News Archives:
Aug 13, 2010
Jun 29, 2010
May 21, 2010
Apr 09, 2010
New Mexico
Trucking Association
4809 Jefferson St. N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87109
505 884-5575
505 884-3661 (fax)
J.J. Keller Offers
Program to Help
CSA 2010 Education
The new FMCSA carrier analysis system will change the way carrier's do business because it changes they way they are ranked and targeted for safety review.
This J. J. Keller program explains the new system and the key fundamentals that drivers need to know, including their obligations as to unsafe driving, fatigue, HOS, controlled substances and alcohol, truck and trailer maintenance, and load securement. It also covers the driver's role in improving, maintaining, or degrading their company's -- and their own -- safety fitness evaluation, explaining what they can do to prevent violations and have "good" inspections go into the Safety Measurement System (SMS).
The program includes several ready-to-use training tools: a closed-captioned video on DVD; a 24-page discussion guide; driver handbooks; and a CSA 2010 overview poster to hang in a training room or drivers' lounge. It will be available in February but can be reserved now. Keller says that if a rulemaking regarding CSA 2010 is published prior to July 1, 2011 and requires changes to this product, your copy will be updated at no charge. Talk to NMTA for details.
If anyone is interested in taking part in the
Truck Driver Appreciation Week
please contact Lori Harris of Hub International at (505) 828 – 4030
If you can volunteer your time to honor our drivers or you can donate product or services we would really appreciate you input.
Thank You
August 13, 2010
N.M. Drivers in NTDC Finals
Nine truck drivers and one inspector from New Mexico competed last week for national honors at the National Truck & Step Van Driving Competition
and the North American Inspectors Challenge. It was held in Columbus OH.
The New Mexico contingent included:
| Step Van | Chris Shaw, FedEx Express |
| Straight Truck | Kirk Weis., ABF Freight Systems |
| Three Axle | Joseph Mora Jr., Con-Way Freight |
| Four Axle | Carlos Sandoval, Con-Way Freight |
| Five Axle | Steve Limas, ABF Freight Systems |
| Tanker | Thomas Fullerton, Con-Way Freight |
| Flatbed | Michael Contreras Sr., ABF Freight Systems |
| Sleeper | Ralph Garcia, ABF Freight Systems |
| Twin Trailers | Tony Vigil, Con-Way Freight |
| NAIC Inspector Entrant | Todd Cullers, NM Motor Transportation Police |
Congratulations go to Steve Limas from ABF Freight Systems, who placed third in
the Five Axle division!
Annual Tax Filing
Reminder – don’t miss the Deadline !!!!
Annual tax filings for Form 2290 must be completed by August 31. Anyone with heavy vehicles can file electronically. However, if a carrier has 25 or more vehicles that are 55,000 pounds or more, they MUST file electronically. This is a new IRS mandate.
FMCSA Revises CSA 2010 Methodology
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released its revised CSA 2010 methodology reflecting many changes that address concerns ATA and State Associations had raised on behalf of its members. Most notably, the Agency adjusted the exposure measures in the Unsafe Driving BASIC and Crash Indicator to factor in vehicle miles of travel (VMT). In addition, the Agency modified the safety event groupings (formerly peer groupings) in the Unsafe Driving BASIC, the Crash Indicator and the Controlled Substances/Alcohol BASIC to be more equitable to carriers that have increased exposure to inspections. Also, FMCSA adjusted the thresholds that trigger selection for an intervention. Finally, FMCSA made a number of modifications to the violation severity weight tables, including the removal of size and weight violations. ATA is evaluating the new methodology, gathering feedback on its impact from member carriers, and will plan future advocacy steps accordingly.
