Category Archives: trucking

Lege TREND. 3Legislative and Regulatory Ways to Address Trucker Shortage

Where: Missouri Governor Parson looks to address trucker shortage

Legislative & Regulatory Options for getting more truckers on the roads:

  • No penalties for unpaid child support. Allow licenses to continue when there is unpaid child support. Legislative change.
  • Train Inmates. Inmates should be able to train as truckers while they serve time
  • Utilize state trucks for training. Missouri Department of Transportation trucks could be used in lieu of simulators for training drivers

US News & World…

3 Reasons Trucking Association Opposes State Highway Tolls

 Motor Transport Association of Connecticut opposes a toll road study because:

  • studies have already been done
  • funds should go to infrastructure not studies
  • oppose tolls and motor fuel tax increases

 

Background on Toll Study:

  • Created by Executive Order
  • Approved by the state’s Bond Commission
  • Will study how much revenue adding tolls to Connecticut highways
  • Supporters say it would be $1 B in annual revenue

Freight Waves | State trucking association pushes back against need for tolls in…

Lege TREND Moving Trucking Regulators in the Indian Blanket Flower State

State: Oklahoma

The trucking proposal: Move trucking regulatory adjudication from the Oklahoma Corportion Commission to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety

Oklahoma Trucking Association: Gave the appearance of opposition without stating opposition

Opposition included:

  • Linking the bill author to his role as a “oboard member of HELP, a non-profit that owns PrePass, which has developed products that enable trucks to be weighed by means other than the traditional weight station.”
  • Reduce…

TX Attorney General Opinion. Big Trucks. Overweight Truck Enforcement. 4 Key Points.

Texas Attorney General Opinion, KP-0189, answers this question from the Liberty County Attorney:

Whether an elected constable and deputy constables may simultaneously serve under the sheriff, specifically to perform tasks related to the duties of a weight- enforcement officer under Transportation Code chapter 621 

What does the Opinion say?

  • A Sheriff’s deputy is specifically listed in Chapter 621 of the Transportation Code to serve as wieght-enforcement officers & there is no prohibition of…

4 Limitations. Direct Sales Bill for Manufacturers Sent to Governor in the Sego Lilly State. LEGE TRENDING

State: Utah

Background: HB 369 MOTOR VEHICLE FRANCHISE AMENDMENTS

  • 2015 Tesla builds showroom
  • State denies Tesla the ability to sell vehicles directly
  • Utah State Supreme Court Agrees
  • 2018 Legislative Action

The 2018 Utah Compromise for Direct Manufacturer Sales:

  • Limits direct sales to:
    • electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles or other non-fossil fuel vehicles
    • cars and trucks less than 14,000 lbs
    • companies domiciled in the US
    • whose chief officers direct, control, and…

Regulatory Trend. Trucking. Trucks only Roads. The What. The How. The Why.

The What: Georgia Transportation Commission is proposing a truck only highway that stretches 40 miles from metro Atlanta to Macon

The How: Either with federal funds or only using state funds at a total cost of  $1.8 billion

The Why:  To reduce traffic congestion by an estiamted 40%

The opposition:

  •  The U.S. Public Interest Research Group says its a gamble of taxpayer money

WHNT 19 | No cars allowed: Georgia considers highway just for trucks

TX Attorney General Opinion Watch. Manufacturers vs. Dealers.

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles has requested an Attorney General opinion as to whether a dealer that performs manufacturer warranty repair violates the Occupations Code.

Why? A manufacturer or distributor cannot act like a dealer under Texas law.

Again, why? Texas Automobile Dealer Association filed a complaint with TX DMV claiming Cummins South Plains LLC violated this separation by performing manufacturer warranty repair work on diesel engines

Where is the legislative clean up likely?  …

Gas Tax Trend. 3 Points Supporting Show Me State Gas Tax Increase. Read the Bill.

Legislative Gusto:  Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee & vice-chair of the 21st Century Missouri Transportation System Task Force filed SB 734  to raise the gas tax

Support for the gas tax increase:  

  • Likely to come from a recommendation of the 21st Century Missouri Transportation System Task Force, 23-member task force of state officials and private citizens.
  • the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association calls it the most equitable funding approach
  • Mayors in 27 cities…

TREND. EV Truck Platooning. 4 Key Points.

  • Tesla is set to unviel its electric self driving truck in Novmeber 2017
  • The economics of truck driving has shown the greatest efficiency with a platoon of trucks
    • 7-8 trucks driving in close proximity
    • effectively reduces diesel costs for regular trucks and can reduce battery use
  • Long range (900 mile) EV trucks are thought to be cost prohibitive unless robotic battery changing (not charging) stations are available
  • Self driving electric trucks will focus on short range trips

MIT…

TEXAS INTERIM CHARGES. 10 Transportation Charges. Energy. Trade. Tech.

House Committee on International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs 

#2 Transportation Barriers to Trade.  Review the current state of infrastructure at Texas’ international shipping ports and border ports of entry in Texas. Identify transportation-related impediments to international trade and estimate the impact of those challenges, including border wait times, on the state’s economy. Make recommendations for improvements to facilitate international trade and economic growth. (Joint charge…