|
|
|
|
|
Consider Hiring a VeteranSince the events of September 2001, our service members have played a tremendous role in fighting terrorism and keeping our country secure. The readiness of the Regular, Guard and Reserve components of our Armed Forces is at an all-time high and we can ta
(
Article Continued...
)
Three Percent Withholding Requirment RepealedOn November 16, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation (H.R. 674) that repeals the pending federal requirement that all levels of government withhold 3 percent of the gross amount owed to government contractors. The legislation h
(
Article Continued...
)
DOT Transmits Draft Final HOS Rule to OMBOn Tuesday, November 1, the U.S. Department of Transportation officially transmitted FMCSA’s draft final hours of service rule to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. OMB’s review is the final step in the government’s regula
(
Article Continued...
)
FMCSA Misses Deadline, HOS Rule DelayedOn Friday, October 28, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released the following statement regarding the publication of the Hours of Service regulations: “The petitioners have agreed to extend the October 28, 2011, deadline for publication of
(
Article Continued...
)
Developments in California Meal-Break CasesThe California Supreme Court has at long last scheduled oral argument, for November 8, 2011, in the Brinker meal and rest break case. At issue in that appeal is whether California requires an employer to ensure that its employees take a meal break or only
(
Article Continued...
)
CARB to Consider Proposed TRU AmendmentsThe California Air Resources Board (CARB) will consider proposed amendments to its existing transport refrigeration unit (TRU) regulation on Friday, October 21. The proposed amendments include extending the second compliance deadline for TRUs with model-y
(
Article Continued...
)
IRS Provides Guidance on HVUT Filing The Internal Revenue Service issued guidance on September 16 to motor carriers and others who must file and pay the federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (Form 2290). Since Congress did not extend the federal highway taxes by the usual HVUT filing date of August
(
Article Continued...
)
IRP to Revise Audit, Record-Keeping Rules The member jurisdictions of the International Registration Plan have approved an extensive amendment that revises the Plan’s rules for IRP audits and its requirements for carrier record-keeping. Voting on the amendment, which required three-quarters of th
(
Article Continued...
)
FMCSA Issues Final Rule on Brake Regulation In response to a petition from the Automobile Carriers Conference, on September 13 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a final rule, effective October 13, 2011, that eliminates the requirement to have rear brakes activated in a triple saddl
(
Article Continued...
)
CARB to Consider Proposed TRU AmendmentsThe California Air Resources Board (CARB) is scheduled to consider proposed amendments to its existing transport refrigeration unit (TRU) regulation on October 20 or 21. The proposed amendments include extending the second compliance deadline for TRUs wit
(
Article Continued...
)
FMCSA Releases UMTRI Evaluation of CSAOn Wednesday, August 31, FMCSA released the long-awaited evaluation of its CSA Operational Model Test. The analysis, conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute on the Agency’s behalf, demonstrates that CSA represents an impr
(
Article Continued...
)
NLRB Finalizes Notice RequirementThe National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a final rule today requiring employers to post a notice of employee rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) where they post similar federal workplace notices. The rule applies to all employers
(
Article Continued...
)
EOBR Rule Vacated by Seveth Circuit The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) April 2010 final EOBR rule, scheduled to become effective in June 2012, has been vacated by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and sent back to the Agency for reconsideration
(
Article Continued...
)
DOT Issue Final Regulatory Review Plan On August 23, the Department of Transportation issued its final plan under Executive Order 13563, which requires the federal executive agencies to identify burdensome or outdated regulations that should be revised. ATA and numerous other organizations sub
(
Article Continued...
)
ATA Testifies on Truck SafetyIn testimony before a Senate subcommittee today (July 21, 2011), Dan England, Chairman and President of C.R. England Inc., and Vice Chairman of the American Trucking Associations, urged Congress to adopt several ATA-suggested initiatives
(
Article Continued...
