Regulating vans?

[JimF51]

In the DOT/Trooper thread, there was a bit of discussion regarding regulating vans. A "yes it should happen" with a few reasons given, and a "No it won't happen", with reasons given. Thought I'd make it a separate thread.

Personally, I think it will happen, in the future. I think that at some point, with gov't at all levels looking for income, that some state will look at these expediter vans and decide there might be some money to be made, with tag fees, higher taxes, cdl fees (if they can get the Feds in on it) whatever. Right now, just about anyone with a van can get on with a expediter company, with minimum expenses. They can run when they want, as they aren't required to log, they can chance taking a overweight load, since they don't have to cross scales, and without being required to have a DOT # showing on the vehicle, no one is the wiser.

Regulating the vans and their drivers won't bring in a flood of money, but it seems that local, state, and Fed. governments are looking for every little bit they can get.

For the record, I'm not anti van in expediting. I think they serve a purpose. But I do believe their freedom they have now will slowly be eroded in the future.

Thoughts??

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Now think of the nightmare requiring vans to be HOS compliant.

First...any van not requiring a US DOT # would not...like Ed's Plumping, Jill's Florists....
How time and effort for a trooper to chase down a van only to find out he's pulled over someones shaggin wagon...*L*

 

[Moot]

For the record, I'm not anti van in expediting.

Well I am! I am on record in these very digital pages as a leader in the Ban The Van movement.

When Lil' Lee Malvo and Johnny Allen Muhammad went on their D.C. area shooting spree; eyewitnesses reported seeing a white van fleeing the scene after each shooting, even though the pair used a dark sedan. Vans are the vehicle of choice for kidnappers, bank robbers, people smugglers, perverts, plumbers, government surveillance snoops, terrorists and hippies.

I think they serve a purpose.

So do slugs, dung beetles and politicians.

But I do believe their freedom they have now will slowly be eroded in the future.

Yes indeed. Right along with every other citizen's freedoms.

Thoughts??

Taken from a Minneapolis Star Tribune interview with author Vince Flynn:


Q With all the time you spend thinking about terrorists, is it hard to raise your three kids to be curious, yet cautious?


A No. They don't need to know everything I know yet. Don't trust people who drive vans with no windows, that's what I tell them.

 

[JimF51]

OVM, you know as well as I do that they could make it apply just to those vans running interstate commerce business rules. Ed and Jill would be exempt, even delivering to a neighboring state.

 

[blizzard2014]

All they have to do is pull over out of state cargo vans and check to see if they are expediter vans. I don't think many plumbers or florists travel out of state to perform their duties. They can just regulate any vehicle that is under 10 thousand pounds and leased on with an interstate carrier.

Now, if this does happen, i'll just jump into a straight truck.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

yeah well government has a track record of doing the ridiculous at times and making a mess of it..
They could also require anyone that does interstate have a CDL and make extra money.

 

[layoutshooter]

I don't know about regulating vans but I really believe that certain types of "shorts" should be banned!!!

 

[skyraider]

Ur gonna have to regulate mom and pop vans because I use to deliver prescription drugs in Tn and Alabama, we had cars doing the same thing and no dot and no commerical tags , and we had some folks out there on 12 hr runs, so it gets complicated, so be carefull what u want to do, because the government can start looking for more stuff on big rigs, str.trucks and mom and pop vans hauling flowers, drugs from warehouses, how do u think walmart gets their drugs, it comes in mom and pop vans and cars, they are all over the USA. They paid mom and pops 7 dollars a stop and we only made 10 stops a day, most people just did it to get out of the house doing in town runs. Anybody in a straighttruck wanna deliver totes for 7 bucks a stop, u will be in for a treat, there aint enough money it for big trucks or a small box truck, u will go broke.

 

[dhalltoyo]

Personally, I don't believe it will ever happen and if it does I don't believe DOT enforcement will focus on that class of vehicles. Why? I visited a church down in Georgia and happened to meet a DOT officer. Basically he indicated that they already had their hands full with straights and tractors. He couldn't even imagine having to chase down the Krispy Kreme truck of anything that looked remotely similar in size or configuration.

