Image: usnews.com
Truckers are largely the backbone of just-in-time delivery (JIT), a method of resupply which is being used to negate the need for inventory. This includes the food that you eat and most of the things that you buy.
What the truckers will be doing this weekend, sends a powerful statement, and a reminder of one aspect of the systemic risk which we face while we depend on other systems to bring us our food and supplies…
‘Truckers for the Constitution’ Plan to Slow D.C. Beltway, Arrest Congressmen
Tractor-trailer drivers will intentionally clog the inner loop of the Washington, D.C., beltway beginning on the morning of Friday Oct. 11, according to a coordinator of the upcoming “Truckers Ride for the Constitution” rally.
Organizers of the three-day ride want to call attention to trucker frustrations and express their disapproval of national political leaders.
Tractor-trailer drivers will circle the beltway “three lanes deep” as they ride to Congress to seek the arrest of congressmen for allegedly disregarding the Constitution.
The truckers will circle I-495 and will keep the left lane open for emergency vehicles, but “everybody that doesn’t have a supporter sticker on their window, good luck: Nobody in, nobody out.” said Earl Conlon, a Georgia trucker who is handling logistics for the protest. The trucks will be going the 55 mile-per-hour speed limit.
“We are coming whether they like it or not…we’re asking for the arrest of everyone in government who has violated their oath of office.”
“We are going to ask the law enforcement to uphold their constitutional oath and make these arrests. If they refuse to do it, by the power of the people of the United States and the people’s grand jury, they don’t want to do it, we will. … We the people will find a way.”
-usnews.com
3,000 truckers had RSVP-ed to the event, and apparently they’ve now lost count of the number. They are receiving around 100 emails a day from prospective participants.
The truckers of America hold a powerful force. While it is inspiring (at least to me) that they are standing up and protesting against unconstitutional behavior of our political ‘leaders’, it is also a very important reminder that without these systems of distribution, we’re all ‘screwed’. There are other potential shutdowns than political protest which could bring down our just-in-time deliveries of the things we need to survive…
There are essentially no backrooms of inventory any more. Nearly EVERYTHING that you see on the store shelves are all there is. With regards to food in grocery stores, most analysis indicates that there’s not much more than 3-days of food there. Think about it…
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Crap! I’m suppose to travel to the northern va area this weekend. I95 should be extra fun. I do thinks its good that they are going to hold a peaceful protest that could get more then 15 seconds on the major news stations. But I’m sure they will only report it if Uncle Sam says it’s ok. Plus I don’t think truckers get the respect they deserve. These men and women are the true backbone to our economy. Good job truckers show those capital hill folks you’re not messing around. You can really shut down the country if you wanted too.
Would be nice if they could just circle the wagons ( trucks ) around D.C., and park them there. Block every exit into or out of D.C. Block every road and highway. Just sit there for about a week. Besides, think of the fuel they would save.
I fully support this… I just hope they thought out how to supply gas to 3,000 Trucks while they circle around D.C. Not sure how they are going to accomplish this unless they have a fuel truck to travel beside them and pump the gas in. [Might be a good idea to see if they can hook something like that up] 😉 But I do agree with you Jersey Drifter, if they cannot do something about gas delivery, they are probably better off simply sitting there.
I know the country, situation and time is completely different, but a national trucks strike was used as a excuse to make a coup d’État in my country 40 years ago. Just a comment.
It’s about time the people stood up and said enough we won’t stand for this unconstitutional crap anymore. Where are the rest of you people out there. Millions should be descending on Washington to rid congress of these criminals.
When fully fueled, a semi can hold as much as 150 gallons of diesel. That said, at a consumption of a gallon for every six or so miles, it won’t take long for them do dry their tanks. If they are full when they hit the beltway, they may be able to circle for four or five hours at 55, since the economy at 55 is pretty good, maybe giving them 3/4 to 1 extra MPG.
We used to have a rail system here to rival the world, but since the late sixties we’ve let it go to hell. With so many entities owning each different segment of the system, it is a logistical nightmare to send stuff by rail, especially across country. We tried to send four shipping containers to New Mexico by rail one time and were absolutely dismayed by the byzantine rules and procedures required to get a load form point A to point B. No less than three engine swaps outs were required and a multitude of fees, releases and insurance policies were filled out and paid to get the boxes where we needed them. The long and short was this; we saved nothing. For a company to ship small loads it makes zero sense to use rail: period.
I believe that if the rail system were up-dated and unified, we could move goods around the country with great efficiency, but since it is so completely fragmented and hobbled by ridiculous union rules and inter company regulations, it will never happen, so truckers hold the power.
“which could bring down our just-in-time deliveries of the things we need to survive…”
Maybe it’s time we give it some serious thought as to what ‘the things we need to survive’ really are…do we need that special brand of east coast pickles here in California? C’mon people! This type of thinking is what eventually gets us in this mess in the first place!
I am in full support of this movement, this is our government, we elected these “leaders” and we can take them out…of office!
It’s our responsibility to take all legal action to bring OUR government back!
Drive on boys!
BE ADVISED stores will not get deliveries while Washington Truckers are protesting Most stores only have a 24 hour re stock and then the shelves are dry. If this happens riots will break out cause people will have no food that are un prepared. mark
Civilized Civilization is only 3 meals away from social chaos.
No trucks no food!
if enough folks supported those truckers, they could use mules and trot in fuel….
Thank you to all truckers. I’m in support of what your doing.
Golly Gee, what a mess it would be if some of the trucks ran out of fuel…holding up all that traffic… Oh, dear!!!
Being a retired trucker, it makes me proud to see what’s about to happen in DC…God knows it’s way overdue….and by the way, you might stop at the white house and tell the residents to get the hell out of my house…it’s “not” their house…it’s “mine”….the American taxpayer.