Rumors have been swirling online that truckers nationwide could strike on October 1 amid record-high diesel prices. One trucking executive says those rumors are not grounded in reality.
Cherri Harris, CEO and owner of Swint Logistics Group, told NewsNation Live on Sunday that truckers are feeling the pressure from rising fuel costs but that a coordinated strike is unlikely.
“Our costs have risen significantly since the war, and now we are seeing diesel prices that we’ve never seen before, historically higher than ever. So our bottom line is significantly being affected,” Harris said.
The Diesel Crisis
The average cost of diesel is $6.47 per gallon, according to AAA. It hit a record high Tuesday at $6.57 a gallon. The surge stems from the ongoing war with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted global energy supplies and driven up fuel costs across the economy.
Harris said her company is fortunate to work with contractors who have been understanding of the situation. “We are in contracts with some really good prime contractors that we are locked in with, and we signed these deals before the fuel went up. So they are giving us a few extra hours a day to make up for the fuel costs. It is a help, but it is not a solution.”
Why a Strike Is Unlikely
As for rumors of a potential truckers’ strike, Harris says it is just that: rumors.
“I don’t think it’s realistic,” Harris said. “To become a great carrier is about reputation, reliability and safety. … You don’t want to disappoint your contractor, ruin your reputation and become an unreliable carrier, because that stains your name and you won’t get work. So I do not foresee a trucker strike.”
The Broader Pain
Harris says it is not just her industry that needs relief, but the entire American economy.
“I’m a consumer as well as a fleet owner, and it’s killing me at the pump, you know, to fill up my personal vehicle. So Americans, in addition to truckers, need these prices to please come down.”
The Bottom Line
Rumors of a nationwide trucker strike on October 1 are circulating online amid record diesel prices. Cherri Harris, CEO of Swint Logistics Group, says a strike is unlikely because carriers value their reputations and contracts too much to risk them. Diesel hit a record $6.57 per gallon this week. Harris says the entire American economy needs fuel prices to come down.
My Opinion
Cherri Harris is probably right. A nationwide trucker strike is unlikely. Owner-operators and small carriers cannot afford to stop working, and large fleets have contracts to honor. The trucking industry is not a unionized workforce with a single leader who can call a strike. It is thousands of independent businesses, each making its own calculation. That is why the rumors are not realistic.
But the fact that the rumors spread at all tells you something. Truckers are hurting. Diesel at $6.57 a gallon is unsustainable. Every mile driven is a loss for carriers who cannot pass the cost on to their customers. Harris says her contractors are giving her extra hours to make up for the fuel costs.
The real story here is not whether truckers will strike. It is that they are even talking about it. When the people who move America’s goods cannot afford to fuel their trucks, the problem is not just in the trucking industry. It is in the economy. And it is not going away until someone fixes the energy crisis that caused it.
