Hard times for truckers

HIGH FUEL COSTS SPUR SOME TO QUIT

RALEIGH, N.C. – Harold E. Funderburk has noticed more and more big rigs parked on the side of the road with “for sale” signs in their windows.

“They are just giving it up, selling their stuff and going to work for some big (trucking) company,” the Raleigh, N.C. trucker said.

The high price of regular gasoline usually gets all the attention, but the price of diesel has been steadily climbing. Last week, diesel nationally hit a record $3.68 a gallon.

If prices keep climbing, Funderburk said, he will park his semi, too.

“I’m going to make one more trip,” Funderburk, 58, said this week. “When I get back, I’ll make my decision.”

The average tractor-trailer gets just 5 to 6 miles per gallon, and, at current prices, it can cost more than $700 to fill the empty tanks on most long-haul trucks. That’s too much for many truckers to keep hauling goods.

Raleigh News & Observer