceration of blacks and latinos for 25 years. 2. sold out the working class of this country for 40 years pandering to China. Biden was an advocate of adding China to the WTO and giving them most favored nation trading status, that decimated big parts of american manufacturing. 3. used his influence as VP to ensure the corrupt Burisma investigation would stop so they could keep paying his son $50K/month to be on their board, even though Hunter knew nothing of the oil & gas business, or about Burisma, or the language in which the board meetings were held.
What did trump do?
1 Trump recently signed three bills to benefit Native people. One gives compensation to the Spokane tribe for loss of their lands in the mid-1900s, one funds Native language programs, and the third gives federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Montana.
2 Trump finalized the creation of Space Force as our 6th Military branch.
3 Trump signed a law to make cruelty to animals a federal felony so that animal abusers face tougher consequences.
4 Violent crime has fallen every year he’s been in office after rising during the two years before he was elected.
5 Trump signed a bill making CBD and Hemp legal.
6 Trump’s EPA gave $100 million to fix the water infrastructure problem in Flint, Michigan.
7 Under Trump’s leadership, in 2018 the U.S. surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia to become the world’s largest producer of crude oil.
8 Trump signed a law ending the gag orders on pharmacists that prevented them from sharing money-saving information.
9 Trump signed the “Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act” (FOSTA), which includes the “Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act” (SESTA) which both give law enforcement and victims new tools to fight sex trafficking.
10 Trump signed a bill to require airports to provide spaces for breastfeeding moms.
The 25% lowest-paid Americans enjoyed a 4.5% income boost in November 2019, which outpaces a 2.9% gain in earnings for the country’s highest-paid workers.
Low-wage workers are benefiting from higher minimum wages and from corporations that are increasing entry-level pay.
11 Trump signed the biggest wilderness protection & conservation bill in a decade and designated 375,000 acres as protected land.
12 Trump signed the Save our Seas Act which funds $10 million per year to clean tons of plastic & garbage from the ocean.
13 He signed a bill this year allowing some drug imports from Canada so that prescription prices would go down.
14 Trump signed an executive order this year that forces all healthcare providers to disclose the cost of their services so that Americans can comparison shop and know how much less providers charge insurance companies.
When signing that bill he said no American should be blindsided by bills for medical services they never agreed to in advance.
15 Hospitals will now be required to post their standard charges for services, which include the discounted price a hospital is willing to accept.
16 In the eight years prior to President Trump’s inauguration, prescription drug prices increased by an average of 3.6% per year. Under Trump, drug prices have seen year-over-year declines in nine of the last ten months, with a 1.1% drop as of the most recent month.
17 He created a White House VA Hotline to help veterans and principally staffed it with veterans and direct family members of veterans.
VA employees are being held accountable for poor performance, with more than 4,000 VA employees removed, demoted, and suspended so far.
18 Issued an executive order requiring the Secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs to submit a joint plan to provide veterans access to access to mental health treatment as they transition to civilian life.
19 Because of a bill signed and championed by Trump, in 2020, most federal employees will see their pay increase by an average of 3.1% — the largest raise in more than 10 years.
20 Trump signed into a law up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for millions of federal workers.
21 Trump administration will provide HIV prevention drugs for free to 200,000 uninsured pa tients per year for 11 years.
22 All-time record sales during the 2019 holidays.
23 Trump signed an order allowing small businesses to group together when buying insurance to get a better price.
24President Trump signed the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act that provides funding for states to develop maternal mortality reviews to better understand maternal complications and identify solutions & largely focuses on reducing the higher mortality rates for Black Americans.
25 In 2018, President Trump signed the groundbreaking First Step Act, a criminal justice bill which enacted reforms that make our justice system fairer and help former inmates successfully return to society.
26 The First Step Act’s reforms addressed inequities in sentencing laws that disproportionately harmed Black Americans and reformed mandatory minimums that created unfair outcomes.
27 The First Step Act expanded judicial discretion in sentencing of non-violent crimes.
Over 90% of those benefiting from the retroactive sentencing reductions in the First Step Act are Black Americans.
28 The First Step Act provides rehabilitative programs to inmates, helping them successfully rejoin society and not return to crime.
