More than 300 independent truck drivers continued to protest rising diesel prices and stagnant pay rates at the Port of Oakland late this week, even after port officials agreed to listen to their complaints.

The truckers have stopped hauling goods to and from the Oakland harbor since last Friday, and only about a quarter of the trucks that normally operate at the port were running at midweek, a port spokeswoman told the Associated Press.
Many truckers said they won’t return to work until the trucking companies agreed to boost rates paid for their services. They said they want a 30% rate hike and a fuel surcharge to compensate for rising diesel costs.
Port officials said they will form a committee to address the truckers' complaints about pay rates, fuel surcharges and working conditions in the harbor area.
The committee will be made up of independent truckers, trucking companies, port officials, brokers, ocean carriers, terminal operators and railroad representatives.