California's at it again

[riverrat]

this is a C/P of a post I have made on several forums;
its kinda laughable, I think about the idiots that have put down a boycott of California and the way they think everything is just fine. I have written on several sites about how we have to make a stand now or it is going to get worse well folks guess what, California got away with it and didn't let any grass grow under their feet did they??
And for you it can't be done crowd you better start thinking about how to do it because if you think the are done now you are wrong look what else they are doing here, www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2008/Feb08/020408/020808-01.htm
and www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2008/Feb08/020408/020808-07.htm,

I wonder what they will come up with next week,should be interesting!
I feel an I told you so coming on

 

[LDB]

The article says the sticker is put on by the manufacturer. It should be on there. I'll have to figure out what it is and be sure it's on my engines but I really don't see this as an I told you so in any form or fashion. It's merely requiring a manufacturer certification label to be in place.

 

[riverrat]

its just one of a dozen things they have instituted recently that is anti trucking and since there are crazy things that they are getting away with other states are already getting on the bandwagon i am saying it loud and long if we don't put our foot down as a whole on this craziness the day is coming when the trucking community is going to say how did this happen and then I can say I told you so and that day is not far off we as a group need to stop this before its too late when that time comes then the only thing that will work is a truck strike and that will not be good for anyone, right now we can get the message across easily and forceably just by BOYCOTTING California thats where the trouble is coming from, a boycott unlike a strike will grow over time as the word spreads and it will show the rest of the country that we will band together of an injustice against the trucking community, all we need to do is stop going there and each of us spread the word

 

[greg334]

Leo,
Cummins, as stated in the article has the a metal label and it is rather difficult to get off - or has been for me with several ISBs. Mine is there, can't miss it because it is right in front of the Injection system.

Well to make things worst, the feds require the sticker to be there and there is a fine for removing it like other emission control devices. The $800 ticket this guy got is not because they singled him out (look that guy does not have a sticker on his engine, let's pull him over and fine him) but because they found a violation of the law. The solution is not to get all bent out of shape but to make sure that your engine has the right stickers and indicators to be compliant with both Cal and fed laws. In his case, he can just spend the $35 and get a new one put on his truck, no biggie.

Now as for the state itself, I strongly feel that this attitude of boycotting California will do no good. The industry is fractured and the solution for the problem is not to boycott California but to get politically involved as individuals. I know I sound like a broken record - register to vote, VOTE, write to your federal reps, get a bunch of truckers together and go to Washington and visit with them, TELL THEM what is going on and stick to one issue when you do; "California is preventing us from making a living by restricting us access to Federally paid highways and infrastructure and restricting interstate commerce by putting stricter requirements on us that we can not afford to have."

AND for those who don't think this will work, I got to say that back in the 1940's there was a court case that ended up in the supreme court. This case was really stupid when you think about it in modern terms but it is an indication of things to come with the democrats. Here we have a farmer who grows wheat, he grows extra for his family to use and not to be sold. Along comes the feds and they fine him for the excess wheat he has produced beyond his 'quota' because this interfied with the market that they established in the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 and in effect the interstate sales of wheat. It ended up in the supreme court to determine if the feds have the right to use the commerce clause on issues that are not interstate which the end result was that federal involvement really got it's teeth - Wickard v. Filburn 1942. With that ruling and the rulings on the Dormant Commerce Clause cases, there are further restrictions on the states from interfiering with interstate commerce and even in the Granholm v. Heald case which seems to reinforce the rights of the feds over the states when it comes down to the Commerce Clause.

 

[LDB]

riverrat, I just can't in any way agree with you that this specific item you've brought up is wrong. As Greg said, the guy didn't have a tag on his engine that was put on at the factory and required to be there. If California passes a law saying they are going to fine white trucks $50 because white doesn't absorb enough heat and therefore white trucks aren't doing their part to reduce "global warming" then you can bet I'll be tearing California out of the atlas. I have no problem with them fining someone for not having required stickers, whether the engine factory one or the IFTA sticker or the DOT inspection sticker or the manufacturers GVW sticker in the doorjamb or whatever. It's the difference between required/reasonable and plain ridiculous.

