everyone should boycott California

riverrat2000 · Dec 21, 2007

I have read and would/will support a truck shutdown to get changes made in this industry,however as it is being pointed out, the people organizing it are not very organized. The jan 3 to 8th dates are the most common dates i have seen on the net and heard about on the radio.

While I am watching that go on I am asking all drivers that is owner/operators company and union alike to join me in a boycott of California over the CARB rules, anti idling, the mandated emissions rulings that will cost every truck owner tens of thousands of dollars per truck to comply with ect.

Everyone should be concerned with the anti idling laws and fines for they will start the first of the year with more being phased in over the course of the next several years, does anyone think that it is safe for a driver to try to sleep in 100 plus heat and then drive, or the other end 0 degree temps? are they crazy it just isnt safe and if you choose to protect your health by using your heater [and that includes any APU you might own] they will fine the ##### out of you!!
lets see, chance heat stroke or freezing to death or being fined into bankruptcy some choice huh!!

Well I am calling for a third choice EVERYONE boycott CALIFORNIA they have made it plain they do not want us there and that our health and lives are not worth anything so I am asking that we just say no to that state.

This is something that can be done even if a national truck shutdown is doomed to failure because we are all into this together it will effect all of us so I am asking that starting jan 1st and continuing indefinably all truckers just say no to California freight,don't worry if at first it looks like you are alone in this,you are not!!! thats the beauty of this, it can keep adding new people and grow for as long as that state sees fit to jeopardize our health and well being.

Now if we cannot get together on something that has the potential to kill each and everyone of us, then we are really lost as an industry and as a nation of free people, this is an injustice that must be made right!!!

So am I talking to an empty room or are there people willing to stand with me on this and spread the word far and wide and get this wrong righted!!!

LDB · Dec 21, 2007

You don't mention it but I suspect there's an exemption to the rule of there's a pet in the truck. I'm sure they value animals more than people.

You also don't mention it but to be effective a handwritten note to the member who proposed the measure as well as to the ranking member who opposed the measure would be important. If they get enough correspondence informing them of drivers/owners who won't be entering CA anymore perhaps they'll rethink things.

I wouldn't mind a ruling of no big engine idling and limited APU use in temps of around 55-75. One can stay comfortable in that range without much climate control. Outside that range there should be no limit on APU and limited engine idling allowed.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB
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Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

OntarioVanMan · Dec 21, 2007

They gotta do something about idling still too many idiots idling for no reason. And if you give an owner an inch he'll take a mile...They need to be pushed. I've done some research seems they have a half hour limit. Amazing run it and then shut it down and restart...innovation is good.

arkjarhead · Dec 21, 2007

If it's 100 degrees how will you be rested to drive after waking up every half hour to turn off the truck then wait a minute and crank it back. That's crazy. Kinda makes me glad I'm not out thare dealing with that BS anymore.

greg334 · Dec 21, 2007

"there's an exemption to the rule of there's a pet in the truck. I'm sure they value animals more than people"

Leo,

I am sure that some time ago this was addressed by both California and NY and there is no real exemption, it is the officer's discretion to ticket you due to an animal in the vehicle.

Well here is what people should be really complaining about, the fact that we are going to have to do two things in the near future - either retrofit the equipement with 'certified' conversions to bring it up to a certain level or put in new engines in the truck, APU and reefers to be compliant.

Either way, there is serious talk about this at the EPA level about trucks being the main source of pollution in the world (yea they say the US is with all the trucks) and many who think that there will be grandfathering in their precious 1995 KW, better be prepared to make the changes to that truck or change careers. I can imagine that there will be a glut of older trucks hitting the market sometime in 2010 or 2012.

But what is the real issue is the way the loans are structured and the interest rate given.

If the government wants us to install or refit the trucks, then they have to step up to the plate with regulations capping the interest rate, forbidding documentation fees and make available more grants to individuals. Also there should be a 100% write off on the equipment, not a deprecation but than again the best solution for the negative impact on all of this is the Fair Tax, http://www.fairtax.org

And on the brighter side of this, companies like KW and a couple others have put into production systems that are spill overs from the refrigeration industry. KW uses an old way of doing things, a big ice cube with air going across it (pretty much that is what it is). They are claiming it is new but got news for them, it has been used for the last century and even was used in Rail service in the teens.

I have a email from one company that will be marketing a complete electric solution using lithium batteries. An interesting unit but they have an issue with the heat pump - the 12 volt compressors are not holding up to the task. I would venture to guess that this will come about soon enough.

