Truck Drivers Protest Pay Rates For Second Day
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Truck drivers showed up for a second day to protest their pay rates, a day after they blocked off Okeechobee Road causing a major traffic- tie up.
Wednesday's protest did not include a blockade on the busy roadway but truck drivers did show up and they weren't alone. They brought their cars and family members with them.
The message was the same. The owner-operators of 18 wheelers are angry at the rates they are paying for hauling freight. They say the middlemen or brokers paid to forward freight keep most of the money to themselves, leaving owner operators unable to make ends meat.
"I'm away from my son most of the time. I work very hard and you know being a woman, it's very tough out there. The insurance is very high," said truck driver Amarilys Gomez.
The drivers said the cost of insurance, truck maintenance and gasoline has forced many of them to sell their trucks and get out of the business.
Absent of a union, the owner operators have taken their plight to the streets.
"The whole nation to come together, all the truck drivers to get together, try to do something to fix this because it's not fair," said Belcys Lopez whose parents are truck drivers.
One of the nation's largest brokers - Miramar based C.H. Robinson declined to comment on charges it's cheapskating the independent driver.
The drivers say you have reason to care.
"Truck drivers bring over all the food, all the clothing, everything. Without truck drivers, we would have nothing," said trucker Marcos Toledo.
A day before, a group of them parked their trucks smack-dab in the middle of the street, causing a gridlock nightmare.
Florida Highway Patrol officers were tasked to clear the major east-west roadway choked with 18 wheelers. FHP spokesperson Joe Sanchez worked with the crowd to reach a traffic tie up resolution well after dark Tuesday.
