More than 100 truckers slow down on I-465, drawing cheers and criticism

INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - Indiana State Police estimate that up to 125 truckers from across the country took part in a "slow roll" protest around Interstate 465 Thursday.

The protest was aimed at drawing attention to new regulations and changes in their industry that they say are making the roads less safe for everyone.

The slow-roll began at 11 a.m. with truckers merging on to I-465 at various on-ramps. The protest involved two counter-clockwise loops around I-465 at 45 miles an hour. State Police watched from the air and the road, making sure the trucks kept to the right two lanes, allowed traffic to merge on and off and didn't obstruct traffic. Sgt. John Perrine said there were no issues.

The truckers came to Indianapolis - the crossroads of America - to drive home concerns.

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More than 100 truckers slow down on I-465, drawing cheers and criticism

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More than 100 semi drivers slowed down on I-465 Thursday in protest. (WTHR photo)

 

MARY MILZ

 

    

PUBLISHED: FEB 21ST, 2019 - 6:13PM (EST)

UPDATED: FEB 22ND, 2019 - 7:14AM (EST)

INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - Indiana State Police estimate that up to 125 truckers from across the country took part in a "slow roll" protest around Interstate 465 Thursday.

The protest was aimed at drawing attention to new regulations and changes in their industry that they say are making the roads less safe for everyone.

The slow-roll began at 11 a.m. with truckers merging on to I-465 at various on-ramps. The protest involved two counter-clockwise loops around I-465 at 45 miles an hour. State Police watched from the air and the road, making sure the trucks kept to the right two lanes, allowed traffic to merge on and off and didn't obstruct traffic. Sgt. John Perrine said there were no issues.

The truckers came to Indianapolis - the crossroads of America - to drive home concerns.

Chuck Biddles, who traveled here from California, has been a truck driver for 32 years. 

"We're not here to hurt nobody. We're here to fix the industry and the public needs to know without us they're not going to survive," he said.

The truckers oppose the electronic logging devices - or ELDs - which became mandatory in 2017. They replaced the paper logs truckers previously used to keep track of their hours. Regulators say the trucks improve safety. The truckers argue otherwise.

Biddles said, "From the time you start the clock and log in, the clock never stops. You get 14 hours a day to get your job in," which could includes 11 hours to drive.

Maura Miller, who's driven a truck since 2007 said, "we're not trying to cheat and and drive all night and be crazy. We just want the flexibility to make the decision of when to stop and when to roll, when it's safe and when it's not without being penalized."

The truckers also say new drivers aren't getting the training they need.

Mike Landis, a third generation trucker said, "the training is atrocious. You can take someone who's never been in a truck in their entire life and have them behind the wheel in less than two weeks in some cases."