And on another technical note, the reason many of the APUs and reefers can't be retrofitted is because they use mechanical injection systems and that prevents the proper use of the partical filters and EGR systems to 'clean' the diesel exhaust. So if you are going to buy an APU, check out the injection system and ask them how does a 'future' retrofit to emissions happen (and ask for documentation). At this time there is no apu certified.

riverrat2000 · Dec 22, 2007

all the things talked about so far is absolutely true and will run the owner operators out of business in the next couple of years most of us just cannot afford to put the kind of money into the kits to make our trucks compliant, not with todays low rates and low levels of freight!

However since I have chosen to make a public stand and call for a boycott I will say that the most important immediate issue is our health and the fact that California has classified us as even lower on their scale than the illegal Mexicans for which the are making US citizens pay for their medical care,what about our health care,since their laws are gonna make a lot of us sicker. Why we are not even up on the scale of their pets for which people go to jail for making a dog stay in a hot car!! [oh and by the way if any of you try claiming an exemption for a lot lizard please let us know how that went over]

So again I am calling on everyone to boycott California and help spread the word it may take some time but I think this can work.

I posted this on two other websites yesterday and have already gotten a lot of positive responses in fact I have yet to hear anyone say anything negative I haven't even heard the usual good idea BUT it will never work so it is encoraging.

Merry Christmas all and a GREAT new year

60MPH · Jan 14, 2008

I boycott CA. but then again I am in a van and my company never sends me out that far. But if they do, I told myself that I will not be going out there again, ah-- the republic of California. kinda reminds me on China. I like the goven-nator but I can't stand that state.

Dog_House2691 · Jan 17, 2008

Well you can also put much of this problem on Albert Gore and his Hoax on Global Warming.I was Driving south down I-75 from Knoxville,Tn. to Jacksonville,Fl. Wed. the 16th of Jan. and it was snowing all the way thru Atlanta,Ga. almost to Macon. Wake up America!

riverrat · Jan 18, 2008

pretty good article from another site

Here are what I believe are the reasons we as a group need to stand together and boycott California....

1. California has made it easy to boycott then since they have no regard for the

health, and safety of the American truck driver. Their latest example of their total

disregard for the American truck driver is the anti idling laws that go into effect Jan. 1st.

They have told us we cannot stay comfortable in our trucks and have not given us

any alternative, they say just don't idle they don't care if the temp. is -10 or

+110 you are suppose to just sit for your breaks and either freeze or have a heat

stroke. The Max. fine is $1000.00 and possible criminal charges,

[]- eTrucker the min. is $300.00 bucks per day

for protecting your health.

[www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2007/Dec07/122407/122807-01.htm]

2.In The ports in Ca. []- eTrucker a fee has
to be paid for every container coming out the driver will end up paying one way or

the other and if you do get any freight from the ports plan on having a new truck or

spend tens thousands on upgrading the truck you have

[]- eTrucker and

[]- eTrucker

3. Reefer equipment and APUs. are also targeted with a phased in requirement as of

right now there are no compliant APU.s that will meet the requirements set forth by

CARB.

4. there is many other things the want done to the trucks and it will break most

O/os and a lot of companies to comply with their demands,

[www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2007/Sep07/091707/092107-02.htm]

5. There is so much that California does to show how anti Trucking they are that

its gotten to the point that a lot of people have already quit going to California

so in a way there is already a Boycott started.

WHAT WILL A BOYCOTT ACCOMPLISH

For starters it will show not only California, but the whole country that the

trucking community while willing to take a lot, does have a point that if crossed

will not be tolerated.

All truckers and anyone standing with the trucking community should write and

express their displeasure over the threat to our safety, here is the addy for CARB

[you]Board Comments Submittal Form should
also write your congressional reps. and let them know how this will effect your

safety and the safety of the motoring public.

Once the Boycott starts to grow and it effects the economy of California it will

bring pressure to bear on them from their citizens to work it out with the trucking

community to keep the price of living there from going out of sight.

Remember the public in California does have a limit on how much they will take the

threw out a governor there just a few years back.

As Far as the rest of the country goes don't think for one second that they are

not watching what is going on in California and if they get away with it, it will

embolden other states to follow suit, so in a way this is a test to see how far they

can go with the trucking community.

