Comment Log Display

To: California Air Resources Board

     I'm a little fired up
     Close to 30 years ago, I bought the trucking operations from
my family and went out on my own.  I had many weeks where the
payroll sheet said don't pay Doug.  I didn't receive paychecks many
times and employees made more than me many years so that I could
get my business off the ground.
     In 2006, I heard about the truck and bus regulation.  It
scared the pants off me so much that I sold some of my trailers to
reduce my debt.
     In the fall of 2008, I was debt free.
     In the spring of 2009, I was back to my maximum debt when I
bought 4 trucks(2009 models with grant money)to begin complying
with the truck and bus rule.  I had to try to spread the debt load
out over a period of time.
     I bought another truck in 2010(2010 model).
     In the fall of 2011, I was debt free again.
     In the fall of 2012, I purchased 5 more trucks through
grants(2012 models).  My debt load is now over two and a half times
what my maximum ever has been in my lifetime.
     I would be in a position of almost zero debt if this ruling
were not in place.
     I went to apply for my TWIC card in Stockton in February. 
There was a non compliant truck loading fertilizer while I had
compliant trucks parked in my yard. In March, there was a driver
with a non compliant truck inside the Port of Stockton gate when I
picked up my TWIC card.  Yes, I had compliant trucks in my yard
parked again.
     I've heard of people asking dealers to deny them loans so that
they could get the good faith extensions.  I've heard of 12 truck
fleets becoming 4-3 truck fleets to get around the ruling.  I've
had carriers tell me they will keep running until they get caught
and then do the upgrades.
     It is nonsense for people to say that they just heard about
this truck and bus regulation in the last six months.
     We have had some improvements in the air quality partly
because of the thousand's of carriers like me who are complying.
     Now, I have come full circle thanks to this ruling.  I am back
to don't pay Doug to get my business through this hard time.  I
can't afford to go borrow more money and refinance again to follow
your rules if you allow the extensions to others who will have a
competitive advantage.  It's like you want me to finance their
extensions.
     They had as much time to prepare for this rule as me.
     You bet I'm fired up.

Douglas Britton
President
Britton Trucking Co., Inc.