Trucking is the backbone of our great nation. U.S. truckers deliver about 10 billion tons of all commodities and transport more than 671 billion dollars worth of goods each year. To put into perspective, over 70% of all freight moved in America is done by trucks.
If trucks stopped, the economy, and life as we know it, would begin to fall apart. To provide some perspective, below are some of the immediate things that would happen if trucks stopped running.
The First 24 Hours
- Delivery of medical supplies will cease.
- Hospitals will run out of basic supplies such as syringes and catheters.
- Pharmaceuticals will deteriorate and become unusable.
- Service stations will begin to run out of fuel.
- Manufacturers using just-in-time manufacturing will develop component shortages.
- U.S. mail and other package delivery will cease.
Within 1 Day
- Food shortages will begin to develop.
- Fuel availability and delivery will dwindle, therefore, leading to skyrocketing prices and long lines at the gas pumps.
- Without manufacturing components and trucks for product delivery, assembly lines will shut down and put thousands out of work.
Within 2-3 Days
- Food shortages will escalate, especially in the face of hoarding and consumer panic.
- Supplies of essentials, such as bottled water, powdered milk, and canned meat at major retailers, will disappear.
- ATMs will run out of cash and banks will be unable to process transactions.
- Service stations will completely run out of fuel.
- Garbage will start piling up in urban and suburban areas.
- Container ships will sit idle in ports and rail transport will be disrupted.
Within 1 Week
- Automobile travel will cease due to the lack of fuel. Without autos and busses, many people will not be able to get to work, shop for groceries, or access medical care.
- Hospitals will begin to exhaust their oxygen supply.
Within 2 Weeks
- The nation’s clean water supply will begin to run dry.
Within 1 Month
- The clean water supply will be safe for drinking only after boiling. As a result, gastrointestinal illnesses will increase while further taxing an already weakened health care system.
If trucks stopped running, it would only be a matter of time before all of our nation’s functions stopped and would trigger a series of events that will change the way we live. We must learn to appreciate and be thankful for the truckers who keep our country moving forward.
