Disqus - Latest Comments for steveintx

Re: Freight may fall as economy stalls

steveintx — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 08:29:53 -0000

Now this is a real shocker to those of us that are watching.

Re: Volvo waiting for details on Obama�s greenhouse gas plan

steveintx — Thu, 27 May 2010 12:56:44 -0000

I have noticed, with this administration that they are quick to implement laws, rules, or suggestions and then without following through say, "well we fixed that, let's move on". Then nothing realistically happens.

My immediate thoughts are with Iran wanting to nuke Manhattan, Isreal ready to nuke Iran, the idiot in the RNK ready to nuke Seoul, and the oil spill destroying the Gulf....shoudn't the president be concentrating on more important things right now? We've waited thirty years for mpgs to go up 1 or 2 points we can wait a little longer. My way of thinking is, put what's important to the fore, not what's important to the base.

Re: International Brotherhood of Teamsters votes down ABF Freight wage cut

steveintx — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:32:49 -0000

I wonder what the better deal is, having your pay cut or not having a truck to drive? That may not happen today, but with this administration attacking the profits of corporate America....what will tomorrow bring?

Re: Wake-up call issued on unsafe roadway conditions

steveintx — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:25:45 -0000

"He also said statewide deployment of speed safety cameras by the Arizona Dept. of Public Safety on its highways yielded 4,891 fewer collisions in the first nine months of the program when compared to the year before."

Besides, it keeps the kids with paintball guns busy.

I'll tell you one thing that is scary from my driving experiences...too short of an on ramp merge lane. That is real bad in my area. Some should be closed.

Re: Funding crisis hits Pennsylvania via I-80 toll rejection

steveintx — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 08:21:34 -0000

It never ceases to amaze me what these short-sighted politicians will think of. Sure they will raise taxes on a Federal highway, (as if there's not enough), not realizing that the head of lettuce is eventually going to cost their constituents $5, even $10. Politicians are eventually going to have to figure out that there are tough choices to make. If they wait too long they will be "Draconian" cuts, there will be no way to soften the blow.

Re: Two vehicle replacement grand programs are announced by South Coast Air Quality Management District

steveintx — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:24:01 -0000

And here I thought that California had a budget crisis. If they have money to throw around on feel good projects they must not need more in taxes and fees. I wonder if it will do any good for the owners of Arnies IOUs to request monies.

Scrapping 6yr old trucks is ridiculous!

Re: Hydraulic hybrid retrofit for refuse trucks

steveintx — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 06:26:15 -0000

This sounds fantastic! As far as retrofit goes though, I wonder. The times I have tried a retrofit anything it has not worked well or the cost drastically outpaces the savings. This is something all in the waste industry should look at on OE trucks. Then they can look at the cost savings and make the decision on retrofit.

Re: Experts: Transport emission policies need overhaul

steveintx — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:58:23 -0000

There is just way too much global warming goin' on around my house...14deg of it this AM. Seems to me that global warming happens every year about April or May. With 80% of the country below or hovering near the zero temp mark this is probably not a good time to talk about this nonsense. I watch the Weather Channel to see the highs and lows of my area. Yesterday, in 1922 the high was 74, in 1947 the low was 22. One thing that we will always be able to count on is that the weather will change.

Cleaning the air and making engines more efficient is something I won't argue, but the idea that man can control or even effect the weather seems to be a very far reach to me.

Re: Changes in Hours of Service regulations cause concern

steveintx — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:32:36 -0000

In my 45yrs in the business, I have yet to hear anybody address the fact that a very large percentage of the motoring public, the very large motorhomes, the 40 foot 5th wheel slideouts drive tired with impunity. There is never anything said about them. Except when they are involved in a wreck with a commercial vehicle. Then, of course, it is the truckers fault.

Eight hour time limit on driving...puhleeze!! It is almost impossible to find quality drivers who will stay out for a week at a time. Ms Claybrook's demand will add an extra two days on an LA to Boston run. Think of the added congestion. A driver would have to take a 10hr break getting from San Bernadino to Los Angeles. Forget that there won't be any drivers.

