Members of the online trucking group “Black Smoke Matters” have plans draw attention to issues like Electronic Logging Device (ELD) regulations by organizing protests activities in Illinois this weekend.
The event has been organized by an Illinois arm of the Black Smoke Matters movement called “Stand As One IL”. The event is planned for the morning of Saturday, January 26 in Marion, Illinois.
Group members say that they are planning on a orchestrating a “slow roll” event.
Drivers plan to meet at the Marion Pilot Flying J at 10 a.m. Then at 11 a.m., they’ll begin their slow roll, driving side by side on I-57 for about a hundred miles all the way to Exit 159.
Group members say safety is a major priority and that they have a plan in place to make sure that emergency vehicles are not impeded by the slow roll protest.
For more information about the slow roll, you can follow Stand As One IL on Facebook.
The slow roll is building up to nationwide Black Smoke Matters shutdown event planned for April 12, 2019 during which drivers are encouraged to park their trucks.
The Black Smoke Matters group is protesting to raise awareness about several issues within the trucking industry, including:
- ELDs
- Hours of Service regulations
- Safe truck parking
- Truck drivers training standards
- Lack of driver representation and oversight in the creation of trucking regulations.
Numerous other activities are planned leading up to Black Smoke matters in the coming weeks. You can follow Black Smoke Matters on Facebook to learn more about these events.