 

[buckeyewildman]

whats the big deal about requiring the stickers if its required then make sure its there i understand california has been anti truckers with some of there laws and you mentioned they just passed a dozen other laws but yet you don,t mention any

 

[greg334]

whats the big deal about requiring the stickers if its required then make sure its there i understand california has been anti truckers with some of there laws and you mentioned they just passed a dozen other laws but yet you don,t mention any

The stickers are a federal thing, because of the stupid EPA and environmental laws in this country, every engine manufactured is required to have emissions compliance information on the actual engine. It used to be that we really didn't need it but with trucks, especially trucks, an engine destine for export without emissions may end up in a truck in California and this is where they are so concerned about it. In truth, I don't see the application of the same laws and rules being applied to the Mexican trucks in San Diego area all the way up to LA, do you?

 

[layoutshooter]

Greg is right, voting is the answer. There is only one really big problem. There are NO quality candidates to vote for!!! They ALL suck. My dead dogs could do a better job than the clowns we have. A boycott of California won't help. We need to shut down country wide. Truckers are the single most important economic force in the country. If we don't roll the entire economy shuts down. Period. Why are we afraid to exercise our power? It is our right to do so. It is the government of the People, for the People and by the People. WE are the People. Those clowns we elect are just our employees. We need to flex our power. But we won't and we will lose. Layoutshooter

 

[riverrat]

it ain't about stickers, its about daily anymore reading about something new that Ca. is coming uo with,look at the other article they are now considering banning all idling period no exemption for compliant trucks. so far this year they have banned all idling, a lot of reefers are verboten they want to fine you if your tires are a few pounds low, no apus, and hey its only feburary, they have 10 and a half months to come up with even crazier ideas, and already in the six weeks that the Ca. ban has been in effect several others states and jurisdictions have taken heed of what Ca. got away with seen that the truckers were not going to say anything and now they are getting on the bandwagon, it started as a trickle quickly went to a stream and is headed for an out of control river

 

[layoutshooter]

WE had better wake up. If all this heads the way it looks like it is heading we will all be in the bread line. GullDarn Socialists. I truely regret spending 20 years of my life defending this country from the evils of socialism. Now we will be a socialist country. I have wasted my life and many fine men and women have died for nothing!! Layoutshooter

 

[LDB]

The problem is that it IS all about stickers. This is a federal regulation that just happened to be enforced in California. That same truck could just as easily have been pulled behind the scales in any of 47 other states and given the same violation citation. I'm ALL for giving full moron credit when and where the moron credit is due but in this case on this issue it isn't.

 

[riverrat]

ok the sticker if a poll was taken and everyone was truthful there probably isn't 10% that even knew there was that particular sticker even on an engine. I didn't and still haven't bothered looking, I didn't even know that there was a sticker police division out there but I am not surprised since now CA. has figured out another way to dig deep into our pockets
however this is NOT about a sticker but about the professional drivers unwilling to believe that things are getting out of control funny how the only posts are about that d*mn sticker and no one has commented on the other article kinda show priority

 

[greg334]

Why are we afraid to exercise our power? It is our right to do so. It is the government of the People, for the People and by the People. WE are the People. Those clowns we elect are just our employees. We need to flex our power. But we won't and we will lose.

Why are people afraid?

Don't they understand what is at stake?

Look around we have the 'ME' generation running things now and they can't comprehend the idea of a community or camaraderie at all. I listened to the sickening comments about 'It takes a village to raise a kid' and thought to myself where are these magical villages because we really need civic involvement to be taught by example. It takes a group of professional truckers to motivate others.

I think if one out of four people reading this sits down with someone and just talk about the issues and how to solve them, not be a democrat or republican but as an American, I think that would help people to do a little more.

There is a book out there, maybe out of print right now but will be back in print if it is called "the 15 minute guide to a better America." It is a small guide that simply describes how to take just 15 minutes a day to write call or be involved with an issue that affects them. It was privatly published for a while and I have to see if it still is, it is cheap 1.50.

Anywho....

It is not the presidential election that matters anyway, there is too much hype about the candidates and all of them are worthless. It is the Senate and Representatives that MATTER to us. We need to push them, we need to start saying to the other guy who is sitting on the stool next to you b*tching about high fuel prices or California that he needs to step up to the plate and get involved. Talk to them about the issue and ask them if they vote.

The truth is, many are running marginally as it is and many can't afford the down time as they used to so a work stoppage may kill them. A bunch will be exiting the business if California keeps moving ahead with their plans of trying to control something that only God and the Earth can control.

