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Comment 40 for Climate change early actions (ccea2) - Non-Reg.

First NameTom
Last NameKuechenmeister
Email Addresskuech722@hotmail.com
Affiliation
Subjectidle 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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