Independent truckers are upset over record high diesel prices and are taking a stand with a one-day nationwide strike in which no freight will be hauled on Tuesday.

Trucks were lined up in park along the side of Interstate 70 in Washington County on Tuesday morning.
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"You can't make a living watching the prices go up," said one driver, Dale Tussey. "They're blaming it on the fuel. It is the fuel, but it also starts at the White House. They can control the fuel, I believe."

With the current diesel prices, it can cost a trucker about $1,200 to fill up a big rig.

"I pay more in fuel costs in one week than what some people strive to make as a good living in a week," said truck driver William Kuhn.

Diesel fuel averages $4.33 a gallon in Pennsylvania, but the average this time last year was $2.84.

"I'm only home for two, three days and then I got to go back, because I have to make money to feed my family, my house payment, car payment and other bills," said Tussey.

Meanwhile, about 20 truck drivers held a peaceful protest along Route 18 in Big Beaver, near the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Beaver County.

About 20 trucks were parked in the area.

Signs were posted but none of the protestors tried to stop trucks that were still on the road.

Fuel taxes in Pennsylvania are 38 cents a gallon for diesel, and 32 cents a gallon for gasoline.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said the state needs the revenue from those taxes to repair roads and bridges.

The record high diesel prices are also affecting the average consumer. Higher prices to haul groceries have led to a 25 percent increase in the price of eggs and a 17 percent jump in the price of milk. Rice and pasta are up 13 percent, and bread costs about 12 percent more than it was last year at this time.

On Monday, more than 100 truckers lined up in Harrisburg to show state lawmakers that they want something to be done about the high prices.

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