Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/141405
Voices CARB mandate: 'No good choices' The flatbed-hauling independent owner-operator team of Tom and Karen Moore live in Bakersfield, Calif. Just 5 percent of their business' total miles are run within their home state's borders, says Karen, and the fact of their place of residence has them facing perhaps the toughest decision they've ever had to make relative to the business. Their 1999 International 9400's powertrain is overdue for an upgrade under the requirements of the California Air Resources Board's Truck & Bus Rule. "The choices," says Tom, "are to buy a newer truck, and I don't see how you can live in California and support the debt service on a brand-new truck as an owner-operator. The older [2007-08] trucks … that qualify for the hard requirements here in California have proven to be very, very undependable and extremely expensive to repair. The alternative is to spend $14,000-$15,000 to retrofit an older truck [with a diesel particulate filter] to stay in California. What you end up with is a $10,000 truck, and you put $14,000 into it, and you still have a $10,000 truck. None of these alternatives at this point in time really make any sense to me." Tom is blunt about the overall prospects. "We'll probably go out of business." Forced to make a choice, though, he says he'd "probably retrofit our truck. … The Cummins N14 was one of the great motors. We're really on the fence right now. Whether or not we're going to go forward, it kind of breaks our heart. We feel like our government is working against us." The Moores weren't the only ones dismayed over their prospects. As deadlines approached at yearend for 200506 engines under CARB's Truck & Bus Rule requiring powertrain upgrades on a schedule according to model year, readers commented in droves on our Facebook page and at OverdriveOnline.com. Gary Johns: They are working against us. It's time for all of us to start complaining to our local governments in large numbers – and this means you reading this. If we don't, things will get worse. Gordon Alkire: In 2004, I had my truck engine overhauled. In the process, it was mandated that I install the EPA and CARB emissions programming in the ECM. My truck is a 1997 Freightliner Century. I had no choice in the decision. Immediately, I had a 2-mpg reduction in fuel mileage – also a severe loss of power. That was an additional cost of near $15,000 a HOW HAVE CARB'S POWERTRAIN EMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS AFFECTED YOUR BUSINESS? I avoid running in California now 33% I'm not sure 4% I've invested in a 2007-09 model-year truck/engine 8% I've invested in a 2010 or later model-year truck/engine 7% I've made a diesel particulate filter retrofit to an older truck 2% No change But I never 46% But coming upgrade run to requirements could put California me out of business anyway a But I'll have to buy 28% newer truck/engine 12% OverdriveOnline.com poll. or retrofit soon 6% Close to 80 percent of owner-operator respondents to June polling reported having been able to avoid – so far, anyway – making equipment changes specifically to comply with California Air Resources Board powertrain requirements. More than a fourth of all respondents indicated the requirements might put them out of business. Some commenters believed a challenge to the regs under the U.S. Constitution's interstate commerce clause was in order. CARB emissions regulations "haven't been enforced fully to the point that there can be a court case in federal court," wrote one commenter at OverdriveOnline.com. "CARB oversteps its limits by telling an out-of-state registered truck [owner] that they have to comply with standards that are beyond the home state's standards and in effect is limiting access to the markets from the state that the truck is coming from." If you missed it last month, scan the QR for a cost/benefit analysis of the choice to upgrade to continue running in California by Overdrive Dollars & Sense columnist and radio host Kevin Rutherford. Alternately, search "The California Challenge" at OverdriveOnline.com. year [on fuel]. … Since my ECM started to die a few months ago, I purchased a new one – upped the horsepower to 600 and no pollution crap in it. I gained my fuel mileage back plus some. I may go to California until the end of the year if the loads pay better than good – after that, I don't care, as there are many other places to go to earn the buck. Chris Harkins: I say we all just stay out of California and let it die – then use it as an example of how not to run your state into the ground. Jeff Baird: I quit going to [California] a year and a half back. There is plenty of good-paying freight in the United States without ever crossing into California. 4 | Overdrive | July 2013 Voices_0713.indd 4 6/30/13 1:15 PM