What will happen if ALL the transportation industries shut down because of gas prices?

Question

Today is Monday and in Michigan auto comapny haulers have decided to strike. In Spain-the haulers are on strike. What is the worst case scenario if ALL logistics and transportation sectors shut down b ecause of the increasing gas prices

Answer 1

Well, gas wouldn't be delivered. So you'd eventually have to walk or ride a bicyle to get places. You'd have to buy food locally, since it wouldn't be delivered from cheap places like Mexico. And it would probably increase in price.

Answer 2

I drove over the road for a short time, enough to become famaliar with it.  The govenment has long overlooked the national security matter of transportation of goods.  If the trucking industry shutdown for one week you would see a buying panic and two weeks would cause riots.  How many airplanes and trains have you seen backed up to a wal-mart, or grocery store or quick-stop or clothing store. With few exceptions every thing it takes to live in this country winds up eventually on a truck to get to where it is going.  I have seen several situations in my life, for instance, a few years back there was a toilet paper scare.  In this small town it took little time for the shelves to be stripped bare of the tissue.  People panic, self preservation takes over.  There would be no outlet deliveries of food, fuel and other things necessary and greatly desired.

Answer 3

Strikes in key sectors have happened before.  Garbage haulers come to mind.  Its a nasty stinky problem.  It brings great visibility to the cause.  But if the public's perception is that the key players have made reasonable offers, then eventually the pain inflicted by the strike becomes viewed as the fault of the strikers.   So there is increasing pressure to settle or be replaced by other methods.

So a strike is a powerful tool, used correctly, it can benefit the participants.  But it can't be overplayed without there being consequences as well.

I think that it is interesting to see what is happening with diesel fuel prices vs gasoline.

Absent a strike, If haulers aren't making any money, they will quit hauling, but they will do it gradually.  If enough haulers are not available to move product, the people needing product moved will agree to pay more for hauling, and pass the price increase on to their customers.

The system works eventually, but there are problems in the short run, and those problems can be very serious.   So if you are in a vulnerable industry, one that is really getting burned by these price increases, make it through as best you can, but then don't forget that this can happen, and keep a reserve for future tough times

Answer 4

No goods would be transported.

Empty supermarkets, no gasoline, and not much else of any other product you can think of.   If you got it a truck brought it.

Answer 5

If they don't put a cap on these prices soon I hate to think what a scenario this will cause......One thing is for sure it didn't take the gasoline thieves long to rob us of our stimulus.

Answer 6

The economy won't be affected by auto haulers. Individuals have alternatives to new cars, and especially domestically manufactured cars.

Most costs are being passed through to consumers.

Answer 7

Our economy would crash.

I have a theory that they want to put out the independent trucker, put him out of business and turn this industry into corporate one.  Just like the did the family farmer in the 1980's