Consider impact on truckers before creating new regulations

My family and I have been residents of Fresno County for 30 years, while operating our trucking business since 1984. Hauling cantaloupes, watermelons, juice and many of the great products produced in the Valley, we are part of the hardworking community that moves California’s economy.

Our state’s legislature is in the process of voting on SB 350, a legislation that will cut petroleum use in cars and trucks by 50 percent by 2030. Authored by Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De Leon, the bill will provide the California Air Resources Board with authority to create regulations without oversight.

This concerns me.

The California trucking industry spends nearly a billion a year on cleaner technology. More specifically, my trucking company spent $2 million on new and cleaner trucks to meet current rules. Through our investments, California has seen freight-related emissions reduced by over 70 percent.

However, SB 350 doesn’t provide California truckers with how our industry’s current investments will be impacted. The legislation will simply allow the state to roll back on their current mandates, while creating new regulations that will overlook the investments we’ve made.

Before voting on this bill, I urge California’s legislators to consider these issues.

This story was originally published September 4, 2015 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Consider impact on truckers before creating new regulations."