NMTA  Board Meeting Set for July 18th. in Albuquerque

The next Board meeting is scheduled for July 18th, in Albuquerque.
The Board of Directors is comprised of the elected chairperson of industry conferences as called for in NMTA  current by-laws follows:

Ex-Officio Board (Past Sec/Treas):Doug Regnier, FedEx Freight, Albuquerque, NM
Allied Industry: Scott Klinkhammer, Rush Truck Center, Albuquerque, NM
Bus Operators: Vacant
Truckload Carrier: Danny Crawford, Wild West Express, Las Cruces, NM
Petroleum Carriers: Sam Bagby, Groendyke Transport, Albuquerque, NM
Heavy Haul & Housemovers: Henry Pacheco, Pacheco Trucking, Albuquerque, NM
Warehouse & Transfermen: Vacant
Oilfield Haulers – North: Butch Mathews, M&R Trucking, Farmington, NM
Oilfield Haulers – South: Robin Goodrich, Remuda Energy Trans, Artesia, NM
LTL: Todd Kellerstrass, Con-way Freight, Albuquerque, NM
Bulk Haulers: Vacant
Beverage Distributors: Scott Long, Premier Distributing, Albuquerque, NM
Dump Truck Operators: Vacant
Wrecker & Recovery: Anthony VanderVossen, Holmes Wrecker, Espanola, NM
Private Carriers: Vacant
Maintenance: Vacant
Safety Management Council: Lori Harris, Hub International, Albuquerque, NM

If you have recommendations for any of the vacant conferences, please contact your -- NMTA Managing Director, Gail Peters at gail@nmtrucking.org or 505-884-5575.

The by-laws allow a vacancy to be filled by a majority vote of the conference members or a recommendation by the NMTA President to the Board. All NMTA members are welcome at Board meetings.

Bill to Limit Heavier Trucks Introduced

May 10, 2013 Deborah Whistler | Fleet Owner

U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) re-introduced legislation designed to keep bigger, heavier trucks off the road. The bill would apply existing federal truck size and weight limits to the entire National Highway System (NHS) and will also ban the use of triple trailer rigs on the entire NHS.  

Lautenberg’s bill, the “Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act of 2013” (SHIPA), would apply the current limits of 80,000 lbs. and maximum length of 53 ft. for tractor-trailer trucks to the entire NHS, while still allowing certain exemptions, including for firefighting equipment.  

The NHS includes both interstate highways and smaller national highways.  Most truck size and weight restrictions already apply to the 44,000-mi. Interstate Highway System. The bill would extend certain restrictions to the much bigger 220,000-mi. NHS. The bill will also expand the current freeze of triple-tractor trailer operations on interstates to apply to the broader NHS. In addition, the bill would close loopholes that allow the operation of overweight trucks and would establish an enforcement program to ensure accountability. 

“When super-sized tractor-trailers are on the road, they are a threat to drivers and the integrity of our highways and bridges,” Lautenberg said. “Closing the loophole that keeps these long, overweight trucks on our National Highway System will protect families and preserve our nation’s infrastructure.  Trucks play a critical role in our nation’s economy, but they also share the roads with our families, so we must do everything we can to make our nation’s highways safer and prevent tragic accidents.  This is thoughtful, common-sense legislation that would maintain our highways, grow our economy, and ensure safe roads for commuters and families.”

The bill is supported by Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH), Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, the Trauma Foundation, KidsAndCars.org, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Consumer Federation of America, AAA, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Assn. (OOIDA), Parents Against Tired Truckers, and the Truck Safety Coalition.
“Truck crash victims and survivors and the safety community laud Sen. Lautenberg’s steadfast leadership to protect motorists and truck drivers on our highways,” said Joan Claybrook, former administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and chair of CRASH.  “The Senator’s introduction of the Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act, which will freeze current truck size and weight limits, will lead toward saving countless lives and preventing lifelong debilitating injuries for many.  Sen. Lautenberg continues to ‘fight the good fight’ to improve our nation’s truck safety policies, and the American public will be spared from paying with their lives and their wallets because of his efforts.”
Bigger trucks — both those that are heavier and longer than standard trucks — present safety risks, including longer stopping distances, increased risks of rollover and of trailers swaying into adjacent lanes, Lautenberg said in a press release.  “Research shows that a 100,000-lb. truck with unadjusted brakes travels 25% further after the driver steps on the brakes than an 80,000-lb. truck.  Large trucks account for a disproportionately high share of deaths based on miles traveled compared to standard vehicle traffic.”

Lautenberg also wrote the law that banned triple-trailers (which he refers to as “killer trucks”) in New Jersey and on most other states’ roads. 
The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Claire McCaskill (D-MO). Companion legislation is sponsored in the House of Representatives by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA).

With the above article in mind, you may want to consider joining this webinar:

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) invites you to participate in the upcoming Public Input Session for the Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study (CTSW).

The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act Section 32801 requires the DOT Secretary to complete a "Comprehensive Truck Size & Weight Limits Study." The Study will be conducted as an objective, data driven initiative using the most current, best-suited analytical methods, tools, and models.

The Study will evaluate and compare the differences between trucks loaded at or below current Federal truck size and weight limits to those operating in excess of those limits. The CTSW Study will produce findings on highway safety and truck crash frequency and severity, pavement and bridge infrastructure service life impacts, the cost and effectiveness of enforcement and implications for the national transportation system including the modal share of freight movements that would result if Federal truck size and weight limits were to change.

The first Public Outreach Session will provide stakeholders an opportunity to share feedback on the approach and methods DOT intends to use to complete the Study. The DOT will also solicit comments on "alternative truck configurations" to be evaluated in the Study. The meeting, which is free and open to the public, will be held as an in-person workshop.

Webinar access is available for those unable to attend in person. Three additional Public Outreach Sessions will be held over the next year and a half.

Meeting Details
May 29, 2013
12:30 to 4:30 PM (EST)
U.S. Department of Transportation Headquarters
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590

Register for the webinar. To attend in person, register at CTSWStudy@dot.gov
In advance of the Public Input Session, a worksheet on the alternative truck configurations will be shared with registered participants prior to the session and will be available at the Web site provided below.

We invite you to share this announcement with other groups and individuals you feel would be interested in participating.

If you are unable to attend, you can submit comments directly to CTSWStudy@dot.gov. In addition, a transcript of the presentations and a summary of the discussions will be available on the Federal Highway Administration Office of Freight Management and Operations Web site