CARB weighs in
Re: "California plans reefer restrictions," NewsWorthy, September 2008
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) takes issue with a number of statements in a recent news story about two new trucking regulations in that state, believing them to be misleading and inaccurate. What follows is a list of statements from the original news story, followed by CARB's revised version.
1. Original statement: The California Air Resources Board (CARB) plans to impose restrictions on the use of refrigerated containers for extended cold storage by the end of 2008, assuming that it receives federal approval. CARB must obtain permission from the federal Environmental Protection Agency for implementation of its rules since the regulations would affect interstate commerce.
CARB's revised statement: "The California Air Resources Board (CARB) plans to start preliminary rulemaking activities in late 2008 and formal rulemaking by spring of 2009 that would impose restrictions on the use of diesel-powered transport refrigeration units for extended cold storage at facilities. The board's rule adoption hearing would take place in late 2009 and compliance dates would probably begin early 2011. A [federal] waiver ... is not required for this type of rule."
2. Original: CARB's restrictions on temporary cold storage are part of the agency's new environmental standards for diesel-powered inuse transport refrigeration units (TRUs).
CARB's revision: "CARB's restrictions on temporary cold storage are part of the agency's new Climate Change Program."
3. Original: In addition to the parking restrictions, CARB's new rules call for the phase-out of TRUs that are more than seven years old. Operators will be required to retrofit existing units with cleaner-burning diesel engines or buy new reefers.
CARB's revision: "In addition to the parking restrictions, CARB's new rules call for transport refrigeration units (TRUs) that are more than seven years old to meet in-use performance standards. Operators will be required to retrofit existing units with diesel particulate filters, replace noncompliant engines with cleaner new or rebuilt diesel engines, use an alternative technology, or replace noncompliant reefers."
4. Original: Fleets operating reefers that use alternative technologies, such as electric power, are generally exempt from the regulations.
CARB's revision: "Fleets operating reefers that use alternative technologies, such as electric-standby, are not exempt from the regulations, but can comply with the in-use performance standards if they eliminate diesel engine use at facilities."
5. Original: Out-of-state motor carriers and fleets will also have to retrofit or replace noncompliant TRUs before bringing refrigerated products into California.
CARB's revision: "Out-of-state motor carriers and fleets will also have to meet these in-use performance standards if they operate the TRU in California."
Dimitri Stanich, submitted on behalf of CARB
DHL still under fire
Re: "DHL in the hot seat," NewsWorthy, October 2008
While the piece in question was fairly interesting, it misstated a point about the Airborne Express history.
With the exception of losses in 2001 (caused by flight interruptions following the 9/11 attacks), Airborne posted profits every year (which can be verified via its SEC filings).
DHL has, in effect, run a successful player into the ground with its bloated bureaucratic policies and disregard of the customer experience. Airborne was by far the smallest of the three domestic carriers, but it was successful because it didn't try to be all things to all people.
Mark S. Bower, Seattle, Wash.
Editor's note: The writer worked for Airborne Express before the DHL acquisition and then for DHL until the company laid off most of its sales team last month.
DHL's parent company, Deutsche Post, is solely to blame for the mess the company is in. Deutsche Post managers have been trying to run an air express service using a post office model. They have pushed volume over quality, cheapness over good service. Bottom line, there are just too few people who want to use their poor, post office-style product. Now they are blaming ABX to cover their own blunders. But in reality, they destroyed themselves and will take a lot of hardworking people down with them.
John Charte
Editor's note: The writer is a DHL courier.
