Irate Port Haulers Protest Fuel Prices, Poor Conditions

Fuel price spikes have ignited the simmering exasperation of port truckers into protests at harbors across the country, including a work stoppage that has shut down the Port of Miami since Feb. 7.

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Record-high diesel costs enraged owner-operators who haul containers out of Miami, New York and Houston, but their list of grievances goes beyond fuel to include unsafe working conditions, substandard wages, insurance scams and a lack of benefits such as health insurance and pensions.

Diesel prices will eventually drop to normal levels, but the labor groups that have been formed and the complaints that have been aired due to the fuel crisis may leave a permanent mark on the drayage business, especially if the Teamsters union, which scheduled a nationwide protest at eight ports for Feb. 18, succeeds in its effort to organize the insurgent truckers.

Truckers at ports on the West and East coasts protested last summer due to low wages and poor working conditions, but the movement seemed to lose momentum until fuel prices shot up and truckers’ tempers flared.

For the full story, see the Feb. 21 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.