From WAVY.com, VA. (4/4/08)

Truckers shut down, protest high gas prices

Posted: April 3, 2008 05:43 PM

Updated: April 4, 2008 02:06 PM

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY.com) -- Chris Evans remembers the good ole' days of truck driving, not too long ago, when diesel prices were about two dollars a gallon.

"It was awesome. It was great to be a trucker then," remembers Evans.

But now, he says those days are gone, replaced by soaring gas prices and shrinking profits for independent truckers, who rely on driving more miles to make more money.

"I hold about 240 gallons, but I haven't filled up," Evans says. "I haven't topped off these tanks in three to four weeks now."

The U.S. Department of Energy says high worldwide demand for diesel has forced prices near the $4 per/gallon mark. Adding to the problem, a switch to low-sulfur diesel has slowed production for American refineries.

On Friday, many independent truckers - truckers like Derek Langley - will shutdown for a day to draw national attention to the problem.

"We don't know if this is going to mean anything to anybody, but it means something to us," says Langley.

"If we don't unite together and stand for one thing, we won't come together to stand for nothing."

As the price of diesel climbs to new records, even Langley isn't sure how long the cost of gas will cost him his wages.

"I'd rather park it and not make nothing than keep driving it and still not make nothing."

Truckers say they're prepared to protest for a full week in late April or early May if Friday's shutdown doesn't bring enough attention to the problem.

The Department of Energy says diesel prices are likely to remain high until crude oil prices come down.

From a MySpace friend:

Need everyones help please. I got this email today and we need help locating a missing comrade.
Thanks
Dave

Thanks Again for all the help and support in reposting our bullentines and your efforts to get word out about Mikes dissaperance! Currently our group is looking for one of our part time investigators and team members Michael Donaldson. He was last seen 4 days ago in Cullman, AL. He was traveling south to Dalton, GA. for a truck driving job. He never showed up for the orientation or checked into his hotel room. He was driving a red, 2002, 2-door Ford 150 series pick-up truck. Please if you have any information on his where abouts contact your local authorities or one of our team members. We are extremely worried and need to find him!!

if you'd like to add this image to your own bullentines and messages you can reply to this poster and copy and paste the image code and use it as you see fit. Any and all efforst to find Mike are welcome.

Also if anyone is interested in searching the Highway areas in which we have been told that he may have traveled please contact me via myspace or at my regular E-Mail GreenStarGypsy@aol.com. We already have a few volunteers from the Cullman, AL. Area. This route would include any between Birmingham, AL and Dalton, GA. We are trying to organize random search teams to look for him. Please not he was driving a 2002, red, 2 door, short bed, Ford F-150 series pick-up truck. Mike is 5'10-5'11, about 220 pounds, redish brown hair, mustache and beard. He was more then likely wearing a baseball cap.