Truck drivers planned a three-day protest around Washington, D.C., beginning Oct. 11, 2013, to draw attention to industry grievances and their dissatisfaction with federal leaders. Organizers of “Truckers Ride for the Constitution” said participants would circle the Capital Beltway, potentially disrupting traffic, while calling for government officials to uphold the Constitution.

The drivers cited low wages, high diesel prices, fees and federal regulations, including Environmental Protection Agency fuel-efficiency standards. They also objected to state and local anti-idling laws, required technology upgrades and what they saw as weakening privacy protections for truck cabs. Their broader complaints included federal debt, reported government surveillance of Americans and the conduct of elected officials.

Logistics coordinator Earl Conlon said trucks would travel three lanes deep on the Beltway’s inner loop at the 55-mile-per-hour speed limit, leaving the left lane open for emergency vehicles. He suggested that vehicles displaying a supporter message would be allowed past and threatened a roadblock if police interfered. Organizers said they wanted a peaceful protest, although the number of participants and the likely effect on traffic remained uncertain. A similar trucking protest in 2007 had caused less disruption than feared.

The group’s political rhetoric echoed the early Tea Party movement. Its materials characterized President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry and Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham as “domestic enemies.” Organizer Zeeda Andrews had said participants would demand Obama’s impeachment, but Conlon disputed that account. He initially said protesters would seek the arrest of officials they accused of constitutional violations, including over alleged support for al-Qaeda-linked Syrian rebels. An update to the report said truckers were no longer planning to arrest members of Congress.