We met with several of the crane companies recently to discuss topics that they might want to bring to light in our shared industry. 

Guess what?

I have had calls from people asking about the water truck business. Many are concerned about when and if business is coming back, and want to know how everyone else is doing.

In answer to that question, the general consensus is that the work has been sporadic. Just as we get back to work, it drops off again, unless you are lucky enough to land a long job and stay there for a while. The only issue with that is the fact that all your eggs are in one basket and if that company goes defunct or takes months to pay, you have no other avenue for income. In the “heyday” many of us worked for several companies and were not totally dependent on just one company. If you find yourself in that situation, there is one other option.

FMCSA Announces Results of 2012 Drug and Alcohol Inspection Strike Force

Agency's investigations removed 287 unsafe bus and truck drivers from the road

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today announced that 287 commercial bus and truck drivers were removed from the roads and more than 128 companies face enforcement actions as a result of the agency's annual drug and alcohol strike force sweep that occurred from April 30 through May 11, 2012.

In this economic climate, there are so many lessons learned and so much to be thankful for. There were so many things that we just didn’t pay attention to when work was abundant and then some, and in times like this now they seem golden.

For the small amount of work that we get is like ‘glory days’ and mean so much more to us now. The people who work for us and with us are also like frosting on the cake, we need them as much as they need us.

Here we are in the mist of “the perfect storm” as CARB, EPA, and other agencies move forward with their plans that will ultimately take out so many small business trucking companies and turn their treasures (trucks) into CARB’s junk.

They are pushing forward with their own bulldozer tactics, citing and fining for rules that aren’t even totally clear yet. In some instances, we have gotten two different answers for the same question, such as…. are the low-mileage trucks that were reported to CARB before March 30th then sold to a new owner transferrable to the new owner?  Our Orange County Chapter Chairperson, Dan Ugalde Jr., was at a meeting in San Dimas and asked that very question. The answer was YES, they ARE transferable, as the engine ID# and reporting info follows the vehicle.
Yet, when Anthony from the CARB hotline was asked that same question one day later, the answer was NO! He used the example that large fleet companies could buy many reported vehicles and implement them into their fleet and get the extension for all of them.

Congratulations to those who were able to get their trucks reported to CARB by March 30th.  I have a little bit of good news for those who called in, but were not able to reach a live person, and left a message with the CARB call center at (866) 634-3735.

I had called them approximately two days before the deadline with some questions about being unable to get engine family numbers on the older Fords. On April 2nd (after the deadline) they returned my call. I was told by “Anthony” that they have a database for engine family numbers. If you have the type, or cubic displacement of the engine, such as 7.8, or 7.3 etc. you could possibly reference the engine family number. He also informed me that for the people who called in before the deadline, could still report their trucks because the call center is behind in returning the calls. He would not state how long those people would have, but said they need to get it done soon. So you may have an argument in your favor if you did call in. Doesn’t hurt to try…you have nothing to lose!

One of the things I’ve learned since I started to work with this association is that I didn’t know very much—at least about the impact that the California Air Resources Board on-road diesel rules were going to have on my business, my industry or my state.

Now it is my job to get that message to other water truck operators around the state and what a job it is. Most of us in the industry were pretty uninformed until now. I was lucky enough to get informed, although late. I believe that we can all still make a difference, and here’s how.
Write a letter to your local Assemblyman, State Senator, Senator (Boxer or Feinstein) or Representative and tell them the truth. Don’t know how to contact these people—use the California Secretary of State’s website: www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_r.htm.