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Independent Truckers Strike U.S. Ports

Published Jun 29, 2004 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

Paid by the truckload, truckers are upset over their declining wages due to higher fuel costs, and their inability to negotiate rates as a group because they are considered independent business people, which are barred by federal law from price-fixing with other companies or other individual truck owners.

Independent truckers are protesting at the ports because they believe shipping companies are taking advantage of them because they have no recourse due to their independent status.

Since Monday, independent truckers have slowed their terminal moves to snails pace, backing up ports like Port Newark, Charleston, New Orleans, and Boston. Independent truckers struck West Coast ports last month.