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Robert Sommers, an independent trucker from Dubois, Pa., who owns his own truck and contracts for U.S. Bulk Transport of Erie, Pa., pays a painful fuel bill at the Peterbilt Fuel Mart in Champlain. Clerk Kris Kissel rings up the sale.
P-R Photo/Bruce Rowland /


A load of new Kenworth trucks, one of them a hybrid, passes through Champlain on the way to Indiana. The Coca-Cola company recently bought 100 of the new rigs, many of which feature new innovations to help save on fuel costs.
P-R Photo/Bruce Rowland /


Independent trucker Judson Thomas stands next to his rig during a recent fuel stop. He believes truckers have not been given the same attention as airlines and other industries that are struggling with the fuel crisis.
P-R Photo/Bruce Rowland /


Trucks pull up to the pumps at the Peterbilt Fuel Mart in Champlain for a fill-up. Skyrocketing diesel prices are threatening the livelihoods of many independent truckers.
P-R Photo/Bruce Rowland /


Diesel prices have been much higher than gasoline prices, a situation that makes the situation even more difficult for truckers.
P-R Photo/Bruce Rowland /



P-R Photo/Bruce Rowland /

James Feimann, a trucker from Clifton Park, said that something has to give, especially for the little guy.

"The government, or someone, has to step in and somehow try to cap it at a certain price, because if not, a lot of these independent guys aren't going to be able to survive."

Truckers have another disadvantage over workers in other transportation industries such as airlines. They are not permitted to unionize, so they have little means of putting pressure on anyone to make their voices heard.

Trucker rallies on Washington or similar demonstrations are their only recourse.

Some truck makers have been trying to offer some relief to the market, however. For example, Kenworth has come out with a big-rig electric hybrid truck and technologies such as idle-management systems also help to save on fuel.

Harvey, who has 26 employees, said he wishes he could raise his rates, but it's very difficult as "a lot of shippers don't want to pay more.

"There needs to be a mandatory surcharge that is passed down 100 percent to the trucker, not going through anybody else's hands," he said.

Feimann and Harvey may be getting their wish.

The Trust in Reliable Understanding of Consumer Cost Act was presented to the House of Representatives recently. If passed, surcharges would go directly to the driver to assist with fuel costs.

"The economy has to make some changes all around," Hampton said, "or the owner-operator won't be able to operate any longer."

Harvey feels that any transportation business is in serious trouble, but thinks that some may get more of a break than others.

"When it comes to the planes, the government will step in and save them. They always do. The trains, the government will save them. They always do. But you never hear anything about trucks. The trucks are the key to this country. Two or three days without trucks, the shelves would be empty, and the world would come to a stop. I just wish that we could get some respect."

Thomas agreed. "It doesn't matter what you get for a load, a lot of it goes into the fuel tank, causing a lot of guys to park their trucks and say, That's enough.'"

Harvey added, "We're just trying to put fuel in the trucks and pay our drivers. We haven't figured out how to make the payments yet. We're just trying to keep things going. That's how bad it is."

kcountry@primelink1.net



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