WASHINGTON -- Starting this weekend, some truckers around the country-- and in our area-- will be putting their big rigs in park. They’re going on strike April 1 because they’re upset about the high price of diesel fuel.

Truck drivers say diesel fuel prices, which are averaging more than $4 a gallon, are forcing some of them out of business. “I put 150 gallons in my truck,” said Paul Weir, and independent truck driver from Orlando, Fla. “It cost me $650, and I just about broke down in tears.”

The organization that represents independent truck drivers warns that the high price of fuel will put many of its members out of business.

“Lawmakers need to know what’s going on in trucking, how devastating this record hike in fuel prices is for 90 percent of the nation’s fleet,” said Todd Spencer of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.

Truckers plan to get the attention of Congress by getting us mad when we go shopping. They hope the strike will disrupt the flow of goods onto store shelves. “It’ll definitely get your attention when you go to any store,” Weir explained. “The store is going to be pretty empty.”

Yet, some question the effectiveness of a short strike. In addition, many big rigs are driven by people working for big corporations, and they plan to work.

Some strikes are scheduled to begin this weekend. Truckers say a bigger one is planned for April 1. There is no word on how long it will last.