Georgia truck drivers say soaring diesel prices forcing layoffs, parked trucks

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Georgia truck drivers say soaring diesel prices are forcing layoffs, parked trucks and cuts to basic comforts on the road.

Drivers joined the Georgia Democratic Party on Tuesday to call for an end to the war in Iran in hopes of lowering fuel costs. Diesel is averaging $6.20 per gallon nationally.

Truck driver Lloyd Smith said he fills up about every other day for $1,400 to $1,500. Other drivers said fleet owners are laying off drivers, barring overnight idling for air conditioning and parking vehicles because fuel is too expensive.

Owner-operator Wandalyn Simpson blamed U.S. Rep. Mike Collins for backing policies behind rising prices.

“I’m calling on Mike Collins. Stand up to Donald Trump and demand an end to this Iran war,” she said.

Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon responded in a statement:

“Democrats set inflation on fire with trillions in deficit spending under Joe Biden. They also spent four years trying to destroy the American fossil fuel industry. No one takes the Democrats seriously when they pretend to care about the cost of fuel, because they know the Democrat plan for energy has been to run our state on windmills and rainbows, all to the detriment of real Georgians.”

Collins’ spokesperson Meyer Siegfried responded:

“Democrats want higher prices at the pump because their Green New Deal vision is to drive them up until you give up your truck. Putting Jon Ossoff in charge of fuel prices is like putting the fox in the hen house. He’s never filled a rig in his life, and Mike Collins will make sure Georgians aren’t stuck paying for radical policies that treat drivers like the enemy.”