29 Trump increased funding for historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) by more than 14%.
30 Trump signed legislation forgiving Hurricane Katrina debt that threatened HBCUs.
31 New single-family home sales are up 31.6% in October 2019 compared to just one year ago.
32Made HBCUs a priority by creating the position of executive director of the White House Initiative on HBCUs.
33 Trump received the Bipartisan Justice Award at a historically black college for his criminal justice reform accomplishments.
34The poverty rate fell to a 17-year low of 11.8% under the Trump administration as a result of a jobs-rich environment.
35Poverty rates for African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans have reached their lowest levels since the U.S. began collecting such data.
36President Trump signed a bill that creates five national monuments, expands several national parks, adds 1.3 million acres of wilderness, and permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
37Trump’s USDA committed $124 Million to rebuild rural water infrastructure.
38[Prior to the unexpected coronavirus pandemic] Consumer confidence & small business confidence is at an all time high.
39[Prior to the unexpected coronavirus pandemic] More than 7 million jobs created since election.
40 [Prior to the unexpected coronavirus pandemic] More Americans were employed than ever recorded before in our history.
41More than 400,000 manufacturing jobs created since his election.
42Trump appointed five openly gay ambassadors.
43Trump ordered Ric Grenell, his openly gay ambassador to Germany, to lead a global initiative to decriminalize homosexuality across the globe.
44Through Trump’s Anti-Trafficking Coordination Team (ACTeam) initiative, Federal law enforcement more than doubled convictions of human traffickers and increased the number of defendants charged by 75% in ACTeam districts.
45In 2018, the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismantled an organization that was the internet’s leading source of prostitution-related advertisements resulting in sex trafficking.
46Trump’s OMB published new anti-trafficking guidance for government procurement officials to more effectively combat human trafficking.
47Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations arrested 1,588 criminals associated with Human Trafficking.
48Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services provided funding to support the National Human Trafficking Hotline to identify perpetrators and give victims the help they need.
49The hotline identified 16,862 potential human trafficking cases.
50Trump’s DOJ provided grants to organizations that support human trafficking victims – serving nearly 9,000 cases from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018.
51The Department of Homeland Security has hired more victim assistance specialists, helping victims get resources and support.
52President Trump has called on Congress to pass school choice legislation so that no child is trapped in a failing school because of his or her zip code.
53The President signed funding legislation in September 2018 that increased funding for school choice by $42 million.
54The tax cuts signed into law by President Trump promote school choice by allowing families to use 529 college savings plans for elementary and secondary education.
55Under his leadership ISIS has lost most of their territory and been largely dismantled.
56ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi was killed.
57Signed the first Perkins CTE reauthorization since 2006, authorizing more than $1 billion for states each year to fund vocational and career education programs.
58Executive order expanding apprenticeship opportunities for students and workers.
59Trump issued an Executive Order prohibiting the U.S. government from discriminating against Christians or punishing expressions of faith.
60Signed an executive order that allows the government to withhold money from college campuses deemed to be anti-Semitic and who fail to combat anti-Semitism.
61President Trump ordered a halt to U.S. tax money going to international organizations that fund or perform abortions.
62Trump imposed sanctions on the socialists in Venezuela who have killed their citizens.
63Finalized new trade agreement with South Korea.
64Made a deal with the European Union to increase U.S. energy exports to Europe.
65Withdrew the U.S. from the job killing TPP deal.
66Secured $250 billion in new trade and investment deals in China and $12 billion in Vietnam.
57Okay’d up to $12 billion in aid for farmers affected by unfair trade retaliation.
68Has had over a dozen US hostages freed, including those Obama could not get freed.
69Trump signed the Music Modernization Act, the biggest change to copyright law in decades.
70Trump secured billions that will fund the building of a wall at our southern border.
71The Trump Administration is promoting second chance hiring to give former inmates the opportunity to live crime-free lives and find meaningful employment.
72Trump’s DOJ and the Board Of Prisons launched a new “Ready to Work Initiative” to help connect employers directly with former prisoners.
73President Trump’s historic tax cut legislation included new Opportunity Zone Incentives to promote investment in low-income communities across the country.
74 8,764 communities across the country have been designated as Opportunity Zones.
Opportunity Zones are expected to spur $100 billion in long-term private capital investment in economically distressed communities across the country.
75Trump directed the Education Secretary to end Common Core.
76Trump signed the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund into law.
