October 1 Trucker Strike: Who Can Actually Afford to Park?

The October 1 trucker strike call told drivers to park until diesel prices come down. Company drivers don't buy their own fuel, and carriers bill it back to shippers through surcharges: FedEx Freight added 61% to its linehaul charges for September 23 to 29, and J.B. Hunt billed $641.46 million in fuel surcharges from April through June. Owner-operators hauling broker loads get an all-in rate with no separate surcharge, and carriers pay for fuel within days while freight payments can take 60 to 90 days. AAA's national diesel average hit a record $6.53 a gallon on September 22. Also covered: ATBS owner-operator income, DAT spot rates, and the TenFour D.C. trucks on the National Mall, October 1 to 3.