MINNESOTA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION

From the Newsroom

MTA Plays Key Role in New Model Motor Carrier/Broker Agreements. With Department of Justice (DOJ) approval, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) has released its long-awaited model agreements for structuring motor carrier and broker contractual relationships.

Unified Carrier Registration FAQs

Fraudulent Letter Alert. There has been another round of fraudulent letters issued to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) contractors and potential contractors purporting to be issued by DOT. 

MTA Scholarship Program Closed. The Minnesota Trucking Association Scholarship Program is now closed for the 2008-2009 school year.

ATA Calls on the Administration and Congress to Address the Fuel Price Crisis. In efforts to address the trucking industry’s concerns about rising fuel prices, the American Trucking Associations is calling upon the Bush Administration to address the fuel price crisis situation and move immediately to take steps to increase the diesel fuel supply.

FMCSA Extends Comment Period for Rule on Entry-Level Driver Training. On December 26, 2007 the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released in the Federal Register a proposed rule that would establish more stringent requirements in regards to entry-level driver training (ELDT).

Hours-of-Service Update. The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a terse order today (January 24) denying Public Citizen’s request to invalidate the recently issued hours-of-service (HOS) Interim Final Rule (IFR).

Truck-Involved Fatal Crash Statistics Fall to All-Time Low. Newly released Federal Highway Administration vehicle mileage figures, used to determine annual crash rates, showed that the large truck-involvement rate in fatal crashes, the fatality rate and the fatal crash rate for large trucks each declined to its lowest level since the U.S. Department of Transportation began tracking large truck safety records in 1975.

PHMSA Issues New Rule on E-85. The USDOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration recently issued HM-218D, the rule that includes a new shipping name and ID number for E-85 and other issues. A two year transition period is provided. The rule also revises the HMR to allow the use of the shipping name "gasoline" for blends with not more than 10% ethanol. The rule clarifies cargo tank marking requirements for multi-compartment tanks with both E-85 and gasoline. Review the discussion on these topics in III, A, starting on page 4700, of the linked document: PHMSA HM-218D

New PHMSA Interpretation on Biodiesel Proper Shipping Description. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has released a letter that revises the 2006 interpretation on the shipping name for diesel fuel/biodiesel blends.

State Contractors Must Now Use E-Verify for New Hires. Effective January 29, 2008, vendors and subcontractors that do business with the State of Minnesota (by order of the Governor’s Executive Order 08-01) MUST certify compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) and certify use of the E-Verify system established by the Department of Homeland Security. E-Verify program information can be found at http://www.dhs.gov/ximgtn/programs.

DOLI Establishes Truck Rental Rates. On December 24, 2007 the Departmnet of Labor and Industry (DOLI) determined the operating costs and the minimum truck rental rates for highway projects in the state’s ten highway and heavy construction areas for trucks and drivers operating “four or more axle units, straight body
trucks,” “three axle units,” “tractor only,” and “tractor trailers.” View the complete report here.

Jorgensen Named Minnesota’s Top Truck Driver. The Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) named David Jorgensen, a professional truck driver for Windom-based Fortune Transportation, as the Minnesota’s 2007 Truck Driver of the Year.

MTA Response to Negative Pioneer Press Column Printed on November 20. In his commentary of November 8 (Cure for $100 crude? Raise taxes on big rigs), Ed Lotterman recycles some of the anti-truck arguments that have been made for years, – but fail to recognize today’s economic reality. 

MTA Provides Motor Carrier Safety and Compliance Curriculum Online. The Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) is partnering with AdvanceOnline Solutions, Inc. to provide web-based curriculum approved by the U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to MTA members.