Diesel prices drive truckers to protest

St. Paul, Minn. — Truckers from Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota upset with high fuel prices are planning a protest today in South Dakota's capital city of Pierre.

Brian Frahm is organizing the protest. He is expecting about 150 truckers to show up and parade around the Capitol building.

Diesel fuel is selling for about $4.25 a gallon. And they only get seven miles to a gallon. Frahm says it costs over $1,000 to fill a rig.

"Fuel just keeps going up so fast we can't adjust our rates accordingly. We can't keep up with it. It's knocking the little guy out left and right. Repossessions in the trucking industry are up 52% from a year ago and bankruptcies are up 37% from a year ago," said Frahm.

Frahm says he hopes to take the issue to Congress by forming a new advocacy group. He says this is as much about small businesses as it is truckers.

Republican Governor Mike Rounds has agreed to address the group at a rally.