As diesel gas prices surpass $4 a gallon, independent truck drivers across the country, united by the Internet and word of mouth, may choose to take a stand today.
The planned demonstrations aren't officially organized. While some truck drivers intend to shut down business completely, others have encouraged driving at unusually slow speeds.
The goal is to lower fuel costs, which independent drivers pay for out of pocket, whether by decreasing actual gas prices or by passing them on to the shipping companies that employ them.
According to an AAA report, national diesel averages have risen from $2.83 to $4.02 in the past year.
Meagan Avery, a dispatcher for a family-owned trucking business in Bryceville, has been passing out fliers at truck stops asking drivers not to go faster than 45 mph between April 1 and 5. The slowdown could make a big difference, she said.
"Everything you get," Avery said, "you get on a truck - everything down to your hairspray, your toothpaste, your bottled water."
In the past two years, Avery said, the rising prices have forced her family to sell 10 of their 12 trucks.
"Maybe everyone will wake up and knock some off the fuel price," she said.
While the demonstrations are unlikely to lower actual gas prices, they could succeed in convincing shipping companies to pick up costs, said Randy Bly, a spokesman for AAA Auto Club South. Those companies would probably pass them on to consumers, Bly said, meaning higher prices on everything shipped by trucks - from delivery services to groceries.
Diesel is a more efficient fuel than unleaded gasoline, Bly said. In the United States, it's used mostly for heavy vehicles like trucks, trains, airplanes and cruise ships. But increasing diesel demand in other countries has driven up the cost worldwide.
In addition, he said, crude oil prices of $105 a barrel have increased the cost of fuel in general.
If oil prices decrease to about $90 a barrel, diesel prices could go down this summer - but it's tough to say if that will happen, he said.
Average diesel prices Monday were more than $4 in 25 states, including Florida, Bly said.
"We can all understand the frustration of the truckers," he said.
Tommy Woods, of Alvarez Truck Brokers of Florida in Ocala, said he thought the shutdown would be too disorganized to make a difference.
"There's a lot of talk about it from trucker to trucker, but none of the companies are hearing anything," Woods said.
Still, Avery said, something has to be done.
"It's pushing people out," she said of the rising prices. "If that's what you've done all your life, and most of these people have, it used to be a really good living."