Re: Con-way, Schneider are against American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), H.R. 2454's cap and trade provision

steveintx — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:48:15 -0000

Anybody who looks at this bill and sees anything but a tax is just fooling themselves. It is a tax that will have to be passed on to the consumer.Corporations are in business to make money for the shareholders or owners whatever the case may be. The end result of overtaxing is the marginal companies are out leaving the larger companies with a larger burden. How long will they last? The really twisted thing about this bill is that it does nothing for the environment. The bill basically allows companies to pollute as they want, they just have to pay more to a select few who drew four aces from the governments deck. Goldman Sachs, GE, And Al Gores company GIM will accrue astounding profits with very little investment

Re: Support growing for fuel tax hike

steveintx — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 05:45:34 -0000

The government has asked of us, the people of the US, to curb our driving habits while they fix the energy problems that have not been addressed for 50yrs. In doing so they have caused the loss of revenue and they have done nothing to advance our energy needs. Sadly the energy that we need for the next 50-100yrs is right here within our borders or in our coastal waters. Surely in that time we, as a people can come up with a real, workable alternate propulsion idea.

I am not opposed to a fuel tax, if they use all taxes, fees and tolls entirely for the bridge and highway improvement or new construction. This will get very serious over the next ten years. Some of the pictures of bridges I have seen should have signage on them, "proceed at your own risk".

I do not have any faith in our Congress to do the right thing.

Re: Freight volume: Tough times may be receding

steveintx — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:00:21 -0000

You are more generous than I. I believe that it will be pretty stagnate for the next 12mo until just before the midterms. My reasoning is, the administration has only allowed less than 20% of the stimulus money into play. Just before the midterms I expect them to really "hit the streets" with the remaining monies hoping that it will create many jobs. They will then be able to claim the stimulus a success and swing voters back to them. I can't think of any other reason to horde the money that was needed so desperately.

Re: Study: Bad roads push up crash-fatality rate

steveintx — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:17:01 -0000

I don't see any significant improvements in the coming years. Congress has become addicted to the piggy-bank that is gas and road use tax for other pet projects. I expect there to be an uproar every time a trajedy such as IH35 in Mpls, Mn happens but no real progress is in sight. True there was about $30bl in infrastructure funds in the latest stimulus bill...a drop in the bucket. $250bl went to social engineering, anothe $250bl is going to greenie stuff. We see the priorities of this administration.

Re: Diesel fuel prices climbing fast | Fleet Owner

steveintx — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 06:14:39 -0000

I noticed you did not mention a comming roads and fuel tax. They say since people have been driving less they will have to increase the taxes to repair the roads & bridges. Now, you know that'll happen. When the politicians raise taxes it'll go to things that make them look good at home. Road work inconveniences people. They won't stand on the dias and say "look what I'm doing for you...it takes you 30 more minutes to get to work".

Re: Hybrid trucks no longer concept vehicles | Fleet Owner

steveintx — Wed, 27 May 2009 06:40:42 -0000

Not to say that Hybrids are not a good idea, with the limited technology we have today. I am not convinced that use of our farmland for fuel rather than food is a good idea. Another insurmountable problem is dollars. Yeah, the bigs can afford a fleet of them, but can the owner operator? How long can he/she keep on paying that extra $2500....$5000....even $10k every time they go to buy a new truck?

Take it a step farther. The general public that is using the "old smoke belching, gas guzzlers are poor to middle class people. How many of these people can afford to go out and lay down $500- $600 a month for this "innovative product". Milk is $4 bucks a gallon and steadily going up. An effect of using farmland for fuel. Rising costs of Biofuels will also make the Hybrids more expensive to operate.

My thought is that before it is made law, technology must be perfected. In my mind they are still experimenting.

Re: Clean Diesel makes its case to Congress | Diesel Technology Forum (DTF)

steveintx — Fri, 22 May 2009 06:23:32 -0000

There have been so many of the Biofuel/Ethanol plants go bankrupt since the first of the year, they are desperate to get money from anybody. Five? in California alone. Three here locally. Does anybody doubt there is another bailout coming?

Re: M&A deals in transportation, logistics industry see sharp drop | Fleet Owner

steveintx — Mon, 18 May 2009 05:35:39 -0000

This tells me that even the "Bigs" are looking down the road and seeing a long recession. Our situation looks pretty stable, but I'm wondering ....would it have happened? Had it not started before the downturn.

Re: Ray LaHood promises to get stimulus package money moving | Fleet Owner

steveintx — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 07:23:19 -0000

After the tragedy in Minneapolis occurred, the bipartisan cry went up that we needed $150bl just to repair our aging roadways and bridges. I find it very interesting that this recent bill has only 28bl in it for this part of the infrastructure. I am glad that there is going to be money spent, but I'll agree with the larger figure. We are going to need to do more than fix a few bridges and sealcoat roads. There are thousands of miles of roadways that have to be resurfaced and countless bridges to be repaired. At todays dollar, $28bl ain't much. $28bl out of $787bl is another tragedy.