Canada-style trucker convoys headed to DC-area this week, ahead of Biden State of Union next week

United States versions of the "Freedom Convoy" in Canada in which truckers and others opposed the government's strict COVID-19 regulations could come to Washington, D.C., as early as this week, with others plan around next week's State of the Union address.

"There are plans to shut down the Capital Beltway,” an organizer of the truck convoy set on the region told local TV station Fox 5.

The organizer, Bob Bolus, who reportedly owns a towing and truck-parts business in Scranton, Pennsylvania, said he plans to leave home Wednesday morning, drive through the District of Columbia, then go to the beltway, a multi-lane highway that loops the nation's capital.

The protests in Canada before being shuttered in recent days gridlocked the capitol city of Ottawa. And the protesters and their rigs earlier this month blocked the Ambassador Bridge – from Windsor, Ontario to Detroit – forcing several major auto factories to temporarily shutter.

Other groups are reportedly trying to reach Washington by President Biden's State of the Union speech on March 1. However, the most-widely reported ones are not scheduled to arrive until afterward.

One is the American Truckers Freedom Fund, which is providing six convoy routes to Washington, D.C. – from Fresno, Calif.; Weartherford, Texas; Minot, N.D.; Spokane, Wash.; Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. 

A second organizing group – The People's Convoy – will start its journey from Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The ATFF describes itself as a "movement of peaceful, non-violent Americans who are dissatisfied with the unscientific, unconstitutional government overreach in regards to mandates."

It also lists as causes support for American energy independence and enhanced security at the southern U.S. border. Some truckers have also made clear they are concerned with the state of Big Tech and government censorship in the U.S.

Organizers for each group said they don't intend to create gridlock or get in the way of emergency vehicles.

Still, D.C. law enforcement is preparing for the possibility of a disruption.

Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee says he will staff the force's Civil Disturbance Unit with 500 officers per day this week, D.C. Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser says her office is keeping close watch on the situation, and the U.S. Capitol Police is re-installing fencing around the Capitol complex, ahead of any possible problems.