Daniel, ol' buddy, I won't go into your post item by item because it's so full of poorly thought out ramble, but for a moment let's examine just one.
Last year, on Jan. 4, 2004 truckers were forced (allowed) to work 11 of the next 14 hours after first going on duty after 10 hours off duty (or in the sleeper). This change occurred after years of tests, congressional testimony, and anecdotal reports and hundreds of hearings. The previous rules had been in place since the 1930's
OK, there's the background. Now you suggest that truckers start at 2300. That would necessitate shippers-receivers to be on hand for loading-unloading, hostling trailers and all the other stuff that goes along with freight handling. You may have noticed that some communities have old, weak or non-existent zoning and warehouses are in residential neighborhoods. Do you want one in yours?
Okey dokey, Now after going on duty at 2300, our little group of say 5 million drivers in about 3 million vehicles. hit the roads making their way to your grocery warehouse, car dealer, gas station, convenience store, nursery, mall and wherever you have dictated with your dollars that you'd like to be supplied with something. Anything. It's been said that truckers deliver everything but babies, and I think there's even precedent for that.
rude drivers nope. rude TRUCKERS... 1960i think what you're complaining about is the practice of "taking the lane" that many riders use (myself included when i feel it's the safest way to ride). but please note...
Now, let's buttume that you want to go to work about 0630. We will have been on the job for about 7.5 hours and it looks like a good time for lunch. Some will stop, some will wait, but most will be choking up the exits, streets, parking lots. You will be peeed some more- 'What are these trucks doing out here when I want to have private use of the roads!'
rude drivers nope. rude TRUCKERS... 1957He didn't JUST SAY Bicycles and Motorcycles... the list included cars, Pickups, and Minivans... The list was SMALL vehicles, and yes they (the whole list and not just the part you...
Well, after our lunch at say 0630-0730, the truckers decide it's siesta time- remember we've been on the job while you slept- so we nap until about 1030 and hit it again. We have 3.5 more allowable hours to work, so that means we can screw up your lunch commute too.
Then comes the time of day you say you want the trucks off the roads. Problem is there is a shortage of parking spaces. The last numbers I've seen were about 800,000 short. It costs, believe it or not according to the National buttociation of Truck Stop Operators who oughtta know, about $5,000 each to build them. Did you think private enterprise should pay for them, at an increase in the cost of every item you buy, or should they be paid for with tax dollars? After all, the roads are, as are the mbutt transit lines and other 'public utilities'.
You decide.
Meanwhile I'll be awake when the shippers want to ship, the receivers want to receive and blend into the flow of traffic in between.
Jim
