News Archives:
Aug 01, 2008
Jul 10, 2008
Jun 09, 2008
May 30, 2008
May 21, 2008
New Mexico
Trucking Association
4809 Jefferson St. N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87109
505 884-5575
505 884-3661 (fax)
Fees To Double
PHMSA Proposes Hazmat Fee Increase
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on May 5 that would more than double the registration fee for companies hauling hazardous materials.
The fee would increase from $1,000 to $2,500 (including the $25 administrative fee) beginning registration year 2009-2010. The fee for carriers classified as small or nonprofit will remain at $250 a year.
May 21 , 2008
House & Senate Introduce Bills and Proposals to Ease Fuel Prices
The House and Senate each passed bills that would force the White House to stop acquiring oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Under the plan, the stockpiling would cease until December, or until the 90-day average price of crude oil drops to at least $75 a barrel. President Bush had previously stated that not filling the SPR would do little to lower fuel prices. The 70,000 barrels acquired daily for the SPR is only one-tenth of one percent of the daily global consumption of oil.
Senator Snowe introduced legislation (S. 2896) to temporarily lower the federal diesel fuel tax from 24.4 cents per gallon to 18.4 cents per gallon, bringing the federal diesel tax in line with the gasoline tax. The reduction would expire at the end of 2008. Senators McCain and Clinton have also proposed a gas tax holiday. On May 13, the Senate voted 56-42 against the Republican energy plan to open the Alaska wildlife refuge and offshore areas to oil development.
UPS Orders Alternative Fuel Delivery Trucks
UPS Inc is moving towards alternative-fuel vehicles with a new order for 200 diesel-electric hybrid delivery vans and 300 compressed natural gas vans.
The CNG vehicles will go into service this year while the hybrids will be be delivered until 2009.
The 200 hybrids are expected to save 880 gallons per vehicle annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 90%. According to the company this iwll be like pulling over 100 conventional UPS trucks from the road for a year.
The company currently operates more than 800 CNG vehicles and 50 electric-hybrids, according to UPS spokesperson Elizabeth Raspberry.
Freightliner will build the chassis for both the CNG and hybrid vehicles while Eaton will manufacturer the hybrid-electric powertrain.
New "Greener Tomorrow" Program Launched by ATA
American Trucking Associations has launched a new public relations campaign to emphasize and encourage industry improvements in fuel consumption and mileage efficiency. A new website, online video, and brochures provide tips on improving fuel efficiency. Among the tips are:
Enhance maintenance
Watch tire inflation
Take the most direct route
Drive sensilbly
Observe the Speed Limit
Remove Excess Weight
Avoid Excessive Idling
Use Cruise Control
Use Overdrive Gears
In an industry with thin profit margins and escalating fuel costs, increasing fuel efficiency and minimizing fuel consumption are major goals of any trucking company, according to ATA. Those goals coincide with the global need for industries to reduce their carbon footprint and their overall environmental impact.
Visit the new site at www.trucksdeliver.org
California Exempts three Engines from Idling Rule
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has confirmed to Transport Topics that Mack, Cummins and Volvo received certification that their heavy-duty engines meet California’s nitrogen oxide emission standards, providing users an exemption from the state’s five-minute idling regulation. The CARB rule states that 2008 and newer engines must “be equipped with a nonprogrammable engine shutdown system that automatically shuts down the engine after five minutes of idling or optionally meet a stringent oxides of nitrogen idling emission standard.”
Still confused About Fuel Surcharges?
There currently is not a uniform fuel surcharge standard for the trucking industry. Congress introduced HR 5977, which would mandate a 100 percent pass-through of fuel surcharges to whoever actually buys the fuel. However, fuel surcharge rates must be negotiated individually.
Update Your Vehicle Markings if Needed
If you lease to another motor carrier, or have equipment leased to you, take note that Iowa is ticketing trucks that have outdated marking language. The federal safety regulations specify that the truck marking must include the words “operated by” followed by the name of the company with the operating authority for the movement. That’s “operated by” as opposed to “leased to.” You can look it up at 390.21.
