A normal person does not scream “fire” in a crowded theater, nor do they cry “wolf” when there is not one. And so, it goes with the media frenzy reporting social media rumors of truckers going on strike on Oct. 1.

I dug around for any hint that a strike might happen, but I only found news story after news story reporting “viral social media posts” suggesting truckers would strike.

Best I could find online was that, in modern times, there have not really been any major truck driver strikes. Well, there was the Truckers’ Strike of 1934. That was also known as a Minneapolis Teamsters’ Strike, again, not a nationwide trucker strike, and surely not driven by social media.

But maybe there will be a truckers’ strike, and that could force Iran to loosen its grip on the Strait of Hormuz. But, not likely on either count.

So, other than the frenzy and rumors, what are the takeaways?

If the Wheels Don’t Turn

If wheels aren’t turning, fleets aren’t making money. And likewise, neither would the drivers. So I don’t understand why there would even be a rumor of a strike, whether by an independent operator or a driver for a motor carrier.

So, for those motor carriers and independents, a strike would hurt revenue. So, what would the impact be on work truck fleets?

Disruption in Parts Supply Chain

For vocational and service fleets, and really all others including delivery fleets, the impact would be similar to any other supply chain disruption. What always rises to the top in times like that would be parts availability.

If it takes longer to get a part in, then it takes longer to get your truck or van back to work. Downtime from parts inventory challenges and delivery delays can quickly prove costly.

Reduction in Deliveries

If freight stops moving or a drivers’ strike stymies the flow of goods to both businesses and consumers, delivery fleets could also be affected. Regional haul and last-mile delivery fleets might be caught with less cargo to deliver, causing a negative economic impact.

Upfitting Delays

Back to the economics of a supply chain disruption, but let’s think about upfitting.

If there is a delay in the delivery of parts, we likely wouldn't just be talking about parts for repairs. This same disruption could slow the inputs upfitters need to build upfits and get them out to fleets.

So, if a fleet is waiting on a replacement vehicle, that delay might force them to keep an older vehicle on the road longer, which could drive up the operating and maintenance costs.

New Vehicle Order Fulfillment

A major, extended supply chain disruption could even hit OEMs, delaying vehicle production. That delay could affect vehicles straight off the line, as well as chassis, vans, and trucks that need to reach body builders and upfitters. So, like the previous point, that could also delay the delivery of spec’d vehicles to fleets.

Where’s the Panic?

In the fleet world, I just can’t seem to find a hint of anyone in a panic over all the rumors of a truckers’ strike. So, I wonder, why not?

The answer is simple. Fleet managers and other leaders in the commercial vehicle space are very knowledgeable professionals. They keep an eye on the prize and stay on task with what is in front of them. They don’t have time to chase down rumors and speculation.

The ongoing growth of the rumor mill has been fueled by trend-chasing newsrooms and social media keyboard warriors, and not fleet managers and logistics professionals.

Fleet managers, well, they stay on task and tackle high diesel prices the only way they know: by seeking efficiency, tapping into analytics, and leading.