FMCSA to Drop Registrant-Only Numbers
By a notice in the August 9, 2010, Federal Register, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced that as of September 1, 2011, it will eliminate the requirement under the federal Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM) program that a party other than a motor carrier that registers a vehicle under the International Registration Plan in a state that participates in PRISM must have or be issued a DOT number. This is a longstanding PRISM requirement, and several hundred thousand such “registrant-only” numbers have been issued since 1999. The only function of the number is to tie the vehicle’s registration in the PRISM system to the vehicle’s owner. By definition, some other party – that is, a motor carrier that has a real DOT number – will be responsible for the vehicle’s safe operation, and that party, not the non-carrier registrant, will be liable under PRISM for a poor safety record. This mechanism has caused problems, since registrant-only numbers are sometimes viewed by those to whom they have been issued as an indication that they have federal authority to operate as a carrier, when they have in fact no such authority. In addition, enforcement personnel conducting safety inspections or investigating accidents frequently tie violations or accident data to a registrant-only number rather than to a valid carrier DOT number. FMCSA says that nearly 20% of the registrant-only numbers in its database – more than 35,000 of them – have accumulated such indications of accident or inspection activity, when in fact none should have been attributed to any of those numbers. ATA and other industry groups have long urged FMCSA to eliminate registrant-only numbers. The further year’s delay in the elimination will allow PRISM states to adjust their registration systems to accommodate the change. For more information, contact FMCSA’s Tom Lawler at tom.lawler@dot.gov or 202-366-3866. The Register notice is here: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-19593.htm.
Senate Truck Weight Bill Introduced
A bill (S. 3705), which would allow states to increase truck weight limits on Interstate Highways to 97,000 pounds, was introduced by Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) on August 4. The legislation, which was co-sponsored by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Herb Kohl (D-WI), is identical to a House bill (H.R. 1799) introduced last year by Rep. Michael Michaud (D-ME). The Senate bill, the “Safe and Efficient Transportation Act (SETA) of 2010,” requires the heavier vehicles to operate on six axles, including a tridem axle with a maximum weight limit of 51,000 pounds. It also authorizes states to allow a 2,000 pound weight tolerance on any one axle group. The bill increases the annual Heavy Vehicle Use Tax for the heavier vehicles by up to $250, with the additional proceeds dedicated to bridge projects in states that allow operation of the vehicles. In a statement, Sen. Crapo said that the bill “gives states the option to increase interstate truck weight limits in a safe manner so that we can get more goods from the farm or factory to consumers in fewer trips and fewer vehicle miles”.
CSA2010 - The Pilot State Experience
NMTA is offering members and nonmembers an opportunity to hear from motor carriers in CSA 2010 pilot states and learn from their unique experience and perspective. This is a live webinar with a question and answer period at the end of the session. You won't want to miss the insight and discussion on real experiences with CSA 2010. This will answer all the questions you could possibly have regarding the CSA 2010 program.
September 8, 2010
1:00 - 4:00 pm CST
$125 member
$225 nonmember
Register online today at www.csa-exp.com.
The Alliance for Transportation Research (ATRI) needs your help
Industry wide survey needs your input, give it a few minutes to fill out this short form and help the industry identify the things that are important to you and your company. Please see the attachment to this e-mail and please participate.
Thank You.
Please forward any application for employees who you would like considered for
“Driver of the Month”
to the Association offices as quickly as possible. We are desperately short of nominations – this is a great program to enable you to honor your drivers and it costs you nothing – come on get on board !
Now is the time to ensure all your employees are registered to vote, and if at all possible, make arrangements to enable them to get to the polls come November.
Study Finds States Still in Finance Trouble
The latest survey results from the Rockefeller Institute of Government shows that aggregate state revenue increased slightly in the first calendar quarter of 2010 over the first quarter of last year, but that the increase depended entirely on legislated increases in revenue in New York and California. Two-thirds of the states reported continuing overall declines. In the worst-off states, Louisiana and Montana, decreased oil and gas production cut revenue by 25 percent or more. The figures are all the more startling if one remembers that 2009 was one of the worst years ever for state tax collections. The Institute predicts that the second quarter of 2010, in which most personal income tax reports are filed, will not bring good news either. Preliminary reports from April show income tax collections down more than 7 percent from last year. Lucy Dadayan, “Overall State Tax Revenue Is Up, But Losers Still Outnumber Gainers,” Rockefeller Inst. of Government, SUNY Albany, June 3, 2010, available at www.rockinst.org.
The Alliance for Transportation Research (ATRI) needs your help
Industry wide survey needs your input, give it a few minutes to fill out this short form and help the industry identify the things that are important to you and your company. Please see the attachment to this e-mail and please participate.
Thank You.
ATRI Updates Idling Compilation – The American Transportation Research Institute, ATA’s research arm, has once again brought up to date its compendium of state and local rules on truck idling. The additions are two new statewide rules, in North Carolina and West Virginia, and a new city rule in Detroit. The compilation may be found at www.atri-online.org, in both a full version and in card format suitable for carrying in a truck.