Comment Log Display

     Dear ARB Board Members,
As the owner of Van Dyk Trucking, a small, Livestock Hauling only,
family owned business, I strongly oppose the amendment to make all
Livestock Carriers exempt thru 2023 !
I have been in business, based in San Joaquin County, for over 36
years. Through all these years, there has never been a shortage of
cattle trucks, and there is no proof that there will be one in the
future. The backers of this proposal have said the existing rules
have depleted their ability to move livestock in the state. Believe
me, if there was a need for more trucks, myself and the other
compliant livestock only haulers, would add more trucks to meet the
demand. As for the argument that out of state haulers won’t come to
California, maybe there will be a few, but most larger livestock
carriers have already upgraded to be compliant, and many of the
small fleets and owner-operators have, or will soon.
We have known about these ARB compliancy laws for years. I started
early, so as to spread my higher costs over more years, I had to,
you said if I didn’t  I would be put out of business. This is all I
have, all I do, I had no choice. Competing with non- compliant
trucking companies is very difficult. I do it on a daily basis.
They have a much lower cost per mile to operate, especially a
company that isn’t based in California, and the higher costs
related to that. It would be like a punishment to those of us who
followed the rules, who have been paying the higher costs
associated with compliancy. We did all this knowing some day
everyone else would be doing it too, and we would be on an even
playing field.
To extend non-compliancy thru 2023 would be devastating to the
financial well being of many California family owned companies,
even forcing some out of business.
The backers of this proposal are not trucking companies looking for
a break, they are consumers looking to keep their costs for
livestock hauling low by allowing non-compliant, air polluting,
trucks to continue to operate in California for many more years.
With all the steps forward,  you at the ARB have made, in the last
ten years, you’re not taking a step back, your  falling down the
stairs if you pass this amendment!
I extend an invitation to you Mary Nichols, or any of the other
board members, to contact me, or come see my company and how it
works. I could explain to you how a full time livestock only
trucking company works. I don’t do this part time, I’m not a
rancher , I don’t have a truck as a hobby. This is my LIFE!
Thank You for reading.
John Van Dyk