Update, Monday 8:30 a.m.

Convoy organizers say they will leave Hagerstown Speedway at 9:30 a.m. to head back to the Beltway. They told The Washington Post they intend to loop around just once but to use two lanes.

Morning commute traffic around the Beltway largely subsides by 9 a.m.

Organizers say they plan to be here at least through Saturday, the Post reports.

Update, Sunday 2 p.m.:

Hundreds of semis, pickup trucks, RVs, and other vehicles are driving around the Beltway twice on Sunday. Organizers said they were going to drive slowly, but traffic largely kept moving at a normal pace.  They haven’t caused any major disruptions, though Google Maps did show heavier traffic than usual. 

Truckers displayed pro-Trump and anti-Biden paraphernalia and “Don’t Tread On Me” and American flags. They honked horns at supporters.

Some supporters watched with American flags from the overpasses of I-270 and I-495. Tabitha McLoughlin of Rockville was on the Bradley Boulevard bridge over the Beltway. Her dad was a truck driver. 

“To see this, a bunch of working individuals.. that want to work without the restrictions of working… it’s a beautiful thing. “

Jason Montgomery of D.C. was also on the overpass. He was at the convoy rally in Hagerstown on Saturday. He says the pandemic is over.

“By all accounts, we’re basically done with it,” Montgomery said. “This raises awareness (of remaining restrictions).

“Obviously, there are other things in the news that are important, so a lot of people are forgetting about the businesses that had to shut down in the middle of the country.”  

Not everyone was supportive. One driver who commented on a slowdown on Waze said, “What a bunch of losers.” 

Organizers say they will be back throughout the week, adding another lap around the 64-mile Beltway each day.

Update, Sunday 10 a.m.: 

Organizers of a trucker convoy say they will slowly drive around the I-495 Beltway on Sunday and every day after until they get what they want — an end to the national emergency for the pandemic and other coronavirus restrictions (which have already largely been lifted).

They told the Washington Post they will make their way around the Beltway twice on Sunday, driving the minimum speed limit. About a thousand vehicles had planned to leave Hagerstown, where they rallied starting Friday, at 9:30 a.m. They also claim they will drive around it every day, increasing the number of times they circle each day to get attention.

The Virginia State Police say there is no legal minimum speed limit posted because of daily traffic congestion that slows down the interstates anyway. VSP say they are “monitoring the still-developing situation and emphasized with convoy organizers the importance of keeping traffic flowing safely and efficiently.” VSP has also increased the number of patrols on the road. Authorities in Maryland and D.C. are also monitoring the situation and encouraging drivers to check traffic conditions before they leave and plan alternate routes.

Both Virginia and Maryland laws prohibit stopping or impeding traffic. “No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law,” Virginia law says. Maryland law states “Unless reduced speed is necessary for the safe operation of the vehicle or otherwise is in compliance with law, a person may not willfully drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.”

In a post on Telegram, the group said it would take I-270 south to I-495 south, which would have the convoy going counter-clockwise on the Outer Loop of the Beltway going through Virginia first, then Maryland. The entire 255-mile trip under good traffic conditions would take about four hours.

The convoy is camping out at the Hagerstown Speedway off I-70. They arrived Friday night and spent Saturday organizing a rally.

Brian Brase, a 37-year-old trucker from Ohio who is helping lead the effort, told the Post they want to send a message “without violence or lawbreaking.”

“We would like everybody to be able to have a safe, normal commute to and from their workplace,” Brase said. “So we would try to do so in a time that does not cripple the traffic more than necessary. Don’t worry about being late for work.”

“We’re not going anywhere until (our message is) heard.”

Original story:

A caravan of semis, pickup trucks, and other hangers-on are gathering in Hagerstown, Md., Friday night before making their way to the Beltway. They’re protesting coronavirus mandates, even though most have been lifted. The convoy has roots in right-wing grievances and puts out messages about getting their “freedom” back.

A lot about their protest is unclear, but here’s what we know.

What is the timeline and what do they plan to do?