77Trump signed measure funding prevention programs for Veteran suicide.
78Companies have brought back over a TRILLION dollars from overseas because of the TCJA bill that Trump signed.
79[Prior to the coronavirus pandemic] manufacturing jobs were growing at the fastest rate in more than 30 years.
80[Prior to the coronavirus pandemic] the stock market reached record highs.
81[Prior to the coronavirus pandemic] Median household income hit highest level ever recorded.
82[Prior to the coronavirus pandemic] African-American unemployment is at an all time low.
83[Prior to the coronavirus pandemic] Hispanic-American unemployment is at an all time low.
84[Prior to the coronavirus pandemic] Asian-American unemployment is at an all time low.
85[Prior to the coronavirus pandemic] women’s unemployment rate was at a 65-year low.
86[Prior to the coronavirus pandemic] Youth unemployment is at a 50-year low.
87[Prior to the coronavirus pandemic] We had the lowest unemployment rate ever recorded.
88The Pledge to America’s Workers has resulted in employers committing to train more than 4 million Americans.
89[Prior to the coronavirus pandemic] 95 percent of U.S. manufacturers are optimistic about the future— the highest ever.
90[Prior to the coronavirus pandemic] As a result of the Republican tax bill, small businesses will have the lowest top marginal tax rate in more than 80 years.
91Record number of regulations eliminated that hurt small businesses.
92 Signed welfare reform requiring able-bodied adults who don’t have children to work or look for work if they’re on welfare.
93Under Trump, the FDA approved more affordable generic drugs than ever before in history.
94Reformed Medicare program to stop hospitals from overcharging low-income seniors on their drugs—saving seniors 100’s of millions of $$$ this year alone.
95Signed Right-To-Try legislation allowing terminally ill patients to try experimental treatment that wasn’t allowed before.
96Secured $6 billion in new funding to fight the opioid epidemic.
97Signed VA Choice Act and VA Accountability Act, expanded VA telehealth services, walk-in-clinics, and same-day urgent primary and mental health care.
98U.S. oil production recently reached all-time high so we are less dependent on oil from the Middle East.
99The U.S. is a net natural gas exporter for the first time since 1957.
100 NATO allies increased their defense spending because of his pressure campaign.
101 Withdrew the United States from the job-killing Paris Climate Accord in 2017 and that same year the U.S. still led the world by having the largest reduction in Carbon emissions.
102 Has his circuit court judge nominees being confirmed faster than any other new administration.
103 Had his Supreme Court Justice’s Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh confirmed.
104 Moved U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
105 Agreed to a new trade deal with Mexico & Canada that will increase jobs here and $$$ coming in.
106 Reached a breakthrough agreement with the E.U. to increase U.S. exports.
107 Imposed tariffs on China in response to China’s forced technology transfer, intellectual property theft, and their chronically abusive trade practices, has agreed to a Part One trade deal with China.
108 Signed legislation to improve the National Suicide Hotline.
109 Signed the most comprehensive childhood cancer legislation ever into law, which will advance childhood cancer research and improve treatments.
110 The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law by Trump doubled the maximum amount of the child tax credit available to parents and lifted the income limits so more people could claim it.
111 It also created a new tax credit for other dependents.
112 In 2018, President Trump signed into law a $2.4 billion funding increase for the Child Care and Development Fund, providing a total of $8.1 billion to States to fund child care for low-income families.
113 The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) signed into law by Trump provides a tax credit equal to 20-35% of child care expenses, $3,000 per child & $6,000 per family + Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) allow you to set aside up to $5,000 in pre-tax $ to use for child care.
114 In 2019 President Donald Trump signed the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act (CARES) into law which allocates $1.8 billion in funding over the next five years to help people with autism spectrum disorder and to help their families.
115 In 2019 President Trump signed into law two funding packages providing nearly $19 million in new funding for Lupus specific research and education programs, as well an additional $41.7 billion in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the most Lupus funding EVER.
116 Another upcoming accomplishment to add: In the next week or two Trump will be signing the first major anti-robocall law in decades called the TRACED Act (Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence.) Once it’s the law, the TRACED Act will extend the period of time the FCC has to catch & punish those who intentionally break telemarketing restrictions. The bill also requires voice service providers to develop a framework to verify calls are legitimate before they reach your phone.
