Out of Gas

ITA's Parkhurst packs it in

When Michael Parkhurst, president of the 30,000-member Independent Truckers Association (ITA), announced a truckers strike two weeks ago, his goals were ambitious: repeal of new federal taxes on diesel fuel and highway use, a curb on state trucking taxes and regulations, and a "meaningful discussion" of the 55-m.p.h. speed limit. What he got eleven days later was a page-long "Expression of Concern" signed by some 35 Congressmen that promised little more than a review of the federal tax hikes called for in the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, enacted by last year's lameduck Congress. Nonetheless, when he asked truckers to return to work last week, Parkhurst appeared unbowed. "We have accomplished a lot, more than we have ever been able to in the past," he declared at a raucous news conference punctuated by shouts of "Sellout!" from heckling truckers.

In reality, the strike had fizzled out. Despite spot shortages of produce in several areas, the protest did not markedly disrupt commerce. "I don't think anyone missed a loaf of bread, an orange or an apple," said Ed Bacon, president of Louisiana's Motor Transportation Association. Concluded Massachusetts Produce Wholesaler Chris Rodes: "It was a very minor inconvenience." The violence and vandalism that in the end left one person dead and at least 66 others injured dropped sharply last week, and truck traffic levels crept back to normal in most states. By week's end police had arrested 95 people in connection with the incidents, some of them truckers or related to the trucking industry.

Many operators and their representatives were glad it was over. Said Paul Stalknecht, managing director of the New Jersey Motor Truck Association: "The only plus is that immediate attention has been drawn to the industry's problems. But that is a very minor plus. The image of the industry has been damaged because of the irresponsible actions of a very small body." Indeed, the protest may have set back the lobbying efforts of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the American Trucking Associations and other trucking organizations that opposed the strike. "This shutdown has only given truckers a black eye with the public," fumed Robert Jasmon, executive vice president of the Midwest Truckers Association, another independent group. "The real representatives of our industry must talk sense to Congress and get passed the kind of relief we need." This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.