Local Sikhs and independent truckers have gone on strike over a federal mandate requiring them to keep electronic logbooks known as elogs.

At a rally at the Liberty Bell in downtown Bakersfield on Wednesday, Sikh activist Manpreet Kaur said the devices unfairly track drivers and are too expensive for small owner-operators. Kaur says elogs could also cause produce to spoil because drivers would be forced to go on breaks instead of delivering their loads.

The protest was one of three held across the state by the Sikh community. Bakersfield is home to one of the largest number of owner-operators in California.

Kelli Pierce