Comment Log Display

I would like to express my views regarding the proposed rules being
considered for On-Road diesel engines. As an owner operator and
small business owner this is a recipe for disaster for the little
guy like me. A bill such as this would bankrupt me in a heart
beat. If there was any chance the board could slide out from
behind their golden desks and come on down and talk to the common
Joe the truck driver (owner operator), small construction company
owner, and the little guy who is the back bone to the economy of
this state I’m sure you would be blown away to find how down to
earth we are and just how much we do care for our environment. I
am probable your worst nightmare for I am a truck driver and a gun
owner and off-road vehicle owner and love to hunt and fish .But you
forget as much as people hate hunters remember with our enforcement
to limits and the money for the licensees the animals thrive due to
the improvement to their habitats. With that said the majority of
the drivers (owner operators) small construction companies have no
problem with cleaner air. The problem lies with the time limits .As
a small business owner I am my only employee and the profits are
little if any. Infact this last tax filing I was actually $2000.00
in the red.  Now these new laws will put me right out of business.
Why not go to the engine manufactures and faze them in over time
and if needed older trucks help with the retrofitting of newer
engines. I will tell you in my truck I run a Caterpillar engine
and to replace it with at least a 1995 engine my cost at this time
is a minimal of $30,000.00. This is no way feasible now especially
with the housing market slowing I may be going out of state for
work if things don’t pick up. I may spend too much on my
maintenance but my truck runs strong and is mechanically sound and
a safe piece of equipment. I am proud of my truck. I ask you to
really consider the following:

	The time line to change over a fleet (1 to 20 trucks) is too
harsh with the completion time to short. Which will mean a LOT of
money will be needed to up date or buy new equipment over a short
period of time. Money I simply do not have. Please extend the time
line.
The manufactures, like the auto industry, should be forced to do
these changes in coming models as well as retrofitting existing
equipment.
More programs should be available to help the industry make the
change. This is a big industry with a lot of small businesses
(family businesses) that just make a living and don’t have a lot
of money to make the change over.
Why burden small businesses with this? Why not the manufacturer?
They make the profit and serve a much larger market than just
CALIFORNIA.
Why make my truck, my only asset valueless overnight with
timelines that will eliminate my truck. I need to be allowed to
use my truck until I am able to update it or the STATE helps to
update it. After all it is not the truck that pollutes, it is the
engine; the most costly piece of the truck.

Thank you for your time.



Richard D. Davis
Owner operator
JDSR Company