Our Fleet

Every few weeks I meet individually with the managers at DeWitt. Topics vary from personnel to personal. On Friday, I met with Scott our Transportation manager. He is responsible for all things fleet, which right now happens to include planning our compliance with the California Air Resource Board (CARB) Statewide Truck and Bus Regulations. Like many of our customers, we have a fleet of vehicles that need to meet the first level of compliance by December 2010. As Scott and I reviewed the rule and the “age” of our fleet, my frustration level rose. (If you haven’t calculated the age of your fleet – here is the link – On-Road Trucks Average Calculator.)

Now in our business, we deal with pennies, so if we can suck one more day, week, month or year out of a paid for asset, we will. What these new rules mean is that we will have to “retire” some of our fleet before their useful life is up in order to be in compliance.

Last month at the California Petroleum Conference put on by CIOMA (www.cioma.com), James E. Enstrom, Ph.D, M.P.H. and Dr. John Dale Dunn, M.D.,J.D. spoke during lunch. The title: Junk Science: The Politicization of Science for Regulatory Overkill. It is the contention of these two gentlemen, that the public health research that is the foundation of this regulation has severe scientific deficiencies. While I climb onto the soap box I borrowed from my dad, I have a disclaimer. I like clean air. I have two kids, who love being outdoors. I want clean air. But I also want to feed them, clothe them and put a roof over their heads, none of which can happen without trucks getting products to market. The environmental community, in their zealous pursuit of clean air has resorted to suing states and regulatory agencies based on the Clean Air Act of 1990. This act has the noble idea of cleaning the air with no consideration of economic consequences. Bad science with no concern for the economic consequences is a very bad combination.

I had to cancel my attendance at the CIOMA meeting, but there is another opportunity to hear Drs. Enstrom and Dunn coming up in a few weeks. (California Dump Truck Owners Association – CDTOA Flyer). I know we are not likely to avoid this train wreck – the Diesel Fleet Rules, but if we all just spend a little energy, we may make this state better for our kids. A clean one yes, but a financially viable one as well.

My Best,

Mary

Mary Fleet Manager Wall CARB, CIOMA, clean air, fleet, Truck and Bus Regulations