December 24, 2009
Hundreds of truckers nationwide are stranded and trying to get home before Christmas after their company shut down operations with little notice.
Arrow Trucking, based in Tulsa, suspended operations and laid off employees. Arrow is among the largest trucking companies in the nation.
About 900 truckers were left stranded across the country. Many drivers learned that the company had folded only after filling up their rigs and discovering the company's fuel credit cards would not work.
The company website has been shutdown and callers to Arrow's Tulsa office received a message telling drivers to take their trucks to the nearest freightliner shop. The message also informed drivers that Daimler Financial Services--which owns the company's Freightliner trucks would arrange for a bus ticket home.
A Daimler spokesperson says the company is offering stranded drivers a bus ticket home or $200 in cash.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OODIA) says the trucking community has come to the aid of those drivers stranded.
Meanwhile, Arrow customers are scrambling to pick up loads of freight that has been left stranded. Creditors are also ready to claim trucks and trailers that aren't paid off.
If you are a stranded driver and need assistance, you can call OOIDA at 800-444-5791 and press 1 and leave your name and phone number where you can be reached.
