“If the politicians in Washington don’t know about it by now, they must be blind or deaf,” said Dan Little, the trucker generally credited with organizing a nationwide shutdown by independent owner-operators and other professional truck drivers. “Now, it’s on their backs. If they choose to let this industry die, it’s up to them.”
After watching news reports and hearing from truckers around the county, the owner of Little and Little Trucking, L.L.C., a cattle-hauling outfit based in Carrollton, Mo., seems genuinely pleased with the results of the April 1 effort.
“My goal was not to shut this country down. My goal was to get this out to the public and the mainstream media,” Little told listeners of XM Satellite Radio’s Land Line Now program during an interview yesterday. “In that sense, I think we were 100-percent successful.”
During a telephone interview this morning, I asked Little what he expects will happen next.
“We have guys that are still shut down, and I will remain shut down the rest of the week,” he explained. “We have guys that are still shutting down.”
As for his own immediate future, he will remain shutdown this week and be on the phone trying to get through to members of Congress and others with influence in Washington.
And what message does Little have for his fellow truckers?
“Hang tight. We’re gonna see where we go from here.”
* * *
See also:
Truckers’ Shutdown Effort Produces Varied Results (4-01-08)
How Will the Trucking Shutdown Impact You? (3-31-08)
No Joke: Truckers to ‘Shut Down’ April 1 (3-28-08)
7 responses so far ↓
1 Skunkfeathers // Apr 2, 2008 at 8:44 am
While I tend to doubt that, overall, the independents can muster enough effort to get much useful (key term) action out of Congress — simply not enough of them can economically afford to stand down long enough to really make a dent — I gotta respect those whose words match their deeds. Too bad there isn’t more of that resolution in Congress itself. Words do mean things, especially when backed by consistent, thoughtful action.
2 How Will the Trucking Shutdown Impact You? // Apr 2, 2008 at 11:08 am
[...] See also: Truck Shutdown Deemed ‘100 percent successful’ (4-02-08) [...]
3 No Joke: Truckers to ‘Shut Down’ April 1 // Apr 2, 2008 at 11:14 am
[...] Truck Shutdown Deemed ‘100 percent successful’ (4-02-08 [...]
4 RTaylor // Apr 2, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Like Mr. Little, we have been on the phone trying to get some answers or at least a response from our senators and congressmen here in Arkansas. I DO think we made a difference and will continue to do so.
Even when you are up and running again, continue to put the pressure on Washington – call, email, fax – whatever you can do. Not only Washtington, but your state reps and governors, too.
I think the American trucker surprised everyone with our efforts this week.
5 » Truck Shutdown Deemed ‘100 percent successful’ NoisyRoom.net: Courage is the price that Life exacts for granting peace. Amelia Earhart // Apr 2, 2008 at 4:56 pm
[...] From Bob McCarty Writes: [...]
6 wstrucking // Apr 4, 2008 at 6:24 am
Have been down all week good luck all.. But we need more than luck!!!!
7 Documentary Looks Into Souls of American Truckers // Apr 8, 2008 at 5:19 pm
[...] Truck Shutdown Deemed ‘100 percent successful’ [...]
Leave a Comment