Truckers warn 'defunding' police will lead to drivers refusing to deliver goods to those cities
By: The Epoch Times, Town Hall
I can understand why these drivers who are a backbone of our economy would not want to venture into lawless places. I saw an interview on this topic late last night on the Fox News Channel which also explained it. The truckers said that they’d deliver to the nearest city that still had law and order and that citizens of lawless cities would have to go there to buy items that could not be tricked into their own city. I stand with the drivers of both the independent trucks and various fleet lines not willing to put their drivers or their expensive trucks or their cargo at risk. And these people held things together during the corona virus pandemic peak
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
There are likely a whole bunch of unintended consequences most people could come up with in response to the lunacy of defunding and disbanding police forces, especially those in major cities.
Chaos would ensue. Mayhem. Widespread criminal activity. Looting. Endless riots. And, once there was nothing left to loot and destroy in the cities, armed bands of roving outlaws would then filter out into the suburbs, where vigilantism will have taken root and homeowners defending their lives and property and families would take matters – ‘justice’ – into their own hands.
But could you have imagined that the men and women who serve as our national lifeline, our truckers, the internal logistics force that delivers everything from food, water, and clothing to medical supplies, electronics, and just about anything else you can think of would simply refuse to come into cities without cops?
Well, there are some who are already warning that’s exactly what’s going to happen if cities follow through with getting rid of their police forces.
The stupidity is already starting.
Last week the Minneapolis city council voted unanimously to abolish their police department in the wake of George Floyd’s death, which sparked nationwide protests but which has since been hijacked by the hard Marxist Left to push for radical changes – like getting rid of all cops.
And the ‘leaders’ of other cities including Mayor Eric Garcetti in Los Angeles and Mayor Bill de Blasio in New York City have already vowed to reduce funding to their respective departments, the two largest metro forces in the country (NY is No. 1, LA is No. 2, followed by Chicago).
The Transportation Nation Network (TNN) reported that truck drivers and trucking firms have been watching these developments with a keen interest, and understandably so. Imagine trying to deliver truckloads of vital medicines, food, high-dollar electronics, or fuel to a lawless city; not only would your load be stolen, but you’d be lucky to make it out alive.
“Trucking expert Dan Doran indicated “truckers and trucking companies will be quick to refuse service to these areas if trouble arises.”
“Truckers were already getting nervous about all these protests before they even started talking about defunding the police,” Doran continued.
Not only that, but big rigs are small businesses for many drivers; it’s how they make their living. They buy or lease a truck and keep it rolling so that it not only pays for itself but also pays a salary for the owner-operator. Burned trucks, then, would be no different to that small business owner-driver than the owner of a small retail outlet watching his or her store go up in flames.
“A good customer may tell a good carrier that they’ll provide them some security to get them into the city limits… some kind of an escort,” Doran said. “I think any reputable carrier is going to listen to that concern and take steps to help the driver become more comfortable going in there.”
Trucking is already one of the country’s most dangerous jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. If lawlessness comes to cities, trucks won’t.
Cant say this comes as any surprise really. I finished a delivery contract for an owner back on may 8th, I keep in touch with him because even though im semi retired, and a gypsy driver , he lets the dispatch services know what drivers he has that have worked for him that he intends to call back for his different hauling operations that might be available
Last 2 weeks of may I averaged 3-4 contact offers a week to make some runs in others equipment In just the first 2 weeks of june , that's tripled .
The nice thing about being both semi retired and a gypsy driver , I get to pick and choose if I want to work at all and where I will work, and I am not exactly a desirable driver for companies because I do not have and refuse to get a HAZMAT , its not worth the cost , it doesn't get anyone any more pay .
Something I have noticed is even with a record number of trucking companies going belly up due to the low cost of freight , there is still a very high rate of driver shortage to make runs.
And the name reginald denny, even 20 some years later , is still very fresh in drivers minds and what could happen .
not only would your load be stolen, but you’d be lucky to make it out alive
I don't blame driver's for not wanting to deliver. Even if they had a co driver to ride shotgun (literally), one person can't fight a mob if they decide to go five finger shopping.
A couple of points that should be discussed. I very seriously doubt that PD's will be disbanded and not replaced in any cities. Currently, O/O's are going belly up because of a lack of work. The pandemic has been especially hard on the logistics industry not only in the US but worldwide.
When you do a poll and ask the question that was asked you're going to the answer you got.
Do you think that truckers don't go into rough areas now? Are you even aware of the number of trucks that have hijacked in the large harbor areas of the US? Are you aware that most large cities have special departments that deal only with stolen or hijacked truck/trailers? This is nothing new in the US, XX.
No arguments from me on those points , but its not just O/O shuttering and shutting down , its also affecting long time freight companies that have been in business for decades , some of the reasons is both state and federal regulations , Hrs of service restrictions , what is being paid to haul the freight , and expanding and added cost of operation , that's not even mentioning that sometimes a company can be totally financially mismanaged .
The pandemic also brought to light how some places treat truck drivers , that alone would make one wonder why anyone would want to take on that job.
my personal opinion is there are a lot of little threads weaved into this story that are getting threadbare and going to break.
When I mentioned the logistics companies I meant it to include all freight companies. IMO, it's not so much regulations and hours of service but the revenue per mile and the way drivers are treated at many facilities.
How you doing, Mark?
Doing well my friend , and enjoying my summer off , no barley , sugar beets or mag water to haul for a while so have time to tend to other aspects of my life , and of course enjoying taking rides up to see the new granddaughter born in march. even if I have to contend with summer snow storms in the mnts on the bike to get there.
here is one I think you will enjoy, I was making a barley run in late feb , saw a semi with a trooper pulled over , came back through and saw the semi on the side of the road still ( 2 hrs later ) got loaded and got 2nd load and went up and delivered that , saw the semi going the other way and asked the driver if he had a breakdown , his reply was no his Elog comp shut the truck down because he was out of service hrs so he got it off the road as best he could , and the trooper was considering citing him for being parked where he was , in the end the trooper didn't cite him, I cannot repeat what he said about elog, Im just glad I don't have to deal with that or the other stuff OTR drivers have to contend with today.
Where is the granddaughter at...(not the city just the state)...
LOL, yeah I'm sure that he had a lot to say about the Elog. BTW I've seen LEO's treat drives like shit.
same state as me , just a short 3 and a half hr drive away further north.
yeah , truck drivers and DOT cops have a love/hate relationship , always have , likely always will.
that driver was more upset the elog comp completely shut down his ability to get the truck to a really safe parking area , it didnt kill the engine , but it wouldnt go over parking lot speeds , that in my opinion here in Wyoming is an unsafe condition, especially in the winter.
Drivers Lives Matter
Maybe delivery drones could be an answer, although I think I'd rather live in a police state than one with NO police or law enforcement.
letting them starve is a better answer. nothing brings clarity to the mind like hunger.
if they want to eat? they will act like civilized adults.
we don't do police state in this country
we either have normal police or we do it ourselves. if you think the cops lack training and good judgement? LOL
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Even in the wild west days America had Sheriffs and Marshals - I'm not so sure even YOU would want a Law Enforcement void.
I'm FOR law enforcement. I was aghast to see signs that said "Defund the Police".
I agree with that. I should have said "policed state" rather than "police state".
this single issue alone will drive the few remaining "sane" moderates away from the democrat party
not many people will vote for a party that supports defunding police, supports violence and the destruction of innocent peoples lives
so, please.... I'm begging the left.... carry on