The Truckers Report Reply To EPA:
 

Sunday, May 29, 2005

To Whom It May Concern,

Recently I was contacted by Alan Powell from your organization. He asked me if I could help in your quest to create uniform idling laws and I said ABSOLUTELY. My website is, www.TheTruckersReport.com and I represent many truckers’ ideas, hopes, aspirations, and their basic human rights.

One of my main concerns with these new anti-idling laws is the fact that we really need to keep in mind that truckers ARE human beings! Human beings cannot withstand temperatures of over 100 degrees or below 32 degrees for extended periods of time. I realize this is a statement that “goes without saying” but it needs to be said! MOST of the existing anti-idling laws do NOT take this into account. These laws do NOT stipulate any variations for extremes in temperature or a driver’s basic well-being. They do NOT specify whether the driver or the company should be at fault.

It is the view of The Trucker’s Report™ that these laws MUST be enforced on the trucking companies instead of the drivers. You should take into account that truckers have NO control over this situation IF a company does NOT have a WORKING substitute to idling the engine. I.e. an alternative source for power, heat, or cooling. There are many different products on the market which would enable the driver to keep comfortable and NOT idle his/her engine. The problem is these trucking companies will NEVER buy these products unless forced!

They would rather let the driver suffer AND pay the consequences for trying to keep comfy. The trucking companies shirk their responsibility in this matter because of the financial aspects. It is my view, for this reason, that the trucking companies MUST be forced to bear this responsibility.

I implore you to take this into consideration during your endeavor to create uniform anti-idling laws. One way to accomplish this is to pass laws that require EVERY truck built today to have an alternate source for heating, cooling, and power installed so the driver can pursue his/her constitutional right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.           

Trucking companies love the anti-idling laws, why? For the simple fact that they save fuel, wear/tear on the engines. They could care less if the driver suffers a stroke in the heat or turns into and “icicle” in 30 below temps. They would replace him/her with another in a matter of days.

 If I were to come to your home in temps of 100 degrees and turn off your air-conditioner what would you do? Would the judge who enforces a ticket to a driver for THOUSANDS of dollars appreciate us turning off his/her heat when the temperature is 30 below? I doubt it! It is PURE hypocrisy.

PLEASE consider these arguments when you debate these laws…

 Respectfully,

Kevin R Watts
President
TheTruckersReport.com