Mr Abbott said similar pickets were being planned for Christchurch and Wellington.
A march to the Wellington headquarters of BP would take place tomorrow, he said.
Mr Abbott said both the drivers and the owner-operators were feeling the squeeze from the big corporates that dominated the industry.
"Our concern is not with small owner-operator service stations in the North. Our dispute is with Toll Carriers and the global oil giant who benefits from the low wages Toll pays BP Oil."
He said owner-operators had expressed their solidarity with the drivers, but had requested not to be named for fear of retaliation from their providers.
The terms of the market were dictated at the top of the supply chain with little room for negotiation and speaking out publicly on these issues could have serious consequences, he said.
Striking drivers have been bargaining with Toll Carriers since January but claimed the company was unwilling to match industry rates.
Despite seeking a pay increase that would still see Toll being the lowest paying company in the industry, bargaining broke down after Toll refused to offer union members what the company paid non-union staff with less experience, Mr Abbott said.
BP had said the strike would not have any impact on the company as it had a contingency plan in place.
Toll yesterday said it hoped to have differences with its drivers resolved "soon".
Meanwhile, a website has been set up for anyone that wishes to donate to help the striking drivers.
See www.onebigvoice.com/fundraiser/toll-strike-fund for further information.