First Name | Carol & Dan |
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Last Name | Porter |
Email Address | JumpRHigh@aol.com |
Affiliation | |
Subject | CARB regulations |
Comment | The requirement to either purchase new equipment or add the extremely expensive and unreliable filter has decimated the small trucking companies in California. We have been in business for more than 30 years. We worked hard and paid off our vehicles. At one time we had 5 trucks and trailers shipping horses in California. We downsized to three trucks a couple of years ago. Suddenly our paid for equipment had little value because they didn't pass the CARB requirements for emissions. So our trucks which had a book value of 250,000 now were only worth a tiny fraction. We sold at prices of 3500 to 4000. We looked into the Prop B and other grant programs. But in order to receive sufficient money to make a difference, each truck had to go more than 25,000 annual miles IN CALIFORNIA. We could not quite meet that requirement, which would only gain us a 10,000 down payment at one of the partner sellers. We found out that they had inflated their prices to the point that a 2010 Kenworth tractor (only good until 2023) was priced at 68,000. 2011 tractors were in excess of 90,000. Eventually we purchased a 2011 tractor in Missouri for 69,000. This is nearly the identical price as the model year newer in California. So now we are in debt, when a year ago we were debt free. We took the small fleet option, so our second truck is not due for replacement until the end of this year. We simply cannot afford another truck payment. The filters cost between 18,000 and 30,000 depending on the truck. The do damage to Caterpillar engines. (our 1996 Kenworth runs great and has a Cat engine). Caterpillar went out of the truck engine building business for this reason. That lost many thousands of jobs from the California work force. With fuel so expensive and the cost of upgrading equipment, many independent truckers have simply parked their vehicles and walked away. I know two who have quit the businesses they worked for decades to establish, which supported them and their families through hard work and a sense of accomplishment and also provided work for employees. One friend quit last week and is in the process of selling his house and moving to Texas. REMEMBER: EVERY SINGLE ITEM on store shelves, from bread to milk to computers to furniture is shipped on a truck at some point from the manufacturer to the end seller. EVERY ITEM. Raising the cost of doing business in the state, reducing the number of independent trucking firms and putting people out of work simply raises the cost of living for everyone. PLEASE CONSIDER for the small fleets at least: Anyone who is in compliance with one truck, grandfather in their second vehicle. One other issue: We are in compliance. There are THOUSANDS who are not. They compete unfairly. Sincerely, Carol & Dan Porter Porter Horse Transportation |
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Original File Name | |
Date and Time Comment Was Submitted | 2014-07-16 18:55:54 |
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