According to the People’s Convoy website, they left Cambridge, Ohio, Friday morning with the destination of the Hagerstown Speedway by Friday evening where they will stay overnight.

Organizers say they will go to the Beltway area on Saturday, but they haven’t said what they plan to do. They do say they will abide by laws. It is illegal to stop on highways in Virginia and Maryland.

They say they won’t venture into D.C., but it’s unclear how forthcoming and truthful they are about their actual plans and tactics. Organizers have been coy about what they will do when they get to the D.C. area.

NBC News reports that livestreamers have said they plan to block the Beltway. Some have said some trucks will go to the White House.

The Washington Post reports organizers say they now may be staying in Hagerstown both Friday and Saturday with a rally Saturday night somewhere “only two miles from the Beltway” where some lawmakers friendly to the cause will join them.

How many are coming?

It’s unclear, since there are convoys reportedly coming from California, Washington, and New England.

Police in Indiana and Ohio told the Post the convoy consisted of possibly several hundred vehicles with a majority of them being passenger cars.

Ohio State Highway Patrol told the Post there were about 200 semis, 150 recreational vehicles, like RVs or trucks pulling campers; and 200 personal vehicles.

Social media posts show supporters gathered along bridges and on-ramps to support the group.

Part of the difficulty is determining what traffic is part of the convoy and what is just normal traffic.

The Beltway is 64-miles long and it would likely take dozens of trucks to block key points along the ring road.

How can I make sure my route is clear if I have to travel this weekend?

We’re not sure what will even materialize or if it will be worse than regular Beltway traffic.

VSP recommends following @vadotnova,and @511statewideva for updates. You can also check out the Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination’s Traffic View website here, which has real-time traffic data and incident information, traffic cameras, and more. Google Maps and Waze also has real-time information on traffic.

Metro alerted riders to “possible disruptions” to bus service because of the convoy, listing 29 routes that go through downtown that could be affected.

“Buses on 29 routes may be detoured or truncated through the downtown area. Traffic disruptions may continue for an extended period of time and demonstration activity may create additional impacts throughout the Washington, D.C. region,” Metro said, listing the 5A, 16E, 32, 33, 36, 38B, 42, 43, 52, 54, 64, 70, 74, 79, 80, 96, D4, D6, D8, G8, L2, N2, N4, N6, P6, S2, S9, X2, X8 routes.

They encouraged riders to take Metrorail.

How are police responding?

Virginia and Maryland State Police say they are monitoring the situation and they’re prepared for the weekend.

They’re working with local, state, and federal agencies.

“Virginia State Police respects the public’s First Amendment rights and has been in contact with various groups’ organizers to ensure their understanding of Virginia traffic laws,” VSP said in a release. “These communications have also enabled us to share our expectations related to keeping traffic flowing safely and efficiently on Virginia highways, especially in the case of emergencies and for first responder vehicles.”

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin had a briefing on the situation on Thursday.

“We remain dedicated to ensuring that individuals can express their first amendment rights while continuing the safe flow of traffic for all travelers,” Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter said in an email. “We anticipate the possibility of heavier than normal traffic this weekend and will continue to monitor with the help from our state, local and federal partners.”

How much would this trip cost truckers?

The trip from Adelanto, California to D.C. is about 2,600 miles. Diesel is averaging $4.26 a gallon across the country. Semis get about 6.5 miles per gallon. That makes the trip about $1,700 in gas for one way.

The group has said they’ve raised $1.6 million through the American Foundation for Civil Liberties and Freedom.

Didn’t other efforts peter out?

Yep.

A truck “convoy” from Scranton, Pa., only garnered one semi and some other trucks. It didn’t make an impact on the Beltway last week. Another protest organized by a Maryland gubernatorial candidate was looking to capitalize on the truck convoy by bringing them to the Sylvan Theater near the Washington Monument, but it only drew a handful of people.

Another truck convoy effort in 2013 to protest “government intrusion” was a “non-event,” according to a Washington Post story.

This story was updated to add the convoy’s plans on Sunday.