A grassroots organization totaling nearly 167,000 members is planning a large-scale rally against the upcoming electronic logging device mandate.
The rally, called ‘Operation Black and Blue’, is being spearheaded by owner-operator Mike ‘Gunney’ Faram, of Ft. Worth, Texas.
The mandate will force nearly all interstate truckers to purchase and operate additional equipment which will electronically monitor a truck’s driving time. While most of the largest trucking companies already have this technology in place, many smaller companies and individual owner-operators will have a new expense forced upon them once the law takes effect.
Faram explained that Operation Black and Blue is a “stand against unfair regulations” which will not only put a hamper on truckers’ earnings potential, but also lead to unintended, negative consequences for consumers.
“With this mandate coming into effect on December 18, 2017 many trucks may be removed from service due to the increased cost. Many drivers are planning on vacating the industry over the matter, in an industry where drivers are in high demand, which will put a strain on our supply system. If this happens then we will suffer an increase in grocery cost, in building materials, as well as many other amenities that we come to enjoy. In other words it will lead to an inflationary rate that our country can’t afford in an already dismal economy,” Faram explained in a Facebook post.
Faram says he’s written countless letters to politicians and government organizations regarding the industry’s concerns about the upcoming law, but has received nothing but generic form letters and boiler plate responses.
The lack of a legitimate response led Faram to create the Operation Black and Blue movement.
Faram told LiveTrucking that more than 167,000 drivers, consisting of both owner-operators and company employees, plan to participate in organized rallies around the country between October 3rd through October 8th.
Of the 167,000, at least 5,000 are expected to head to Washington D.C. to rally in front of lawmakers.
“We’re done writing letters. The time for change is now,” Faram added.