Truckers protest high fuel prices along Expressway 83

ALAMO - About two dozen truckers parked their semi trucks at a waypoint along Expressway 83 to protest what they say are excessive diesel fuel prices.

A cacaphony of air horns rang out from other semis that passed by the scene to support the truck drivers, who said they barely make any money hauling goods with the expensive cost of fuel.

Art Martinez of San Juan said it costs nearly $1,200 each time he fills each of his trucking company's four semis.

Martinez said the fuel crunch has hit smaller trucking outfits like his the hardest. He said many of his vendors have refused to raise the prices of the goods his company hauls to compensate for the higher fuel costs.

"Each day is getting more difficult," Martinez said. "The diesel is going up and we get paid the same.

Those higher fuel prices without taking in more money from his customers led to today's protest, which is mostly made up of smaller independent truck operators, he said.

Martinez, 51, operates Better Hauling Services, based in San Juan. He's been hauling since 1976, but said he has never seen business get this bad.

"I think it's OK to raise the price of fuel, but raise prices, also," Martinez said. "I don't want to get rich; I just want to feed my family and pay the bills."