Comment Log Display

Dear Members of the Air Resource Board,

     Some of you may remember me, Shellie Archer, or my Company,
Archer Trucking, Inc., because I was ACTIVELY involved in going to
meetings to protest the regulations that were ultimately adopted
concerning trucks. I wrote letters, and drove many miles attending
several hearings and meetings to make my voice heard about the
difficulties that we would have (along with other construction
truckers) to meet your time lines. I asked for a more lenient time
line to allow for us to use the good trucks we had until they wore
out, etc. I was instrumental in the meeting of Lake and Mendocino
County Truck Brokers to discuss the (then) Proposed Rule with Tony
Brasl, who came to Ukiah for said meeting. I spoke at the Capitol
representing small business trucking companies! I did everything in
my power to try and PREVENT the hurried time-line that was
ultimately adopted, begging for a more reasonable schedule. 
     I am happy to say that my Company was directly involved in
getting the Construction Truck mileage exemption that is in place
now added to the rules. Believe me when I remind you of the anxiety
and effort to open up our Company financial records to you to PROVE
the need for that assistance. I drove from Mendocino County to
Sacramento to bring you those records, and trusted they would be
kept confidential, and used appropriately. They were, and I am
grateful for the Construction Truck exemption.
     I still wish that the CARB had NOT created the schedule/rule
that was voted in way back, but you DID, and many trucking
companies have stepped up to be in compliance at GREAT EXPENSE!
     My husband and I are now 56, and in the last few years we have
purchased 24 new trucks and installed several filters WITH NO HELP
FROM THE STATE. We have added millions of dollars in debt to our
business at a time of life when we should be DOWNSIZING if
anything, not PURCHASING brand new trucks and spending money on
filters for older trucks! 
     We were very fortunate and blessed to have excellent credit,
and enough work in our future to take the leap of faith that THE
RATES WOULD COME UP TO HELP PAY FOR THESE TRUCKS BECAUSE EVERYONE
WOULD BE SPENDING MONEY TO MEET THE ARB COMPLIANCE SCHEDULE! 
     Surprise, surprise, several of my competitors are not
complying, and NOW THEY MAY GET REWARDED FOR NOT COMPLYING! Don't
you understand that every truck that I have that is compliant has a
HUGE expense that the non-compliant trucker is not bearing? If you
issue these extensions now, the company which did NOT comply and
now has more time is able to work for far less per hour that we can
and still break even or make a profit. Do any of you remember
telling all of us that of course the rates would increase to cover
these expenses? It has NOT happened, and WILL NOT happen, until ALL
TRUCKERS ARE IN COMPLIANCE, LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD!
     There are people in the industry who no longer want to talk to
me about the CARB problems, because now I am "THE ENEMY" because I
am compliant. They don't come right out and say it, they just don't
answer or return phone calls and don't let me know about upcoming
CARB events any more. I'm the villain... because I'm compliant. It
is so frustrating. Ask others who are in compliance, and I believe
you will hear the same thing: those NOT in compliance are still
working together to fight CARB, and the rest of us are not
appreciated very much.   
     IT IS THE ULTIMATE INSULT THAT THE CARB WOULD EVEN BE
CONSIDERING THESE EXTENSIONS INSTEAD OF ENFORCING THEIR OWN RULES!
Believe me when I tell you that because of the money I have spent
and the millions in debt, I cannot accept the CARB changing things
now. I WILL JOIN OTHERS AND WE WILL SUE YOU FOR CAUSING DIRECT
FINANCIAL PROBLEMS FOR OUR COMPANIES AND OUR INDUSTRY. I never
thought I'd be against extension, but I never dreamed of spending
so much money and THEN having others get rewarded for their
non-compliance. What a slap in the face. 
        I have more to say, but on a slightly different part of
this, so I will submit a separate comment. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE,
consider what message you are sending out with these proposed
extensions and new rules. Please do not pass them without
considering carefully what the results may b.
     
     Thank you, 

     Shellie A. Archer
     President
     Archer Trucking, Inc.         
     707-485-4500