There is the added benefit that some of the other issues will inevitably be

brought into the discussion, once we have established that we can come together, it

will give the large companies and governments something to think about when they

come up with unfair rules,regulations, even the corrupt ways we are cheated out of

what we are worth.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP
For starters HONOR the Boycott, for Owner/operators it will be easy, just say no,

for company drivers it will be a little harder but not impossible, if you are not

under forced dispatch then just say no, if you are under forced dispatch ask your

company how they are going to ensure you are going to be able to rest in the heat or

cold so that you are able to drive safely, are they going to pay the motel bill, or

idle air bill if it is available, [good luck finding one] if they are not going to

pay for your safety and fitness to drive safely then you as a Driver are responsible

to say no if you didn't get enough rest to drive safely, if your company still

insists then Call FMCSA and inform them that your company is forcing you to do

something unsafe. Remember there are laws against retribution from your Company for

doing what is right and I would imagine that the lawsuit you would win will make it

so you wouldn't have to drive or work for that matter, enjoy your retirement.

While you are at it you might talk with your company about honoring the boycott

as is going to cost them a fortune to comply with what they are doing.

Another important thing every trucker and interested person can do is "SPREAD THE

WORD" tell everyone you come into contact with about the BOYCOTT and ask them to

join us in helping ALL driver, post on all the sites you visit and not just once but

constantly, remember unlike a call for a strike with a set date, this is a marathon

not a sprint it will grow and grow if everyone just keeps together and spreads the

word, until it reaches critical mass.

In summery we are all professional drivers that are facing a critical problem

that is going to effect out health and safety, also it cannot do anything but hurt
our already dwindling incomes, we need to stand together and get this fixed.

For you nay sayers and the "it won't work because crowd" remember the American

Drivers did it in the "70s" and the Italian drivers did it just a few weeks ago, the

French have done it several time also the poles, Right now the Maine logging

truckers are negotiating with the state over high fuel prices and low rates.

Recently the port drivers in several states have banded together and won

concessions by doing so. There are a lot of examples of truckers banding together

and taking care of business so the "it can't be done crowd" are out of touch with

reality.

When it is all said and done, sooner or later we are going to have to do

something to show the rest of the country that the trucking spirit is still alive

and we are willing to band together if needed to keep this business of trucking
alive and profitable for all of us. And what better way than with a boycott of the

most Anti trucking state there is! And it also avoids a full blown strike and the
damage it would cause to this great Country.

greg334 · Jan 18, 2008

I can't see this working at all.

This is not just a trucking issue, it is a commerce issue and I really feel that it is a constitutional issue, one of the few legitimate issues that need to go to the supreme court and let them decide if a state can so restrict interstate commerce or not.

I hear all the time the same thing -

For you nay sayers and the "it won't work because crowd" remember the American

Drivers did it in the "70s" and the Italian drivers did it just a few weeks ago, the

French have done it several time also the poles, Right now the Maine logging

truckers are negotiating with the state over high fuel prices and low rates.

The first thing is the '70s are gone forever, the trucking camaraderie that was there is gone forever, we live in different times and with a completely different attitude, which is overly selfish because of the industry itself has been reaching the bottom of the barrel for bodies to put into the driver's seat.

The second thing the logging truckers are specialized haulers, not the guy hailing a 53ft trailer, and they are vital to the state, while the other guys with the trailer are not. They leveraged the need against the issue.

I keep hearing this thing about the Italians and French and their 'shutting down' of the country to make a point. These guy operate differently they have a completely different culture and there is a direct connection to the government so they can voice their opinion without too many problems. If we had truckers who were involved politically, we could have the same thing but that is a cultural thing and not likely to happen.

The Fair Tax is one issue that seems to be a good example that truckers need to get behind to help the industry. Here is a tax replacement system that can help every trucker on the road but most will not even consider it for one reason or another. The first thing is it will help us to create more work. There is no taxes on the truck used to provide the service, there is no added taxes on the fuel used to provide the service, and there are not taxes on things you buy to provide the services as a Owner/Operator but the mentality is that we will be taxed 30% more, which is not true in the first place. No one wants to take the time to read a 300 page book or look on a website to understand what it is all about - this is the culture we have.

Scuba · Jan 24, 2008

CALIFORNIA
Where is that why can't i find it on any of my maps? 2 years ago i was ticketed for idling in NY out on Long Island. But I wasn't charged with idling I was charged with polluting the environment it was a $10,000.00 fine after lawyers and buying an apu they knocked it down to malfunctioning equipment total $6400.00 apu $1400.00 installation $875.00 att fees $490.00 fine NY. for a total of $9165.00 I will never go to long island

arkjarhead · Jan 25, 2008

It's time fr all drivers both current and former to stand together and try to make a difference. What can I do as a former driver to help you guys out?