Double-size trucks on way
Bigger, but fewer, coal haulers deemed safer option
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Steamboat Springs — The Routt County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved, with conditions, a petition by Xcel Energy to increase the size of trucks hauling coal on Routt County Road 27, also known as Twentymile Road.
The decision was made at a hearing Tuesday at which Xcel sought to extend its special-use permit to haul coal on the road between the Hayden Station power plant and Peabody Energy's Twentymile Coal Mine and amend it to allow for overweight and overlength trucks.
Some safety concerns were raised regarding the larger trucks, which will pull two trailers of coal instead of one. But in the end, the consensus among commissioners was that the large trucks were the safer option. An Xcel official said the larger trucks would cut the number of trucks on the road by more than half.
"There's no doubt in my mind that reducing the number of trucks will be safer," Commis-sioner Nancy Stahoviak said.
Hayden Station Director Sharon Brady told the commissioners there are 22 truck trips made per hour between the power plant and the coal mine. She said that number could be reduced by 68 percent - to seven trucks - with the use of doubles. Additionally, Brady said coal would need to be hauled only five days a week instead of six.
While everyone agreed fewer trucks are preferred, there were some safety concerns raised about the larger trucks. Routt County Road and Bridge Director Paul Draper confirmed the trucks climb slowly and would go as slow as 16 mph on some of C.R. 27's hills.
While some improvements to the road, paid for by Xcel, have been completed to accommodate the trucks, the installation of some passing lanes is not complete. Draper said there are still three hills without passing lanes that could pose a danger to cars caught behind the slow-climbing trucks. The construction of those lanes is expected by November 2008.
Steps to mitigate safety concerns were outlined at the meeting. The trucks will reportedly use flashing lights when traveling less than 30 mph. Glenn Jones, technical specialist in Xcel's engineering group, said the trucks also will be fitted with sensors that trigger warning lights as the trucks approach intersections on C.R. 27.
Brady said Xcel plans to equip the trucks with a GPS system that will allow the company to see where trucks are and how fast they're going. The system, which has yet to be tested, would e-mail Hayden Station if a truck is speeding, allowing Xcel to see what truck it was, where and at what time.
"I'm very encouraged by the idea of the GPS systems," Commissioner Diane Mitsch Bush said.
Links Freight Management of Hayden is the trucking outfit that runs the coal haul for Xcel. Shift Supervisor Gary Hurd attended the hearing with commissioners and touted the trucks that would be used to haul doubles. He said the trucks are new and have advanced braking systems. He also dismissed concerns about trucks speeding on C.R. 27.
"We have no reason on this 16-mile haul to speed," Hurd said.
Routt County Planning Director Chad Phillips said most of the complaints received about the coal haul do not concern Links trucks, but rather subcontractors that are hired to supplement Xcel's trucking needs. Brady said the double trucks would eliminate the need to use such subcontractors, barring any unforeseen events that would diminish the surplus coal supply at Hayden Station.
- To reach Brandon Gee, call 871-4210 or e-mail bgee@steamboatpilot.com
Comments
Mr_B 5 years, 9 months ago
Just curious, does Xcel have to go before the Routt County Board of Commissioners to add additional double-trailer trucks? How long will seven trucks suffice considering the increase in demand? Good business and great PR. Sorry for the 15 drivers that won't be driving anymore.
id04sp 5 years, 9 months ago
Xcel will save at least $750,000 up to 1.5 million by eliminating those 15 drivers. Also, you can depreciate a truck and a trailer, but you can't do that with a driver.
It's all about money.
The lesson is that people have an obligation to themselves to obtain valuable skills and be more productive in order to protect their jobs. Employers will cut the things that cost them money, and add the things that increase their income. It's the law of the business jungle.
As for the safety issue, RCSO needs to enforce speed limits on 20-mile road. Residents who have cameras on their cell phones, or digital cameras that can take movies (even if it's a 30-second movie) can use them to document speeding or other unsafe conditions with the Xcel trucks and inform the RCSO or Xcel.
id04sp 5 years, 8 months ago
Pilot staff,
Please put southrouttmucker's comment back on the forum.
I think it's obvious from the handle and the reaction to my post that this mucker has been affected by the changes. It's important for all of us to know that hard-working people have been put out of a job and don't have a lot of good alternatives locally.
There are 50 qualified CDL (commercial driver license) holders who will be looking for work. How about somebody coming up with the capital to establish a trucking company that can haul stuff back and forth to Denver, Grand Junction, Craig, Rifle, etc., and end up back home at night here in Routt County? Maybe one way to preserve affordable housing is to keep it from going on the market because people have lost their jobs and have to move elsewhere.
There are businesses which depend on deliveries from Denver and Grand Junction several times a week. Restaurants are a prime example. Companies like Alliant and Sysco used to (maybe still do) bring an 18-wheeler from Denver to Steamboat through Winter Park and Granby. Would a fleet of smaller trucks running down from Steamboat to Denver and back be able to do the job more economically? It could be worth a look.
Stuff has to move, and there's a pool of trained and experienced talent here to make that happen if investors could be found. Why not have the City or County invest in local jobs that MEAN SOMETHING to the community instead of all these BS beauty pageant projects like a rec center, justice center, etc?
P.S. In other towns, it's called "economic development." We don't have a lot of that around here. We should.
Matthew Stoddard 5 years, 8 months ago
50 CDL drivers looking for work? I'll need a few CDL shuttle drivers for the winter!!! Not a trucking company, but it's a job!
inmate2007 5 years, 8 months ago
Kielbasa, are you matching the pay and benefits ?
fish 5 years, 8 months ago
I hate to be the one to say it but Xcel energy can't win in this regardless of what they do. People bitch about the amount of trucks on the road so they try to reduce it and now peope bitch about the jobs that will be lost. you can't have it both ways. There truly is no easy solution to the problem of getting the necessary amount of coal to the plant and nobody wants it to affect them.
id04sp 5 years, 8 months ago
Shut down the plant and let YVEA rates double. That will change some narrow minds.
1234 5 years, 8 months ago
what were all you truckers doing before x-cel gave you a job? and what will you do when x-cell has no more work for you? you will do what the rest of us do, go look for other work. id and fish have the right idea,the more you screw with the power plants,and make them spend more money,the more you pay ... think about it. x-cell went thru the pollution,thing and did what everyone wanted,now they are trying to make everyone happy with how they get coal. they are not going to please everyone,but we should all help to make it as easy and cheap as we can,or we will pay. and just how many of the truck drivers are from colorado and pay colorado taxes on thier rigs?
Vince arroyo 5 years, 8 months ago
Yes we do 1234, We do need our electricity . Safety is the number one goal here. . It has become an instantaneous response that society wants in this day and age.
Vince arroyo 5 years, 8 months ago
Rail is a good answer for this. instead of 425 trucks a day, There is a railroad easement that all ready exists. When this all started the railroad was at 23 million for improvements now its at 45 million . Its also not is my back yard syndrome. Share this valley.
1234 5 years, 8 months ago
hometown,you got it right for the rail. the rail has been the blood line for people to make the american dream happen .for them back in the day,when they needed the transport of goods the rail was a blessing. why should it be any different today. we all like our electicity ,dont we?
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