Truckers are hit by rising costs, stagnant freight rates

Truckers are hit by rising costs, stagnant freight rates

EDITOR:

Let’s talk about the never-ending cost of rising tolls for trucks and cars on our interstate systems. As an example: A truck loaded, grossing 80,000 pounds, leaves Chicago on a delivery to Long Island, N.Y. The cheapest and fastest way to travel would be across Interstate 80. The tolls would be approximately $150. This would include the Illinois, Indiana and Ohio Turnpikes, Interstate 80 through Pennsylvania, which is free, and the three New York bridges which are a toll. Pennsylvania is again discussing the possibility of making I-80 a toll road, from the Ohio line to New Jersey. My state government claims the tolls for one truck will be $100. This would increase the example above to $250. This is getting out of hand.

The 2004 Republican-controlled Congress passed a bill which allows all states to toll or lease any of our existing interstate systems to anyone, including foreign countries. What’s to stop these foreign companies from raising these tolls whenever they see fit, for whatever reason? We are talking about roads and bridges that were built and maintained with our taxes and toll money.

As I see it, owner-operators and trucking companies have two options:

1. Run all rural routes through cities and towns. This will add many hours of driving time and drivers not making their destinations on time.

2. Immediately establish and implement a toll surcharge, paid only to the driver whose pocket this money is coming out of.

As freight weights remain stagnant and diesel fuel continues to rise, we owner operators cannot afford to take any more hits to our pockets. We are the ones with the big investment and we do all the work. As the cost of operating and living continues to rise, there seems to be no relief in sight. And no one is listening.

DAVID P. GAIBIS Sr.

New Castle

No government is better than inflexible government

EDITOR:

I am writing to show the public another reason I am a Libertarian. It is the political party that advocates small weak government and a large emphasis on individual and property rights.

Recently, an elderly handicapped woman on a fixed income with one-third lung capacity who owns her own home in a modest section of Howland Township called me and asked if my place of business could make her a canvas garage and install it for her. She had tremendous trouble removing snow from her car because of her handicap.

She said she would call the Howland Zoning Department to make sure it was OK and then would let me know when we could get it to her. She called me the next day very upset and said that the Howland zoning would not allow her the garage. Two days later she called to tell me Trumbull County Commissioner Frank Fuda would mediate her case and asked if I would come with her. (I would like to give Mr. Fuda an A+ for the effort he put into this. He didn’t have to yet did not hesitate to help.) Unfortunately the mediation was for naught.

Now an elderly woman is imprisoned in her home on inclement days. I find it hard to believe this government group could be so cruel and uncaring. Yes there are zoning regulations but, there is a human side to every exemption. That is why there is a zoning board to allow for these exemptions. That is once again another reason for the Libertarian Party — small weak government with emphasis on individual and property rights should be considered.

TIMOTHY McNEIL Sr.

Mineral Ridge

Is begging necessary?

EDITOR:

For the past several months I have seen something in the city that is pretty hard for me to understand. There is a man and what appears to be a child sitting on the ground on street corners holding up a sign stating that he will work for rent. I have seen them on the South Side of town and recently they were sitting on the ground at the corner of Wick Avenue and Rayen Avenue in spite of the cold rainy weather. They have now acquired a dog.

The man was smoking a cigarette and there was evidence that they had been eating food from a nearby fast food restaurant. If he can afford cigarettes and fast food, they should not have to sit on the street begging for anything. There are local agencies that should be able to help if he is in dire need of housing.

It is hard for me to understand how they are permitted to continue this practice. Is it legal? Is the child enrolled in school? Who feeds the dog and where do they go when they are not sitting on street corners? It makes me wonder if this man has actually gone anywhere to apply for work.

FRANCES L. SINGLETON

Youngstown

Lions Club is making a difference one child at a time

EDITOR:

I wanted to take the time to publicly thank the Lion’s Club for volunteering their time to conduct vision screenings at my child’s elementary school, C.H. Campbell Elementary in Canfield. My husband works a job that provides our family of six very good medical/vision benefits, but we are not so good at taking ourselves and our children to the eye doctor, probably because my husband and I do not have any vision difficulties.

Needless to say, my 6-year-old son, Zack, failed his vision screening at school and a note was sent home with him. At that time, I made an appointment for all 6 of us to see the eye doctor. The doctor informed us that Zack’s brain had shut down his left eye. He had 20/400 vision out of it. Zack will be getting glasses soon and is required to wear a patch over his right eye for three hours a day to train his brain to start using his left eye again. His prognosis is good. 

Zack never complained or told me that he was having problems seeing out of his left eye. I think he thought this was normal, or that everyone went through this. What was shocking to me was that the doctor said he walked in to him and said, “I can’t see out of this eye,” and pointed to his left eye.

Our family is ever so thankful that the Lion’s Club offers this service to the students of C.H. Campbell Elementary. Without this screening, we may have not found out about this for a long time. All the volunteers need to be reminded that they have made a difference in at least one child’s life. Their time and efforts have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated.

CHRISTINE SMITH

Canfield