117 [Prior to the coronavirus pandemic] US stock market continually hit all-time record highs.
There will always be trucking but there may be a different type of power source for the big rigs.
Biden was not against fracking just no fracking on government land. let the land owner do what they want.
Now that we have all the oil we need is the time to start the creation of equipment that runs on alternate energy, develop the infrastructure to support it and well as the technology that makes it feasible.
We do not need to wait until we have not choice to change over to alternate energy it will be to late by then and if we get started later rather than sooner we may have given other countries the opportunity to lead and we will never catch up.
Sorry guys, but you begin to move when you have a choice not when its the only thing you can do.
Biden was clear. He wants to eliminate fracking. No New Fracking he said many times, and in at least one speech he said his goal is to phase it out by 2025(!).
I live in Idaho and we have family all over America and we are in total agreement with this stopping the wheels! I live next to Interstate 84 and hope to hear the sound of hard working truckers wheels not rolling for awhile! I’ll be able to tell with my ears of the success. God Bless All Blue Collar Workers
1. STOP FAKE PANDEMIA LOCKDOWNS !
2. RE-COUNT FROUD ELECTION !
God bless you to fight for our freedom !
You do know there’s plenty of Trump voters who rely on truckers every day, right? I’m sure they’re just as disappointed in the result but they’re not throwing a temper tantrum.
Just keep pretending Donald Trump gives a damn about any of you, or any politician really.
why have a 4 day strike from 11/26 – 11/29? Thats generally a 4 day weekend anyways for a lot of people. Strike the 4 days before, where it will actually have an effect on people by losing the trucking industry for 4 days
You’re all idiots. Your jobs will be outsourced to robots by the capatalists at the same time doctors and lawyers also become obsolete with the rise of technology. It would be better for the planet if you didn’t deliver cheap capatalist crap for a few days. Hell take the rest of your life off loosers.
Thank You! The GOP is killing their jobs as I write this…and Donald Trump thinks they are common trash…
They are all radicalized by Fixed news and Talk Radio…pathetic!
Hey Dodo,
You couldn’t have picked a better name. The only way you didn’t benefit from Trumps administration is because your one of those people that are sitting at home waiting for a hand out but, if you actually participated in society you would see the improvements. No your not going to get a big welfare increase you actually have to earn your own living and then you will see where the benefits are. Try it.
Greetings Trucking News fans…,
Having now observed human behavior for almost 65 years, it seems to me that as long as there is a free market capitalist system in place which is designed to create massive profit for individuals, or groups of individuals via polluting this planet’s air, water and soil there are, and sadly will continue to be opportunists who will take the opportunity regardless of the long term effects on planet earth.
Wind and solar will need to be better developed before they have the ability to replace the burning of gasses for energy. However, ones such as Tesla, then recently physicists such as Travis Taylor pH D have demonstrated that earth has a natural energy field/system that can be harnessed. Then we scientists who are working to place solar panels in earth’s atmosphere which may eventually be able to supply us with 100% of our energy needs.
However, as long as we continue using the current greed based free market capitalist system, (which is the primary cause of inflation) those same capitalists will continue to prevent the development of any energy source with does not fill their bank accounts with massive profit. Therefore, it is time to replace the current money system: https://oldworlddisorder.blogspot.com
I meant to say: We also have scientists who are working to place solar panels
Go ahead F**kers. Do it and then see if I respect you on the road. I won’t back off and give you room to pull in anymore. I won’t flick my lights telling you it is safe and I’ll slow down on the grades instead of speeding up to give you room. If you don’t respect our democracy I won’t respect your efforts.
Transitions are coming whether or not you like. You can oppose change, see how that worked out for the horse and buggy, or help create and guide the change. Your choice.
I think we need to make one more coast to coast trip before we shut down. Ill help pay for the fuel to go to Washington, Philadelphia and all other democrat cities and load up the dumbass democrats and haul all their asses to California and dump them out. And put Biden and harris in a truck by theurselves so they can fight it out about what to do with them when they get there. Any quedtions or comments call me, ill give directions
go for it. We will be right there in front of you, slowing you down
You can get shot in the face for threats like that tough guy.
