Jeff Bessent says his truck drivers are on high alert amid reports that protesters plan to block three exits along Interstates 80 and 94 near the Illinois and Indiana border on Tuesday.
The Illinois Trucking Association stated on its Facebook page that it had received a “credible report” Tuesday morning that protesters plan to block the northbound and southbound exits at Calumet Avenue, Indianapolis Boulevard and Kennedy Avenue, just inside the Indiana border, around 4 p.m. Central on Tuesday.
Bessent, safety director for Chicago-based M&J Intermodal Inc./Eagle Intermodal Inc., said the safety department and dispatchers have been in constant communication with his 140 drivers about the planned protest.
“We are staying off the interstates as much as possible and we are watching all of the road closures that are going on and following all of the advice that the Illinois Trucking Association and the Illinois State Police are providing to us, as well as the Chicago Police Department,” Bessent told FreightWaves. “Right now, we are trying to move all of our freight as early in the morning as possible to avoid running in the afternoon and evening hours.”
Peaceful protests and civil unrest have continued to rage for eight days in many major cities, including Chicago, following the death of George Floyd, who died while being restrained by ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Chauvin has since been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
The Illinois State Police is advising truckers and motorists to check its main Twitter page for interstate and exit closures. It is also sharing safety tips, including avoiding locations with active police activity and protest areas, as well as abiding by cities’ curfews.
So far, none of Besset’s drivers have experienced any run-ins with protesters.
“Our drivers are pretty dedicated to what they got to do and they know where they are going,” he said. “There are certain areas like the Norfolk Southern terminals right now we are avoiding from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. because of their location.”
Besset said that 90% of the intermodal company’s work is local, which helps his safety and dispatch teams keep track of hot spots around Chicago where looting and vandalism are occurring. The company also has terminals in New Jersey; Kansas City, Missouri; Commerce City, Colorado; and Atlanta.
“I don’t mind protests. I am all for it because I did my time in the military and fought to defend this right for everybody else,” he said. “I am just as upset by what happened to Floyd as everyone else, but I don’t support rioting and destroying property. It’s only going to make the situation worse.”
richard anderton
If you play in the street you will get hit by vehicles. Someones parents didnt do a very good job of teaching their children. The same thing happens to animals that wander onto the highway
Lori Kelly
Well said🤔😁😅
John Doe
We need to stick together start fight back these are kids need to be discipline where’s mothers and fathers in all this what they say about their children why are the mothers and fathers are not talking to them I’m telling you right now if your child it’s out there in the middle of the street on the interstate and holding their fists up at me why I’m in my truck I’m going to run him over I they have no business to me on your stated to begin with. If they want to mess with somebody go mess with Army Air Force Marines let’s see the mess with them and see how far they can get
Billy bob thorton
Fuck this shit if truckers got to put up with this bullshot. Then every trucker in america go on strike and see how Americaos run. Truckers are treated like shit when there pay should be a high paying raise. Like super stars. Lets go down in history by every trucker going on strike to things change in america. Truckers are big for us all and tgey get treated like dogs chained to the open high and its bullshit.
Lori Kelly
Then we are just like Everyone eles who is trying to destroy our great countries infrastructure! 🙁 we need to be mature, strong, and tenacious! This isn’t a time to be bitter, it’s time to be better 🙂
O/O. Taxpayer!
Rioters coming from different parts of country and often very few belonged to the city where they are protesting.
Democrats should stop supporting this insanity. People who work will pay for the damages from rioters and people who lives off of government will keep laughing at taxpayers.
John
To all protesters, STAY OFF THE INTERSTATE AND AWAY FROM THE EXIIT RAMPS. Truckers have a job to do and pissing us off will not make your life better. If you want to protest that’s fine, but protest where it might be effective and the roads are not the place to do it. Truckers are not the problem. Focus your efforts on the problem and protest where there can be solutions to the problem, like Washington D.C.
Anonymous
“Who died while being restrained” … What? You make it out like this was normal. If you’re going to mention it, mention it without the spin. “Who suffocated to death with ex-police officer Chauvin’s knee on his neck”. “Who died when now ex-officer Chauvin used an unauthorized restraint technique that killed him”. Etc. Don’t spin this as a normal restraint-and-accidental-death.
Also, Chauvin’s charges are now 2nd degree murder… meaning the prosecution now believes that he intended to murder him or had ample indication that what he was doing WAS killing him, but that it was not premeditated prior to coming there. So yeah, nothing as nice as you imply here.
Jason Turner
What does that have to do with blocking Interstate Commerce???
Reality
I want to respond in a way it doesn’t make you mad but there is no way to do that. You obviously will blame everyone for every problem in your life. Suck it up buttercup and move on. Get out the road or get run over. This insanity has to stop. If you want to protest go to the police dept doors where the cops were employed. I didn’t kill your “brother” so get out of the road and let me work
Danny Jones
These are not peaceful protesters. They are criminals blocking the conduct of interstate commerce. They are a threat to the national economy and to the motoring public. They should be given no leeway or quarter when blocking the roads. But what they can expect to be given is a bumper to the kneecaps, followed by a set of duals over the chest if they threaten my life or my livelihood.
William Johnston
Sue the lndiana and Illinois govenment ,Illinois, indiana state police it’s illegal to block interstate and a federal crime
Theresa
Clean it up people need to work. And travel . Have the National Guard clear the highways arrest who is walking on it. Hold court in court not on highways. Use common sense to protest .