CARB and Brokers

The mega carriers are trying to fill the gap on produce been seeing more of them loading in Salinas and Oxnard. Cali has never liked the small companies they prefer the bigger ones easier to push them guys around. Like eobrs and speed limiters, idle timers other things big gov likes doing to them because they wont complain they do it happly knowing they are getting rid of there competition. We all know that cant compete with the small carrier on a level playing field we offer better and faster service have generally better ontime and safety records then they have so they had to get the fmcsa create csa to help stack the deck in there favor. And they agree to everything carb does because they know that the 1-10 truck operator will lose his butt on newer unreliable 2010 and newer trucks with breakdowns and repair bills. Look how many of the megas put trls on rail now. The guys getting ltl loads of produce are disappearing slowly and being replaced with one pic one drop megas who drop there trls in salinas have the produce companies load them.

 

Well, that's exactly right BBB, you said it better than I. You are correct also re: LS trucks average age is now 11 years old. I have always done well here both getting in and out but I do a lot of logistics, trade shows etc. and fill in with general freight when I need to. I'm just not sure rates are going to improve enough for long enough to afford a solo operator to upgrade......that is the entire dillema for me.....as you say even the so called experts really haven't a clue how this is going to shake out......I have been in conversations with various CARB departments and the department managers and even they can't give me a direct answer as to what to expect besides this is how the regs read at this particular time......it's a complete ############ to say the least. I happen to live in a very "red" county, (Amador), check out the demographics on Wikipedia.....next time home I will be speaking our US Congressman Tom McClintock and see if his office can give me any type of guidance as far as fighting this thing......I still don't see how they get around the intersate commerce clause as well as the equal treatment clause given the have granted so many exemptions......and how do you allow older trucks with mechanical motors more time than electronic engines.....nothing makes any sense. My buddy has a beautiful '88 Pete and he is still good for 4 more years and my little '02 DD60 is no good after this year.......WTF!! I'm hoping, I repeat hoping that once they begin enforcement then the real fight starts as it may be the fact that there is no grounds for legal action until some type of enforcement has actually taken place and now you are suffering real damage because of this program. We shall see!!

 

MN, in Calif. there is no longer a 2 party system....any electorial competition is gone. The progressive loons and their union pals are firmly in place and in power for decades to come. The State House is now 3-1 progressives. The fact is a conservative vote out here anymore will never count for anything again in my lifetime so the options are to not care and get off the grid or move out.

BBB is totally right, there is no reason for anybody to invest honestly in any type of business in Calif. unless you are one of the chosen few who have endured the graff and coruption and proven yourself worthy to both the government agencies and the unions. The system here now is much in the model of a Corporate Facist State coupled with the regulatory games controlled by the government.

 

You think the lack of electoral college is lacking only in CA? It's messed up in the entire nation. When have the good of the people REALLY been looked out for?

I am sitting here trying to figure out WHY I should bother to jump through the hoops to operate in CA. And I am really struggling with a reason to do it.

 

I couldn't find any reason to run out there anymore, so I am dropping everything west of ND and TX off, and will more than likely stay east of the Missouri river.

 

I refuse to spend 15-20k on a retrofit that will cost more than the truck is worth....that is just a dumb business decision. I also am not sure I can justify buying a newer truck and facing another round of payments at 60 years old now.

My dilemma as well and I'm 61, my truck is worth more than $20k, ( not much though) I just have an issue with retrofits and negative results. My big concern now is the number of trucks that can't/won't get compliant increases the competition for freight in the 47 other states significantly.