| The recession has taken its toll on class 8 truck sales. | | | | open road? President Obama seems so concerned |
| Trucking companies were among the first to feel the | | | | with health care, the war, and elections in |
| squeeze of the recession when diesel prices soared | | | | Massachusetts. How do we stop the inflation that is |
| to around five dollars a gallon. When fuel prices came | | | | caused as a result of higher transportation costs? |
| back down in 2009, many transportation companies | | | | It seems the government could offer incentives to |
| were playing catch up with their finances. | | | | drivers looking to purchase some of these new more |
| It is feasible to put off buying that shiny new rig for | | | | environmentally friendly trucks. The whole premise of |
| another year or two. Many transportation companies | | | | the cash for clunkers program was to take vehicles |
| have an aging fleet of trucks that they have opted | | | | off the road that are harmful to the environment. I |
| to fix rather than replace. In the short term, many | | | | remember pulling through my local car dealership while |
| companies are faced with fixing rather than replacing | | | | the mechanics were seizing the motors of the |
| just to survive. In the long though, this puts the | | | | clunker cars. It was required by the government that |
| company in a very bad situation. Suddenly trucking | | | | the engines were destroyed by pouring a sodium |
| companies have to either replace two new trucks in | | | | silicate solution into the oil reservoir. Then the engines |
| the same year or reduce the size of their fleet. | | | | were revved until the engine was completely locked |
| In 2010 there are new emissions regulations on new | | | | up. Now if it is this crucial that older cars be taken |
| trucks that raise the cost of trucks $6,000 to | | | | off of the road, then should we not do the same for |
| $10,000 depending on the truck. This increase is going | | | | semi-trucks? After all, trucks are constantly running |
| to make it even more difficult for trucking companies | | | | non-stop up and down the highways. |
| to replace trucks in their fleet in 2010. Many | | | | Without some healthy incentives put in effect to help |
| companies may continue to park their trucks as a | | | | trucking companies, it looks as if inflation will continue |
| result. It has become too expensive to keep running | | | | to be on the rise. It is evident at the supermarket |
| with the price of diesel, insurance, equipment, living | | | | register when you are taking the same amount off |
| expenses, heftier fines, etc. It is obvious to me why | | | | groceries away and it costs you $10 to $20 more. |
| I am constantly seeing semi trucks sitting in empty | | | | Relief for transport companies would be the best |
| lots with for sale signs in the windows. | | | | place to begin fixing the economy because it was the |
| So how can we get our drivers back out on the | | | | first line of industry to be effected by the recession. |