Updated 05/23/2008 09:07 AM
Truckers protest high fuel prices
AAA says the cost of diesel in the Capital Region is pushing $5 a gallon. So if you think we have it bad, imagine what truck drivers have to spend on a weekly basis. They held a rally on the Northway Thursday and threatened to stop all deliveries in a few weeks if something isn't done.NEW YORK STATE -- Some angry truck drivers are asking for help from the state to lower diesel costs. They say they are forcing them off the roads. Diesel prices are now above $5 a gallon in some places.
Hundreds of people showed up to rally around the trucking industry and hope the state can help lower the costs. They are urging legislators to lower the gas tax to help the situation. They say every person in the state benefits from truckers as a way to get products they use every day.
"You know that everyone one of these products, these men, these women who are in the trucking industry, touch it, deliver it, make it move," said Assemblyman George Amedore.
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"Some of these guys who are standing amongst these crowds are going to lose their jobs, they are going to go out of business. They are already in a negative balance in their checkbooks to buy fuel to haul products to citizens of Washington, Warren and Saratoga counties and they keep going every day," said Truckers and Citizens United Director Charlie Claburn.
Many of the truckers at the rally said they will stop making deliveries by June 1st if something is not done about the diesel prices. They are also calling on Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to look into the oil industry.