Comment Log Display

   My husband, Jake and I have been a small trucking company within
the greater San Francisco Bay area for over 43 yrs.  We had thought
that our 2007 year was the worst we would ever had...we thought
that until 2008 happened.  This year has tested us in all aspects
of our business; we are quickly approaching winter with no funds
put aside to carry us through this historically slow time of year. 
We currently are working 3 of our 5 trucks between 2 -3 days a week
and know we are blessed to have this much work.  Many of our
friends have little or no work.  
   My husband is 74 yrs old.  We, like many of our friends within
the construction trucking industry, have placed our entire
retirement plans within our equipment.  Our plan had always been to
sell the equipment with our job and thus have the dollars needed
for our retirement.  When 2008 began and we began to see just how
poorly we were doing, we attemped to sell 2 pieces of our
equipment.  We have been hit, not only with the volatile economic
environment,but with the industries' anticipation of the on-road
rule <> our equipment has lost so much value that we are unable to
sell it.  
    Both my husband and I have been members of CDTOA for over 20
yrs.   We are part of the segment of truckers' who - because of the
knowledge we gain - maintain our equipment and keep current with
all laws.  When CARB came up with the smoke testing rule, we
obeyed.  Our last test, had our equipment between 2 and 4
percentile <>CARB's "rule" allows our equipmet to have a 40% test. 
How can equipment with such a low reading be called worthless by
CARB?  No one in California and/or surrounding states wants our
equip. - we have lost our retirement and soon our livehood. 
    Although I am holding onto my husband's medical insurance by a
thread, I have had to close my health insurance acct. because we
can't afford the premium.  I am thankful I am a healthy woman.  I
can only shudder to think what will happen should I have a medical
problem.
     Please, especially due to the insanity we can all see in our
economy over the last 2 yrs, please - look to the alternative
proposal porposed by the Driving Toward a Cleaner California ]DTCC]
Coalition that would give companies like mine the opportunity to
comply in the most reasonable timeframe and flexible manner
possible while still attaining aggressive emission reductions.
   We want to be part of the solution - we want cleaner air for
our descendants - we can not see how by using CARB's suggested rule
this will not destroy us and many of our friends within the
construction trucking industry.  Our primary asset-s are our
equipment and especially those of us who have tried to keep our
equipment 'newer" [ 1999's and 2000's] will be severely hampered
with the retrofit and/or replacement rule as CARB currently has
stated.
    Please help us to help California.
Sincerely,
    Angel and Jake Raposa
     Raposa Trucking