And being honest, I have thought about moving out of this profession and going on the road promoting my agenda (that is getting people involved in the political process and even registering them to vote) but alas I would need funding, I need to have people say it is worth it to get people involved on the political front but no one seems to want to take money out of their pockets and give it to anyone but a candidate - kind of sad when you think about it.

 

[LDB]

The second link wouldn't work for me earlier but does now. On that entirely separate issue there is a problem. California may find itself only being serviced by trucks with an APU. If use of an APU is also banned they will find themselves being serviced by fewer trucks.

I don't know what will happen but I see one possible scenario being demands for bonuses and higher rates to go into California. Some will continue to go for the higher pay they get. Whether it will be enough trucks or not is unknown. Others will refuse to go because the hassles outweigh the compensation.

 

[layoutshooter]

Greg is right, the Pres is mostly nothing in the importance scale. Good thing with all the bafoones running this time, Socialists all. Greg, look at the goons from our state. Carl (Marx) Levin, Debbie (Stab them now only if they beleive in freedom) Stabanow and my own rep John (DIngleberry) Dingle. What a crew. At least Dingle owns guns and hunts but that ends what he does right. Another bleeding socialist. What a crew. Layoutshooter

 

[greg334]

Greg is right, the Pres is mostly nothing in the importance scale. Good thing with all the bafoones running this time, Socialists all. Greg, look at the goons from our state. Carl (Marx) Levin, Debbie (Stab them now only if they beleive in freedom) Stabanow and my own rep John (DIngleberry) Dingle. What a crew. At least Dingle owns guns and hunts but that ends what he does right. Another bleeding socialist. What a crew. Layoutshooter

OK layout here is the really serious issue - Michigan is dying and not one of the senators or congressmen have brought home any money to get jobs in this state. Sure we got money for the roads but who cares about the roads when you live in a cardboard box under a bridge?

Stabenow takes her cues from Granholm and Levin, look at her press releases.

Levin is more concern with the state of Iraq than the state of Michigan. With all his pull as a senior senator, he has brought 8 to 10% of the jobs to Michigan that Hillary has for New York.

My God Arkansas got the passport processing center not the state with one of the busiest borders because our senators were screaming about Iraq.

Dingle has been in office for 50 - fifty years and HE is 'the' case for term limits. That congressional seat has been occupied with a Dingle for 74 years, you can't tell me that there is someone better than he is that would be able to sit there? The people who keep voting him in got to be on drugs or something.

The problem with Michigan, or at least this area is we have too many ignorant (not stupid but not knowing much) autoworkers running around crying about their jobs going away, they depend on the UAW who has sold them out and they won't help their own company by buying (not leasing) the product they built or the area by educating themselves about the issues that really affect them.

Just look at the mess Detroit is in now with the Mayor, he should be removed but the people who support him says he is doing a great job but the city is getting to the point that Berlin in 1945 looked better and had better prospects for a real recovery.

 

[layoutshooter]

You got it Greg, and in Nov they will all run in and pull the "D" or "R" lever without having any idea why. They will want socialized health care, socialized retirement, socialized housing and who knows what else. And only the rich will pay taxes. Then when everything costs twice what it does now, double the un-employment and no freedom to chose they will blame the other party etc. Geez, what a mess. Layoutshooter

 

[riverrat]

The second link wouldn't work for me earlier but does now. On that entirely separate issue there is a problem. California may find itself only being serviced by trucks with an APU. If use of an APU is also banned they will find themselves being serviced by fewer trucks.

I don't know what will happen but I see one possible scenario being demands for bonuses and higher rates to go into California. Some will continue to go for the higher pay they get. Whether it will be enough trucks or not is unknown. Others will refuse to go because the hassles outweigh the compensation.

LDB you are wanting to talk about all of these problems and if you look at it as one problem then it doesn't look so bad but collectively the problems are mounting pretty high against the trucking community and to top it off the problems are spreading like wildfire once the rest of the states see that California is getting away with it
a small group of people [and i am not sure but I don't think they are even elected ] are setting policies for the entire country they have no idea nor do they care the impact they are having on the group we both belong too called trucking, they are tyrants who haven't a clue about what they are doing to us or the country, this is suppose to be a free country but our freedoms are being taken away from ALL of us one regulation at a time where does it stop??