03/24/08

Over the Easter weekend fuel prices climbed even higher and the trucking industry is really feeling the effects.

According to AAA of Idaho, fuel prices jumped up to an average of $3.28 diesel even more at $4.05 and it's not even summer yet.

The trucking industry has been especially feeling the effects of the rising fuel cost.

One trucking company out of Missouri is calling on all truckers that can to come to a stand still on April 1st.

Dan Little says, "I put on my web-site that I was going to shut down my truck April 1st to send message to Washington o.k. that we need them to take a realistic look at the American trucking industry."

Little says he's not asking for a strike but a shut down for one day. He says a strike would affect too many people because so many companies rely on trucking.

But he does say that something needs to be done because high fuel prices are hurting smaller trucking companies.

Little comments, "Every time you see diesel fuel raised one cent at a fuel pump it cost the trucking industry $391 Million for every penny that goes up."

Les Simpson owns his own truck but is employed by a major company. It costs him $700 for every 1000 miles he travels. The money he puts in the pump is out of his own pocket but the cost trickles down to his customers.

Simpson says, "We get fuel surcharges but are customers are starting to scream about it because every week we adjust it and fuel prices keep going up. We have to adjust are fuel surcharges and they're getting tired of it too."

Simpson says he now searches for the cheapest place to buy gas on the internet just to save every little cent he can.

Benito Baeza KMVT News.