LONG BEACH, California—“I’m one of the lucky ones. My 1999 truck is paid off. But with diesel prices going up almost every day this month, I spend $600 to $800 a week,” port truck driver René García told Militant reporters as he stopped at the diesel pump. García, pictured above, showed this reporter the bill for $200 he paid to fill up.

“The port just takes our money like bandits,” he added. “It’s an abuse that my four hours a day of waiting time is unpaid.”

With diesel costs up $1.30 a gallon over a year ago, independent truckers are facing a rising cost squeeze.

According to the Quad City Times in Davenport, Iowa, some owner operators have called for an April 1 strike to demand relief from the combined costs of fuel and insurance.

—ARLENE RUBINSTEIN