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
UCRA Board Revises Guidance
The Board of Directors of the Unified Carrier Registration Agreement has issued a revised set of questions and answers about the UCRA program. The document, approved by the Board on May 8, is posted on the national website carriers use to register for UCRA.
May 30 , 2008
Key Lawmakers Support ATA Proposal on Drug and Alochol Clearinghouse
Representatives Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), John Mica (R-Fla.) and Peter
DeFazio (D-Ore.) announced recently that they plan to introduce legislation
aimed at establishing a national clearinghouse of positive drug tests
results and requiring motor carries to check the system as part of the
hiring process; increasing oversight over collection facilities to ensure
they comply with U.S. Department of Transportation regulations for testing
of commercial drivers; and strengthening enforcement over motor carriers
without a drug testing program, with an emphasis on new entrant carriers.
These Representatives also indicated a need to ban products that are
marketed for the sole purpose of subverting a drug test.
ATA has been urging DOT and Congressional action for years
on a national clearinghouse and applauds Representatives Oberstar, Mica
and DeFazio as they stand ready to take legislative action.
ATA is urging Congress to take swift action to authorize and fund a national
database of drug and alcohol testing results of commercial drivers to
make a good testing program even better.
Also, consistent with GAO’s recommendations, ATA is asking Congress
to ban the manufacture, sale and distribution of products that help some
drivers evade drug tests; provide for penalties for those who use them;
and provide the U.S. Department of Transportation with additional authority
to improve oversight of specimen collection facilities and practices.
To further improve the drug testing process, ATA also is urging
Congress to direct the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
and the U.S. DOT to initiate a rulemaking that allows the testing of
alternative specimens such as hair. Hair testing allows illegal drug
use to be detected for a longer period of time.
ATA is also calling on the U.S. DOT to issue a new regulation creating
a tougher audit process and enhanced penalties for new carriers entering
the trucking business.
On May 21 the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a new report
on DOT drug testing issues entitled, “Improvements to Drug Testing
Programs Could Better Identify Illegal Drug Users and Keep Them off the
Road.” The
full GAO report can be found at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08600.pdf.
Missouri Motor Carriers Association Pushes Indemnification Bill
Missouri Motor Carriers Association (MMCA) successfully pushed through an omnibus
transportation bill that included language prohibiting indemnification clauses
in motor carrier
transportation contracts that require one party to indemnify and hold harmless
a second
party’s negligence or wrongful acts. Members may remember that a
similar bill introduced by the Association in Santa Fe passed the House unanimously,
passed every Senate Committee unanimously and was held over on the floor of the
Senate for 11 days and died because of inaction on the part of the Senate. We
will try again!!!!!
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
House Clears Measure to Eliminating FET on APUs
The House of Representatives passed legislation (H.R. 6049) that would provide an ATA-supported exemption from the 12 percent federal excise tax for the cost of idling reduction units such as auxiliary power units (APUs). The language would also exempt the installation of advanced insulation for refrigerated vehicles. H.R. 6049, the Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 passed the House by a vote of 263-160 and would provide approximately $20 billion of tax incentives for investment in renewable energy, carbon capture and sequestration demonstration projects, energy efficiency and conservation. The Senate will begin consideration of similar legislation immediately after it returns from the Memorial Day recess.
TSA Terminates Highway Watch® Call Center
The Federal Emergency Management Administration and the Transportation Safety Administration have communicated to the American Trucking Associations that they will allow the contract with Senture to expire at the end of May, effectively terminating the program as it exists today. Senture operates the incident reporting line (877-USA-SAFE) and provides data and fulfillment services for Highway Watch®. Texas was one of many states across the country actively participating in the program. Earlier this month, the U.S. department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded the FY 2008 Trucking Security Grant Program funds to HMS Company, which leads a team that includes OOIDA and the Teamsters. It is not yet known how the new awardees intend to use the funds.
Great Turnout for Trucking Forum in Farmington
Upward of 89 people showed up to interface with the FMCSA, the NM DMV, the NM Motor Transportation Division and the Public Regulation Commission representative present at this meeting. There was some lively debate on issues that affect carriers and drivers in this region of our state. Future meetings will be held in Hobbs on Thursday June 12, Albuquerque on Tuesday July 8 (this has changed from original date) and possibly a fourth meeting at a later date in the Las Cruces area. Look for details on the NMTA website