How stupid can you be when you are “a trucker for trump” but not understanding that trump isn’t for truckers. I don’t think these people understand the difference between a protest and a parade. What an embarrassment these pro-trump protesting “truckers” have become for the transportation industry. I remember when drivers were respected on and off the road, but not anymore with these two week CDL classes to churn out as many steering wheel holders as they can to flood the market which has in turn kept the wages down for all drivers. Don’t try to talk any sense into these Trump bootlickers. If they aren’t smart enough to see or understand that their daddy Trump doesn’t care about them or their agenda that’s their problem. I mean they gripe about not making enough money, but want to shut down to prove a point? …brilliant….Trump has done nothing for the driver, kind of like the farmers that keep supporting trump while he kills them monetarily with his poor trade deals with China and then expect us the taxpayers pay for the bailout the farmers need to survive. Trump is as inept as most truckers are to think for themselves. You can’t get more than three or four truckers in a room for longer than five minutes without an argument or disagreement. Most of them can’t carry on an intelligent conversation without cussing every other word like RICKY has done in earlier posts, (he only knows how to respond with a “fuck you” or a “your a dumbass”….I wonder which I will get, maybe both) he is the perfect example of a do nothing loudmouth wannabe trucker who probably got his CDL out of a Cracker Jack box himself if he even has one. What a good representative you are of the transportation industry RICKY…lol…if we could get rid of all the Ricky’s in the industry it may not be a half bad industry to work in. I have hauled cattle and produce over 20 years and haven’t seen anything that trump has done for the benefit of this industry? He hasn’t done much of anything as far as infrastructure (better roads), lower taxes for the driver or anyone else (who isn’t rich), HOS laws in your favor, or regulate the costs of all these overpriced tollways and bridge tolls that cut into the bottom line and the list goes on. I doubt most of you have even read or researched anything on “the green new deal” what is wrong with renewable energies that keep the planet cleaner and creates more jobs and benefits everyone with a cleaner planet? How did trumps promise go to the coal industry? Did you protest that? Trump not bringing back coal as a viable energy source like he promised? Instead he lost nearly a thousand jobs in the industry. Quit being followers with the other idiots on the CB, do some research and form your own opinions. You may not be able to turn the fuel up to it and “roll coal” anymore to look cool instead you need to be responsible toward the resources needed for the survival of people in future generations including your family. Think about it have you ever seen a “big truck” parked out in front of Mar-a-lago? Why do you think that is? If I need to tell you it is because you don’t have enough money for him to care about you. Bottom line is that he doesn’t care about you the trucker or your interests at all, he only cares about what you can do for him. Wake up people Biden has won and will do a far better job than Trump ever did for transportation and for the good of the country. The only thing Trump is concerned about is using you people to donate to him to pay off his future debts, campaign costs and attorney fees to help keep him out of jail through his ridiculous “Official Election Defense Fund,”…lol, give me a break people…wake up! I apologize to all the good people out there for the long winded post, I just had to get it off my chest, I just am sick of all the the trump enablers in the industry whining out there and had to vent about it. The only thing more disturbing than trumps presidency is to know that over 45% of “Americans” share his ideals.
I agree with Ricky – F U!, say hello to the first bi-racial female President Harris!
So Kamala is Jamaican and Indian. Bi racial yes, but she plays off that she is African-Indian, which she is not.
So tell me one thing. What has Biden ever done for the working man?
I always thought truckers were hardworking adults, not crybaby snowflakes.
Biden won. Get over it.
Congratulate President Elect Biden and Vice President Elect Harris.
Since you don’t want to work for this country you won’t have to for long.
The self driving electric vehicles will replace all of you that don’t want to work for the Americans in this country.
Oil is part of the falsehood that capitalism is what makes America, its actually what keeps us relying on all these countries that have us begging for money. Step into life, oil won’t last forever and neither will the US if you think we can keep relying on the 19th century to keep us alive.
Technological advances will either be this country’s goal or we will watch the world leave us in the 19th century and we will need them to catch up.
Why are the people thinking the truckers should solve this? And waiting for them. The people need to get out of their easy chairs and do their part. Go to the freeway overpasses with protest signs reading “FRAUD!”. Or be a slave to the communists.
Because the people can shutdown the interstates just by standing on the overpasses. The TEA party did it in 2013 in CA, look it up.
The GOP wants Trump gone as much as the Dems, don’t fall for their courtroom subterfuge. Remember how they lied and pretended to be against Obamacare, don’t fall for it.
