JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The rising cost of diesel is putting financial pressure on truck drivers across the country, with some truckers saying they are considering a strike over the cost of operating their rigs.
According to AAA, the average price of diesel in Florida is about $6.04 per gallon. In Jacksonville, the average is around $6.02 per gallon.
Prices are even higher in some states. AAA data shows diesel costing between $7 and $8 per gallon in states including California and Washington. Texas currently has some of the lowest diesel prices, at about $5.97 per gallon.
Truckers say fuel costs are cutting into their income
Jacksonville truck driver Martin Gooden said the rising price of diesel has significantly increased the amount he spends to fill his truck.
“I got a Freightliner, 240 gallons. I’m usually spending roughly around $800 to fill up. Now I’m at $1,500 to fill up or even more,” Gooden said.
Gooden says truck drivers are responsible for moving goods throughout the country, meaning a large-scale work stoppage could eventually have an impact beyond the trucking industry.
“Trucks move the world, so with us moving the world, if we go on strike, then you guys need to potentially stock up on your goods,” Gooden said.
Trucking organization does not support strikes
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, or OOIDA, says it does not support truck strikes.
Collin Long, the organization’s senior director of government affairs, said truckers would be better served by using their time and resources to advocate for changes at the federal and state levels.
“There may be some folks who have chosen to do that as a way of demonstrating to folks that OOIDA doesn’t support strikes,” Long said. “We believe the best way to use your time, energy and resources is through advocacy on Capitol Hill and state policies to be heard.”
When could the strike begin?
Some truckers are expected to participate in a strike beginning Thursday, October 1.
It remains unclear how many drivers could participate or what the full impact of a work stoppage would be.
Because truck drivers transport food, household products, fuel and other goods across the country, any significant disruption to trucking could potentially affect deliveries and supply chains.
For consumers, the situation is something to watch as truckers continue to deal with elevated fuel costs and debate how best to respond.
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