Port of Savannah truckers protest lack of surcharge payments

By By Dorothy Cox
The Trucker Staff

3/13/2008

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Intermodal truckers at the Port of Savannah held a press conference March 11 at the port’s front gates to protest not getting fuel surcharges passed along to them.

According to a news release from the drivers, who now have an association called the Intermodal Owner Driver Association or IODA, the meeting was held to inform the public and the media “about what is really happening to diesel fuel surcharges that the American consumer, along with most steamship line customers, are paying.”

Most of the fuel surcharges “never make it to the individuals that actually buy the fuel,” they said.

Keith Liverman, a driver and member of IODA, hastened to add that “We are not on strike and we are not boycotting the port. We want the industry to understand we can no longer just stand by while individuals or companies collect surcharges belonging to us and use this money for their own personal profit.”

He said, “Legislation needs to be introduced in Georgia that would make it illegal to use this money for anything other than what it was intended for.

“We believe that in exchange for working during these tough times, we have earned the right to make enough money to support our families.”

B.J. Langford told WSAV news in Savannah that he doesn’t receive a surcharge, just a flat fee for picking up cargo. “My average paycheck is dropping anywhere from $250 to $300 a week,” said Langford. “It’s coming directly out of my pocket to move the same freight I was moving last year.”

The port haulers were hoping their event would put some pressure on companies not passing along surcharges.