Y’all will never shut down..give it up..no one in this industry has balls.
Go ahead and do it you big cry babies. Plenty of CDL drivers who aren’t sore losing cry babies looking for work will take your jobs. Good luck with that jackoffs hahahahahahahahahahaha.
I’ll be laughing when your unemployed, sucking on the government handout teet, all the while the world has kept trucking hahahahahahahahah
This is how foolish people who eat Trumpian used horse-food propaganda get replaced by self-driving trucks…
Go ahead and do it truckers……….just more business for the railroads…Go Railroads!
If these idiots want to go on strike, let them shoot themselves in the foot. But don’t kid yourself into thinking it will mean more business for the railroads. Trains are limited as to where they can travel and rely heavily on the trucking industry to stay in business.
Trumpers are all so full of bs….it’s now called “propaganda.”
Who are the “snowflakes” now. But, I’m sure the the rail industry will be more than glad to watch these ppl shoot themselves in the foot and give the American public another reason to dislike today’s OTR truckers.
Signed,
old school teamster supporting trucking family
It’s quite possible if they strike there’s a dozen waiting in line for their job. I remember when Ronald Reagan fired all the air traffic controllers and a lot of people were without jobs. I’ve always wanted to be a trucker, maybe this is a good time to apply. Before they do this they should think about what could happen and if they are willing to lose their jobs over this.
Dear geniuses who think this is a good idea:
Impacting the holiday shipping period will have precisely two effects:
1: interruption of efforts to fight Covid and thereby increasing deaths
2: severe kickback effect on e-commerce which will direct consumers to local stores or decrease sales altogether. This will kill more trucker jobs downstream than anything else.
Also, while I am a lifelong Republican voter, I have to admit that most of what I had heard about the deal on Fox and FB was almost entirely false. Educate yourselves and each other so we stop looking like fools to Dems.
https://www.factcheck.org/2019/02/the-facts-on-the-green-new-deal/
HOMEPAGE
HOME TRANSPORTATION
Truckers voted for Trump in droves. Now they say his trade war is ‘killing’ their ability to make a living.
Rachel Premack
Aug 20, 2019, 2:17 PM
trump truck
President Donald Trump honks the horn of an 18-wheeler on the South Lawn of the White House, March 23, 2017. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
Truck drivers tend to be conservative.
But a growing group of them are moving away from President Donald Trump.
They say his trade wars and a slew of tax changes have ruined their ability to make a living.
Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Morris Coffman has been a truck driver for 35 years. And he’s been a conservative for even longer than that — his whole life.
“That said,” Coffman told Business Insider, “[Trump] is absolutely a moron. His idiotic ideas will tank the economy even further.”
Truckers, like Coffman, lean conservative. A Verdant Labs analysis of Federal Elections Commission data found that nearly three-quarters of truck drivers are Republican — one of the most conservative jobs in America, along with surgeons and farmers.
And truck drivers supported Trump in droves, according to an Overdrive magazine survey from 2016. About 75% said they planned to vote for Trump, up from 66% who supported Sen. Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential nominee in 2012.
trucker
sirtravelalot/Shutterstock
But a sharp downturn in the trucking industry and a slew of tax changes have hampered their ability to make a living. And many connect those two trends to Trump’s economic policies.
“He has not affected our business in a positive way,” said one truck driver who asked to be quoted anonymously for fear their small business might suffer. “He’s killing our business. If consumers aren’t buying, then there is no demand. This really isn’t about my political leanings — it’s pure business.”
Trump’s tax reworking in 2017 led to many truck drivers having to pay hundreds in taxes this year, thanks to a change in per-diem laws. Dennis Bridges, an accountant who specializes in doing taxes for truckers, told Mother Jones in April that 75% of his clients saw an unusually large tax payment, and about 20% had to fork over more than $5,000.
That might’ve been bearable in 2018, when trucking capacity was tight, the industry was raking in cash, and truckers saw their pay jump. But now the trucking “bloodbath,” as Coffman and other truckers describe current transportation conditions, has meant low rates and low pay for truckers. Trucking has been in a recession since late 2018.
Read more: 2,500 truck drivers have lost their jobs in 2019 as the transportation ‘bloodbath’ rolls on. Here’s the full list of bankrupt trucking companies.