)
ATA Participates in Roadcheck Kickoff EventOn Tuesday, June 7, ATA participated in the kickoff of CVSA’s annual Roadcheck event. Each year, CVSA member jurisdictions conduct a 72-hour roadside inspection blitz, checking vehicles and their drivers at inspection sites along major highways across Nor
(
Article Continued...
)
Iowa Enacts New Biodiesel Tax Credits On May 26, Iowa enacted new biodiesel blending and production tax credits. Beginning in 2012, fuel retailers can claim a 2 cent per gallon tax credit for biodiesel blended at a 2% rate (B2) and a 4.5 cents per gallon credit for a 5% biodiesel blend (B5).
(
Article Continued...
)
Carb Releases Modified RegulationsThe California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) has posted two modified regulations for review and comment. CARB’s Truck and Bus Regulation affects certain trucks with pre-2000 engines as early as next year while trucks with pre-2007 engines
(
Article Continued...
)
ATA Urges DOT to Abandon Wetlines Proposal On April 27, ATA filed comments with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) in response to a proposed rule to prohibit cargo tank operators from transporting flammable liquids in unprotected external product piping (wetlines).
(
Article Continued...
)
DOT Proposes Wetlines Regulation On Jan. 27, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration published a proposed rule to prohibit cargo tank operators from transporting flammable liquids in unprotected external product piping (wetlines).
(
Article Continued...
)
Study Shows Congestion Worsening After two years of decline due to a poor economy and high fuel prices, a new study reports that congestion is once again on the rise. The Texas Transportation Institute released the latest version of its annual Urban Mobility Report today.
(
Article Continued...
)
Carb Issues TRU Compliance Advisory The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has issued an advisory explaining what owners of model year (MY) 2003 transport refrigeration units (TRUs) need to do to comply with the recently amended state requirements.
(
Article Continued...
)
ATA Opposes Increased Pipeline RatesOn August 19, ATA filed comments with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission opposing its proposal to use the Producer Price Index plus 1.3 percent as the index for annual changes to the oil pipeline rate ceiling over the next five years.
(
Article Continued...
)
VDOT Submits I-95 Tolling Proposal Yesterday, May 10, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell announced that the state’s Department of Transportation (VDOT) submitted an application to the Federal Highway Administration to toll Interstate 95 on the Virginia/North Carolina border. The proposed toll
(
Article Continued...
)
FMCSA Sets UCRA Fees for 2010On April 26, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published in the Federal Register the fees that participating states may charge for calendar 2010 under the Unified Carrier Registration Agreement.
(
Article Continued...
)
2009 NAFTA Trade Fell 23.3 Percent From 2008 The Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation announced March 19 that trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners decreased by 23.3 percent in
(
Article Continued...
)
DC Recongnizes Permit LimitsLast fall, ATA, with the Maryland Motor Truck Association and the Virginia Trucking Association, wrote to the District of Columbia Department of Transportation asking DDOT to allow vehicle combinations with an overall length
(
Article Continued...
)
UCRA Board Prohibits Early Fee Collection Last week, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued what the agency termed “regulatory guidance” to the effect that states that participate in the Unified Carrier Registration Agreement could collect fees for 2010 at the rates in effect for
(
Article Continued...
)
President Signs Highway Bill Extension President Obama today, March 18, approved legislation extending the federal highway program through Dec. 31. The program has been operating under several short-term extensions since the current highway bill, SAFETEA-LU, expired in October 2009.
(
Article Continued...
)
No UCRA Fees for 2010 Until SpringOn Jan. 12, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced to the Board of Directors of the Unified Carrier Registration Agreement (UCRA) that publication of the 2010 fees to be imposed under the UCRA program will be delayed until much
(
Article Continued...
)
Old Fast Cards to be Deactivated On Nov. 17, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that starting Jan. 5, 2010, the older versions of the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) cards can no longer be used as valid identification to cross the border. CBP officers will permit a one-time
(
Article Continued...
