California In A Nutshell

So here I am in between the California border and Las Vegas at the obligatory casino truckstop. In this case Gold Strike at exit 12 on I15.
I delivered into N. Las Vegas this morning after sleeping in the dock. I then took care of the old girl with a trk & trl wash and a nice pm. Then I started dipping my foot into the water to find another load. No panic, plenty of money in the bank and feeling like a rest after the snow and ice assault course coming down from Nephi.
Is there any freight is the burning question. Answer - no.
There are options and no doubt it will probably be either a lower paying load headed east or just shoot off empty until I hit paydirt. I don't mind either way. It is all good.
Another option is California.
Not a good option.
My truck is not California ARB compliant so I either need to become compliant (laughs hysterically) or get a permit. So I look into what the state of play is with permits. It goes something like this. I can register with ARB which will get me a 3 day permit to run my noncompliant truck in their great state once a year. That would be enough time to get a load and boogie back out. Trouble is that you have to apply for the permit 3 days in advance.
I read and read and read to give you this distilled piece of information. Google was my friend.
What does it take to be ARB compliant?
It takes a PM.
What is a PM?
A particulate matter filter or also called a DPF.
How much would that cost?
Oh, between $11,000 and $24,000. That's all.
I weigh up my options and California comes out as being way, way, way more trouble than it is worth. They don't pay any better than any other state and god forbid you need to buy fuel there. The regulations are insane and the fines are apocalyptic, extinction level. Idling, did somebody say idling? Are you joking?
So where is the incentive to do business in or with California?
I completely understand why people and businesses are leaving the state and heading for Texas in particular. They have priced themselves out of the market as far as this trucker is concerned.
If ever there was a poster child for the death of small business by strangulation using regulations as the ligature then California is that to a tee.
I bought my truck in Jan of 2012 and became an OO. From that day onwards I have stayed the hell out of CA. Only once, last year, did I sneak down on some backroads to get to Sparks NV. Looks like that will be it until either I retire, die or California decides to stop being so exaggeratedly concerned about the environment. I like clean and green as much as the next guy but this is ridiculous.

 

Excellent idea Gunner. Don't think I didn't consider that first. To be honest you got to stick to the interstates to get into the state. I guess there is always the open desert but I am chicken. Weaseling around backroads is an option but there is a principle involved here and frankly it pees me off.
California has become a no go state not just for me but thousands of others. I see it as state suicide along the lines of what is happening in Europe with their stupid immigration crisis.
What would you say Gunner about the cheap freight situation? The same as most of us no doubt. Every time somebody takes a Florida load for 80c a mile it makes it worse for the whole industry.
So it goes with California and their bs regulations. They are putting fellow truckers out of business with a callousness that a nazi concentration camp guard would be proud of.
Liberalism or bust I guess. In this case bust I suppose.
I saw a video of a born and bred California trucker giving evidence to a tribunal regarding their dumb regs and how it has affected his family. They have put him out of business, a 3 generation business gone, poof. Everyone he knows is also out of business. Thriving businesses, employing people reduced to nothing.
You are a good man Gunner and I know you mean well but this thread is not about getting Izi out of NV. I'll move again when I am ready. This is just using my current situation to highlight the pile of dung California is becoming.

 

Definition of compromise
: settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions: something intermediate between or blending qualities of two different things
2: a concession to something derogatory or prejudicial

• a compromise of principles

 

Unfortunately I think you are right.

 

It's a Flying J in WP now.