Transport research groups reported that the volume of trucks purchased in July fell to its lowest level in nearly 10 years. The number of loads needing to be moved in the spot market tumbled by 37% this July compared to one year ago, and rates have fallen by as much as 18%.
“I have witnessed many ups and downs in the industry but nothing like this,” Coffman told Business Insider. “Many, many owner-operators and drivers have either lost equipment or lost a job in the last year.”
The Cass Freight Index says year-over-year trucking volumes have slipped for eight consecutive months. In June, factory-activity growth was its slowest since October 2016, according to the Institute for Supply Management. That means manufacturers didn’t receive as many orders and there were fewer things to move.
Chris Gardner/Getty Images
Truckers say the dip in manufacturing numbers — which they say are tied to Trump’s trade war — is one reason there are so few jobs.
“The truth about the rates being so low is Trump’s trade policies,” JL Sims, a truck driver, told Business Insider. “Manufacturers are scared. Last month’s manufacturing jobs numbers finally began to reflect the reduced production. Everyone looks at the unemployment rate and thinks, mistakenly, that the economy is in great shape. Manufacturing tells the real story.”
Read more: Truckers can’t pay off their fuel cards, and it’s a ‘sure sign’ more trucking bankruptcies are coming
Analysts in trucking are hesitant to make the same sort of connections, however.
DAT Solutions senior analysts Mark Montague and Peggy Dorf previously told Business Insider that the downturn in global trade has affected only certain regions of the US trucking industry.
Experts have said an exceptionally vibrant 2018 may be the bigger reasons for the downturn in trucking. Last year, trucking was incredibly profitable, with record-low bankruptcies, remarkably high rates, eight-month-long wait lists for new trucks, and huge bumps in trucker pay.
“I view it as the market correcting itself,” Cowen’s Jason Seidl previously told Business Insider. “We basically put too much capacity out there in the marketplace, and you saw that by the rates dropping very hard. The market can only take so much of that, so it corrects itself. And this is the market just correcting itself.”
Jill Johnson/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT via Getty Images
Whatever the cause of the downturn, truckers are a key demographic for any politician to target. The segment of truckers called owner-operators, for instance — who are independent, rather than company drivers — are fiercely engaged with politics on the national level.
Nearly 90% are registered voters, according to the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, compared to about 78% of the general population. More than half have contacted an elected official.
Trump has previously catered to truckers, pledging to slash taxes to help their businesses. “America first means putting American truckers first,” he said at a 2017 trucker event.
But truckers, including conservative ones, don’t believe Trump has lived up to his promise.
“You can not bully your way to a good economy,” Coffman said.
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This is rediculious! Truck drivers are being used for someone’s agenda. I’m not a driver but but if they strike it should be over what they need. They despertly need more free overnight parking that’s easy to drive through. Every 50 to 100 mile. That they can use anytime of day. They need respect from cars to yield and let them manuver. Every driver on the road should have to set in a big rigs seat to try to understand what a truck driver cannot see and the responsibility they have.
It looks like Banning the ATA would be a good idea. They sent congratulations to Biden. Glad I didn’t throw my money away with them.
I can’t understand why half the country is willing to see this country fail to get rid of one man. Willing to put everything they have and families at risk. Makes no sense. The effects on trucking scares me to death. People for some reason have to learn the hard way. When The trucking cost get passed onto the consumer and the cost of living goes sky high. Will see what happens with the bad choices half americans have made. They will be begging for someone like Trump.
I guess having more money in your pocket no longer means anything!
Trump lost go to work and quit crying. If not someone will. You know how many people are out of work? Be happy you have jobs. People like you are what is wrong with country.
Truck drivers need to strike until Biden concedes. Do this before Jan 20th and Trump wins!
1-6-2021 Truckers do you have room for Trump Supporters to go to Washington DC – invited by Trump to Protest evidenced voter fraud & rigged votes- from electors- it seemed. We the People need a ride to what Trump called wild. Let’s kick off a civil war before they push illegitimate biden on us. If the True Brave Patriots show up with the Truckers (doing their routes we will have a strong impact, I believe.) We the People can’t wait for Congress, US Supreme Court, & other institutions to do their jobs. We will do their jobs & Boot them out!!! Period!!! 575-313-6640 NM Sondra L. Berry