)
ATA Protests DC Loading Zone Plan On Nov. 24, ATA, joined by the Maryland Motor Truck Association and the Virginia Trucking Association, wrote the District of Columbia Department of Transportation to advise the District that provisions of a plan to require special permits and fees from
(
Article Continued...
)
FMCSA Preempts Boston’s Hazmat RestrictionsOn November 10, 2009, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) granted ATA’s preemption petition challenging Boston’s hazardous materials transportation restrictions on the grounds that Boston failed to comply with the federal requirements
(
Article Continued...
)
Anne Ferro Confirmed as FMCSA Administrator Late Nov. 5, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously to confirm Anne Ferro as the new head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Ms. Ferro was nominated by President Obama in June of this year and her confirmation hearing was held in early October
(
Article Continued...
)
Hazmat Bill Markup PostponedOn Nov. 5, the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) announced that the scheduled markup of the Hazardous Material Transportation Safety Act of 2009 would be delayed. This bill, which includ
(
Article Continued...
)
ATA Files Comments on Electronic SignaturesOn Oct. 20, ATA responded to a recent Federal Register notice in which FMCSA asked OMB to extend its information collection request (ICR) relating to training certification for entry-level drivers. The Agency stated it would take 10 minutes for a driver
(
Article Continued...
)
PHMSA to Draft Wetlines Regulation The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) intends to propose a regulation that would ban the transportation of flammable materials in the external piping of cargo tanks (wetlines). The regulation is currently being drafted and we
(
Article Continued...
)
Arizona DOT to Close 13 Safety Rest Areas The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) will close 13 of its 18 safety rest areas beginning Oct. 19. ADOT estimates that the closings will save about $2.5 million annually as they look to solve a $100 million shortfall. No timeframe has been given
(
Article Continued...
)
ATA Comments on Proposed UCRA FeesATA filed comments Sept. 22 in opposition to the proposal by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to raise fees under the Unified Carrier Registration Agreement (UCRA) by some 122 percent on a per-vehicle basis, effective next year
(
Article Continued...
)
House Passes 3-Month Highway Bill Extension The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday passed a 3-month extension of the SAFETEA-LU highway bill, despite attempts by Republican leaders to delay a vote on the measure. The bill, which runs through Dec. 30, would prevent funding for various highway
(
Article Continued...
)
EPA to Revisit Ozone Pollution StandardsOn Sept. 16, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would reconsider the 2008 standards set for ground-level ozone, the primary component of smog. The ozone standards set in 2008 under the Bush Administration were not as protective as
(
Article Continued...
)
ATA Requests Extension to File UCRA Comments The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published in the Federal Register on Sept. 3 a notice of proposed rulemaking that would, if finalized in its current form, raise fees under the Unified Carrier Registration Agreement (UCRA) more
(
Article Continued...
)
FMCSA Issues Proposal For 2010 UCRA FeesOn Sept. 3, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking to set the fees under the Unified Carrier Registration Agreement (UCRA) for calendar year 2010. Since Congress enacted
(
Article Continued...
)
New York Becomes 18th State to Ban TextingNew York State Governor David Paterson has signed A8568 into law. The legislation forbids the use of handheld devices for reading, typing and sending text messages while driving. The law goes into effect on Nov. 1. Text messaging while driving is already
(
Article Continued...
)
ATA Files Comments with IRS on Cell Phone UseOn Aug. 11, ATA filed comments with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in response to IRS Notice 2009-46, which asked for advice from the public on how the agency can simplify the rules associated with substantiating business versus personal use of a
(
Article Continued...
)
Some States Raising TaxesA report by the Center on Budget & Policy Priorities says that 30 states have raised taxes during this year's legislative sessions, and that other states, whose sessions are not yet over, are considering increases.
(
Article Continued...
)
D.C. Says Carriers are ExemptIn March, ATA wrote the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs of the District of Columbia, asking D.C. to stop requiring motor carriers to obtain a general basic business license even if all they engage in within the District is interstate
(
Article Continued...
