Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

IrishBubbaLiberal

(2,561 posts)
Mon Jun 16, 2025, 11:42 AM Jun 16

Penske Company Bans White Supremacists From Renting Trucks

You may have seen the video of the gang of Patriot Fronters being forced, touchless, to a huge Penske moving truck a couple of days ago.

Penske says no more to them.

Here is a movement we could all get behind... like "no shirt, no service".

"You an asshole, GTF out of my shop."




https://www.newsweek.com/company-bans-white-supremacists-renting-trucks-2085993

Company Bans White Supremacists From Renting Trucks

Penske Truck Rental said on Sunday that it had banned members of the white nationalist hate group Patriot Front from renting its vehicles.

The company's decision comes after videos on social media showed masked members of Patriot Front fleeing in one of the company's yellow trucks after being confronted by a group of people in downtown Springfield, Missouri, on Saturday.

Newsweek has contacted Penske for further comment via email.

Why It Matters
Patriot Front frequently relies on rented trucks to transport members to demonstrations in cities across the country. Penske's response is the first public rebuke by a major company against the group and the decision could affect its ability to rent trucks in the future.

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Penske Company Bans White Supremacists From Renting Trucks (Original Post) IrishBubbaLiberal Jun 16 OP
Get thee to the greatestp age malaise Jun 16 #1
Trump's DOJ will be filing bogus charges against Penske newdeal2 Jun 16 #2
Their lawyers told them to do this. Mosby Jun 16 #3
are we thinking they walk into the showroom stopdiggin Jun 16 #4
How does Penske propose to identify if a potential renter flvegan Jun 16 #5
I'm wondering how impactful this really is. Moosepoop Jun 16 #6
Penske has some experience in blacklisting "rental car hell drivers" Mopar151 Jun 16 #7
So this affects Greg_In_SF Jun 16 #8
K & R berniesandersmittens Jun 16 #9

Mosby

(18,793 posts)
3. Their lawyers told them to do this.
Mon Jun 16, 2025, 12:00 PM
Jun 16

It's illegal to transport people in the back of a box truck. Really illegal.

Since they've done it multiple times, there is a pattern established which Penske, Budget, U-Haul are all now aware of. Renting to groups like this now create legal problems.

Just saying.

stopdiggin

(14,013 posts)
4. are we thinking they walk into the showroom
Mon Jun 16, 2025, 12:06 PM
Jun 16

with a flag, and announce, "need a truck I can haul 35 ah' my bros in .. " ?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --

flvegan

(65,130 posts)
5. How does Penske propose to identify if a potential renter
Mon Jun 16, 2025, 12:27 PM
Jun 16

is a white supremacist? They don't all have nazi tats on their foreheads.

Serious question though.

Moosepoop

(2,066 posts)
6. I'm wondering how impactful this really is.
Mon Jun 16, 2025, 12:30 PM
Jun 16

Here's the statement from Penske, posted on X (Twitter):

(bolding mine)

Penske said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter: "Penske Truck rental is aware of an incident involving one of its vehicles yesterday in Springfield, Missouri. This incident is unacceptable. We strongly condemn these individuals and their actions, which violate out rental agreement. Effective immediately, the individual(s) on the rental agreement are banned from future rentals."


Camera footage captured the truck's license plate and DOT number, so Penske was able to identify the rental agreement for the truck used in this particular incident. Accordingly, they have banned the person or persons listed on that particular rental agreement.

But that does not prevent future rentals by Patriot Front members, unless they try to rent a truck under the Patriot Front name, which is unlikely. Future incidents may result in the banning of those particular individuals on the rental agreements, but it's essentially whack-a-mole after the fact for Penske.

I do applaud their action, but I have to wonder how much of a deterrent this will really turn out to be.

Mopar151

(10,315 posts)
7. Penske has some experience in blacklisting "rental car hell drivers"
Mon Jun 16, 2025, 12:33 PM
Jun 16

His star racing driver in the 70's, Mark Donahue, had a reputation as a serial abuser of Rent-a-Cars. His favorite trick? Making a front wheel jump a high curb, then "rail grinding" along the curb with 3 wheels clawing sideways and sparks coming out where the curb was grinding the bottom of the car! By all accounts, Donahue was otherwise a nice guy, and a favorite of the press.
There were several NASCAR drivers of that era who were "banned for life" from what Junior Johnson called "U-Drives". One wildman managed to put one into a motel pool "in the day".

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Penske Company Bans White...