The day after Thanksgiving is known across the country as Black Friday, and in the village of Skaneateles, it's also the start of Dickens' Christmas.
But this year, truckers hope it's recognized as the day they took over Skaneateles.
Truck drivers are calling for a slow-moving protest in which tractor trailers motor along Genesee Street in Skaneateles. This scheduled protest is in response to the state Department of Transportation's recent proposal to keep large trucks off some rural routes, such as state Routes 41 and 41A.
However, the measure would allow them to continue to travel on Route 20 because Genesee Street is a national road.
An organization called Truckers and Citizens United planned this effort a month ago, according to Charlie Claburn, the group's Northeast regional director. The Web site states “Gov. Paterson fails to recognize the 500,000 truck jobs in the state of New York. He is (adhering) the needs of the few that outweigh the needs of the many.”
If truck drivers are willing to give up their holiday weekend to descend on to Skaneateles next week, the day Dickens' starts would be one of the worst days to stage this protest, local officials say.
The day wasn't intentionally chosen to disrupt the Christmas celebration in Skaneateles, Claburn said. He said that more than 300 truck drivers from the region, and some from out of state who drive on the roads will come. They plan to go through Auburn that morning and into Skaneateles on Route 20.
While the DOT's proposed regulation would be the latest hit to the trucking industry, Claburn says truck drivers want lawmakers to re-examine rules governing the entire industry.
Officials in the Finger Lakes region first began protesting garbage trucks taking shortcuts along the region's lakes. However, most of those truckers who are slated to participate in the protest do not drive garbage trucks, Claburn said.
“The governor isn't listening. He wasn't listening when they had 300 trucks crammed in his front door in Albany,” Claburn said about a similar ride in the state capital in June.
“It's not just about these roads,” he said of the list of rural routes truckers could no longer travel on.
Trucking companies take issue with the fact that they are taxed in multiple ways and the state's high cost of diesel compared to the nation's average.
“Why would you want to break the backs of the last source of income (for truckers)?” Claburn asked hypothetically.
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net
Truck drivers are calling for a slow-moving protest in which tractor trailers motor along Genesee Street in Skaneateles. This scheduled protest is in response to the state Department of Transportation's recent proposal to keep large trucks off some rural routes, such as state Routes 41 and 41A.
However, the measure would allow them to continue to travel on Route 20 because Genesee Street is a national road.
An organization called Truckers and Citizens United planned this effort a month ago, according to Charlie Claburn, the group's Northeast regional director. The Web site states “Gov. Paterson fails to recognize the 500,000 truck jobs in the state of New York. He is (adhering) the needs of the few that outweigh the needs of the many.”
If truck drivers are willing to give up their holiday weekend to descend on to Skaneateles next week, the day Dickens' starts would be one of the worst days to stage this protest, local officials say.
The day wasn't intentionally chosen to disrupt the Christmas celebration in Skaneateles, Claburn said. He said that more than 300 truck drivers from the region, and some from out of state who drive on the roads will come. They plan to go through Auburn that morning and into Skaneateles on Route 20.
While the DOT's proposed regulation would be the latest hit to the trucking industry, Claburn says truck drivers want lawmakers to re-examine rules governing the entire industry.
Officials in the Finger Lakes region first began protesting garbage trucks taking shortcuts along the region's lakes. However, most of those truckers who are slated to participate in the protest do not drive garbage trucks, Claburn said.
“The governor isn't listening. He wasn't listening when they had 300 trucks crammed in his front door in Albany,” Claburn said about a similar ride in the state capital in June.
“It's not just about these roads,” he said of the list of rural routes truckers could no longer travel on.
Trucking companies take issue with the fact that they are taxed in multiple ways and the state's high cost of diesel compared to the nation's average.
“Why would you want to break the backs of the last source of income (for truckers)?” Claburn asked hypothetically.
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net
