Comment Log Display

To all Concerned,

I am writing this to you as a seventh generation Californian. I
have had to make a hard decision. I am leaving California. 

I have supported my family by the sales of Heavy Diesel Trucks for
the past 15 years. The last two years have been tough. We are in
the middle of the biggest sale slump in 25 years. You would think
Heavy truck dealers would be having a field day selling new Trucks
and retrofitting older trucks with the soon to be CARB mandated
particulate traps.  After all, The California government is
requiring are customers to retrofit or buy new trucks. No chance,
as every time government gets in the way of natural market forces
it has crippled an already struggling industry. The Federal EPA in
the middle of a 15-year plan to reduce diesel emissions. Our
industry has responded by meeting all the federal requirements. The
engineers should be commended. All of the engine manufactures have
complied or gotten out of the business of manufacturing diesel
motors. (A whole other topic). 

If you buy a new truck today it will meet the new standards. This
goes for 50 states. Somewhere in there infinite wisdom, CARB is
trying to force Company's and individuals to replace of retrofit by
2014. They have amended there plan several times a recent as
1/20/10. But that is still the bottom line. What do you think that
has done to the value of used diesel trucks in California? Industry
estimates 40-80% devaluation. So the fleets that run the most miles
that normally would replace trucks in say 5 years. Now they cannot
afford to. There fleet has no equity. Thus not allowing the largest
fleets to replace there older trucks with the new non-polluting
trucks. The typical use for the trade-ins would be to sale them
lower mile applications, local delivery, construction ect ect.
The used trucks are converted to other types of trucks. A lot of
people make a buck off of this transaction. It used to be a win win
for everyone and the environment. Now there thousands upon
thousands trucks rotting. Trucks that where once recycled and
reused.  The arrogant self-absorbed politicians got their nose in
the middle of our industry. Now the big fleets that run the most
miles can't afford to upgrade to the new less polluting trucks that
are available NOW. 

You have gotten your wish. I will take my business to the State of
Oregon. Along with almost 500,000.00 in tax revenue I have generate
anualy for the State of California.This is direct revenue. I won't
even get into the revenue lost from the trickle down effect.

I do not have a phoney PHD to back my facts. This is just the truth
about one Californian Family.

Steve Nieto