)
ATA Comments on Bad IFTA BallotsATA has submitted adverse comments on a couple of proposals made by the Audit Committee of the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) to amend IFTA in ways that would be extremely prejudicial to the trucking industry. The intent of IFTA Full Track
(
Article Continued...
)
NHTSA Issues New Braking Rule On July 24, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued the final version of FMVSS 121, the Air Brake rule. Beginning on Aug. 1, 2011, the rule reduces the stopping distance from the current standard of 355 feet to 250 feet for 6x4
(
Article Continued...
)
ATA Joins Independent Contractor CoalitionATA formalized its working relationship with the Coalition to Preserve Independent Contractor Status (IC Coalition) by officially joining this week. The Coalition identifies its mission as educating public and elected representatives about the importance
(
Article Continued...
)
ATA Warns FMCSA to Follow its Own Rules In a letter to Acting Deputy Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Rose McMurray, ATA expressed concerns with a recent agency policy statement regarding its personnel’s adherence to the requirements of the Field
(
Article Continued...
)
Colorado DOT Closes Rest AreasThe Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) recently closed the north- and southbound rest areas between Denver and Colorado Springs off Interstate 25 near Larkspur, citing the rest areas’ need for extensive renovations and state budget constraints
(
Article Continued...
)
PHMSA Withdraws Hazmat Fee Increase On June 22, the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) withdrew its proposed increase in the hazmat registration fees for 2009. The proposed increase would have taken the registration and administrative fees from $1,000 to $2,500
(
Article Continued...
)
ATRI Updates Idling Regulations CompendiumThe American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has updated the listing of state and local idling regulations found on its website. The updated listing is provided in two forms, a cab card that can be carried in the glove box of a truck and the
(
Article Continued...
)
Virginia Announces Final Budget-Cutting Plans On June 18, Virginia's Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) announced its final budget-cutting measures for the Department of Transportation. The CTB will close 19 safety rest areas. However, additional truck parking spaces will be added to some of the
(
Article Continued...
)
American Motorists Hitting the Road AgainThe 16-month downward trend in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) appears to be changing course. Compared with April 2008, VMT in April 2009 jumped by 0.6 percent to 249.5 billion VMT. This figure represented the highest level of travel since August 2008
(
Article Continued...
)
Green Truck Bill Passes in ColoradoColorado Gov. Bill Ritter has signed into law House Bill 1298, The Green Truck and Motor Carrier Economic Development Program. The bill, which was championed by the Colorado Motor Carriers Association (CMCA), provides incentives for reducing emissions and
(
Article Continued...
)
ATA Files Brief in Supreme Court Rico CaseATA filed an amicus brief on June 8, 2009 in the United States Supreme Court supporting a motor carrier’s request that the Court hear its appeal of a Sixth Circuit ruling that held the carrier to be subject to a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt
(
Article Continued...
)
Senate Bill Would Ban TollsLegislation introduced in the U.S. Senate May 21 would ban the imposition of tolls on the National Highway System (NHS). The "Freedom from Tolls Act of 2009" (S. 1115) was introduced by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas). The prohibition would apply to
(
Article Continued...
)
WHTI Goes into Effect June 1The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requirements will go into effect June 1. Presently, U.S. and Canadian citizens only need to show a driver’s license and make an oral declaration of citizenship to enter the U.S. at land borders. WHTI
(
Article Continued...
)
ATA Briefs Other Groups on Safety Agenda President and CEO Bill Graves, Vice Chair Barbara Windsor and a number of ATA representatives hosted a meeting last week with 11 representatives of other highway-related groups in order to brief the groups on details of ATA’s new progressive safety agenda
(
Article Continued...
)
ATA Testifies on Hazmat Reauthorization On May 14, Bob Petrancosta (Con-way Freight) testified before the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials on the reauthorization of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT)
(
Article Continued...
)
ATA Files Final Brief in Ports CaseOn April 17, ATA concluded the briefing process with the filing of its Reply Brief in association with the District Court’s reconsideration of whether the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach’s Concession Plans should be enjoined.
(
Article Continued...
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|