First Name | Tom |
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Last Name | Kuechenmeister |
Email Address | kuech722@hotmail.com |
Affiliation | |
Subject | idle reduction to reduce greenhouse gas emissions |
Comment | With all do respect for what you are trying to do it would seem that idle reduction for trucks to cure your greenhouse gas emissions is like trying to put a bandaid on a major artery to stop the bleeding. Not being an expert on the program I would have to say that your worst air quality would be around your major cities and not out in the desert somewhere like Mojave or Barstow. Common sense also tells me that many of these cities create the problem themselves with the laws they make as well as the state. Many of your cities do not allow are have parking for trucks making deliveries therefore the drivers end up driving into the city from the nearest parking spot they can find adding to the congestion problems of traffic in the mornings. If there were areas where drivers could park closer to the inner city where many of the deliveries are made most drivers would drive in when the traffic was lightest in late evening, early morning hours. Imagine having a large lot in an industrial area that the city would own where they could park a large number of trucks. This could be done by charging a parking fee, letting someone set up a restaraunt with a drivers lounge and showers, possibly a motel with reasonable rates and sleeping rooms so drivers would not need to run their trucks. It could be run by the city are by simply letting the restaraunt operate lease free providing they provide 24 hour security for the trucks etc. Surely someone could expand on this idea. California is one of the worst states for trucking. A split speed limit adds to congestion. Restricting trucks to two right lanes adds to congestion. How much common sense does it take to see that a car can go from 0 - 60 in a matter of seconds where a truck may take minutes to get up that speed. Thru traffic using left lanes is also another part of this common sense. Reducing congestion will do more to reduce greenhouse gases than any truck idle reduction law. Electrification at truck stops would be great but are they going to provide this service for free? I don't think so and California has problems with blackouts on hot days already so what will the electrification at truck stops add to this? It is also rumored that by 2012 the air trucks put out for emissions will be cleaner than what they are taking in. It hardly seems to make sense to put on an APU that would not put out emissions as clean as the truck motor. As an independent owner operator it would take me over four years to pay for an APU with the idle time I currently use on my truck. The higher the price of fuel the less I idle if I don't have to. Yet somedays when the heat is to high I have to idle the truck to get my rest. 75% of my lifetime is spent in and around this truck. Can you expect me to sleep with my windows open, do you leave your house unlocked at night? Do you turn your air conditioning off when you go to work in the morning and only turn it on when you come home at night? Idle laws for trucks with sleeper berths are nothing but pure stupidity when it comes to expecting drivers to be safe on the road. Sometimes people leave the truck run because that way they don't get woke up by the noise's outside the truck. How well would you sleep at night with your window open by a busy street? Sincerely, Tom J. Kuechenmeister |
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Date and Time Comment Was Submitted | 2007-09-23 21:59:50 |
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