Moreover, due to the current economic climate there has been RIF's (reduction in force) all levels of enforcement. That translates into a less visible presence. In case you haven't noticed, the level of lawlessness on our highways has increased dramatically. Why? Folks know there are fewer officers and they have a lesser chance of being caught when violating the law.

Finally, since I started reading EO in 2005, it has been mentioned over and over again. So to quote an old Rolling Stones song, "Time Is On My Side."

 

[skyraider]

Personally, I don't believe it will ever happen and if it does I don't believe DOT enforcement will focus on that class of vehicles. Why? I visited a church down in Georgia and happened to meet a DOT officer. Basically he indicated that they already had their hands full with straights and tractors. He couldn't even imagine having to chase down the Krispy Kreme truck of anything that looked remotely similar in size or configuration.

Moreover, due to the current economic climate there has been RIF's (reduction in force) all levels of enforcement. That translates into a less visible presence. In case you haven't noticed, the level of lawlessness on our highways has increased dramatically. Why? Folks know there are fewer officers and they have a lesser chance of being caught when violating the law.

Finally, since I started reading EO in 2005, it has been mentioned over and over again. So to quote an old Rolling Stones song, "Time Is On My Side."

aaaamen and amen

 

[RLENT]

I think dhalltoyo's assessment is largely correct - when you expand the regulated universe of trucks down into vans, the numbers of vehicles to be policed expands dramatically ........... in addition, to another factor which Turtle has pointed out a time or two on here: big truck accidents are more likely to be very serious accidents - particularly ones where the big truck driver walks away but the other vehicles occupants are seriously maimed or killed.

That's not to say smaller vehicles don't cause serious accidents - they certainly do - but there isn't a public outcry against vans to the same degree as there is against big trucks (save for that "ban the van" bunch o' clowns ... )

 

[skyraider]

If we ban the vans,,,can they ban straight trucks to, they take up to much room where us vans park, and aren't they suppose to park where real truck drivers park,,u know the guys with 18 wheels and things like that ,,,,,,,just kidding gang,,now don't go off the deep end,,,repeat,,,don't go off the deep end.

We all gotta eat,,,,amen????

 

[dhalltoyo]

If the signs say, "RV Parking Only"...well let your conscious be your guide. And that's all I can say bout' that.

 

[Dakota]

I don't know about regulating vans but I really believe that certain types of "shorts" should be banned!!!

Saw some shorts at Kohl's that would give OVM some competition, but I didn't buy them
Will OVM be man enough to show up to the next expo wearing them.....

 

[skyraider]

Re: Regulating vans? and short shorts

Just dont ban the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders shorts,,,whoops, there goes my blood pressure..........lol,,,Im calling Santa and tell him what I want for xmas,ooooooooooooh

 

[DannyD]

Although it would dilute the law force, somehow I think the gov. will figure out a way to tax, regulate, etc vans. When that happens I'd move to a bigger truck.

 

[skyraider]

Yea,,,cant wait for that " Hope and Change", and maybe a permit for moms with newborns in a stroller,,,,lol

 

[layoutshooter]

Saw some shorts at Kohl's that would give OVM some competition, but I didn't buy them
Will OVM be man enough to show up to the next espo wearing them.....

We can only speculate on what OVM might show up wearing at Expo this year. I doubt that JUJUBeans would want to know!!! LOL!!!!! I DO intend to wear my polarized sunglasses whenever OVM is around!!!

 

[Dakota]

We can only speculate on what OVM might show up wearing at Expo this year. I doubt that JUJUBeans would want to know!!! LOL!!!!! I DO intend to wear my polarized sunglasses whenever OVM is around!!!

OVM in daisy dukes

 

[guido4475]

OVM in daisy dukes

Oh, now that just spoiled my appetite.LOL...That is wrong !!!