During the Dust Bowl days, many people left depressed Oklahoma for promises of a better life in California. But today, truckers, at least, find Oklahoma to be the promised land and California to be a depressing place when it comes to moving freight in the respective states.
In a recent survey of Truckers News readers, California’s strict transportation laws and tough enforcement practices landed the state atop the list for being the least trucking-friendly. Oklahoma, on the other hand, was touted as being the most trucking-friendly in regard to regulations and fees.
When asked which state they believe has the most trucking-friendly regulations and fees, 13 percent of truckers polled pick Oklahoma, with Texas a close second at 11 percent. On the flip side, truckers overwhelmingly tap California – 36 percent – as having the least trucking-friendly regulations and fees. Ohio finished second with 22 percent.
“Oklahoma has the cheapest base plates,” says John Clawson, an owner-operator from Joplin, Mo. “California has the different speed limits and fines that seem to be higher than in other states.”
The survey shows Oklahoma (6 percent) to be second for the most trucking-friendly enforcement personnel, behind Texas (8 percent). Keeping with the trend, California (23 percent) falls just behind Ohio (31 percent) for the least trucking-friendly enforcement personnel.
“I run Oklahoma plates, and Oklahoma is an easy state to run through,” says Eddie Giles, an owner-operator from Narrows, Va. “They don’t bother you as long as your log book is OK. The California DOT doesn’t give you any breathing room. I used to run California, but I don’t anymore because of the hassle. But Ohio is about as bad as California. They don’t have any personality.”
Truckers News also polled drivers on the best and worst states for overnight parking. Texas and Kentucky top the list for best overnight parking. “Texas is pretty good, but the majority of the rest areas only hold about 10 truckers,” says Ken Metzler of Ellis, Kan., who drives for Crete. Bob Gobar, an owner-operator from Hazen, N.D., feels Pennsylvania, which is fourth with 7.4 percent, is among the best places to park after dark. “Pennsylvania has wide places along the roadsides where I see a lot of trucks parked, and the police don’t seem to bother them. I’ve even seen the police parked behind trucks along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, watching the traffic.”
