The last option is virtually meaningless, since the larger companies can oppose license applications and usually win.
One result of this situation is that a produce hauler, going from California to Boston with a load of lettuce, must legally return empty to pick up his next load; and there aren't many cattle or produce runs west out of New England. Thus a fourth and rather common option is to haul illegal loads and hope not to get caught. The trucker who goes, though, runs the risk of expensive fines.
Parkhurst's bill would reclassify owner/operators, while driving their own trucks, as having unlimited operating rights for interstate commerce. It would not allow them to undercut established rates; competition would have to be on the basis of service provided.
The bill has not yet been proposed by any member of Congress. Rep. Dan H. Kuykendall (R-Tenn.) says he is "interested" in the bill, but has not made any decision on whether to sponsor it, according to a spokesman in his office.
Parkhurst expects stiff opposition to the bill from a broad spectrum of transportation concerns, including the railroads, the American Trucking Associations, Inc., the Teamsters and especially the large fleet trucking companies. Yet he says he hopes that the independent truckers acquired enough national standing last winter to be able to put the bill through on their own.
Parkhurst is an idealist and a crusader, and thinks of himself as fighting the good fight for truckers around the country. He is an extension of the trucking mystique: tough, independent, but thoroughly American in his role as publisher and labor leader.
Overdrive's editorial policy is "to print the truth." There is but one truth to Parkhurst, and it is as pointed and uncompromising as the outlook of any political radical. Yet Parkhurst remains a firm believer in the American system, in democracy and free enterprise.
Overdrive writes constantly of the same sorts of political inequities that provide fuel for radical fires. A recent issue of the Overdrive Newsletter complains that "Truckers will continue to get fined for minor traffic violations and lawyers and accountants will continue to escape fines for major violations because truckers don't become legislators and judges, but lawyers and accountants do." Overdrive has also gone after the oil companies and big business in general, leading some to suspect it of political radicalism. Yet this is hardly the case.
Parkhurst's support for the independent trucker does not particularly extend to other areas of society. As long as truckers get their fuel and their loads, and can drive untroubled on the roads, he has little or no complaint with American society. He is opposed to any form of socialism beyond social security, and attacks mass transit with a vengeance.
Parkhurst does see the possibility of enlightened self-interest leading the truckers to become less conservative in their political views; but he thinks that this depends on education and understanding. He claims that many, perhaps most, truckers "can't see beyond the hoods of their trucks," and it is his role to bring them to a wider view of things. "Whether that's leadership, or whether it's education, or knowledge, I don't care what you call it. I call it knowledge, and understanding of what needs to be done," he says.
Asked about possible common interests between the independent truckers, many of whom haul produce, and the United Farm Workers, Parkhurst says, "It would take a lot of education to explain to truckers what the common round was, what the average trucker, at this stage of the game, could care less whether those grapes and lettuce are picked by machines, Mexicans, Negroes, blacks, colored, or whatever they're called, as long as he gets that load. Now, if it could be shown to them that the following things could be accomplished by aligning themselves either with or against the United Farm Workers, then they might come around. But that's an educational process of at least a year, of a lot of articles, and a lot of personal involvement."
The failure of the May 13 shut-down to materialize effectively damaged Parkhurst's and Over-drive's credibility as a powerful representative of the independent truckers. This was a critical issue last year, when various groups were vying for leadership. Parkhurst claims that Overdrive-Roadmasters represents more independent truckers than any other group, and accuses other organizations of padding their memberships.
His enthusiasm remains undiminished, but it is questionable now how great his leadership of the independents is. Basically, they became truckers to avoid tying up to anything or anyone, and are proud of their lack of affiliations with unions and other organizations.
Parkhurst's future as a publisher seems assured; Overdrive is a secure financial operation. Whether he will realize his aim of organizing the independents is anyone's guess.