As many companies are starting to see pricing for 2022 truck orders, PMTA has heard from several members about steep and unexpected cost increases. After making some inquiries, PMTA has learned about new California Air Resources Board (CARB) requirements going into effect in Pennsylvania next year that are leading to increases in the price of new trucks purchased in the state.

In a regulation promulgated nearly 20 years ago, Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) adopted CARB’s emissions standards by reference for diesel-powered vehicles weighing over 14,000 lbs. As a result, any time CARB revises its rules, Pennsylvania’s Heavy-Duty Diesel Emissions Control Program automatically updates to adopt the California rules.

As a result, no action is needed on the part of Pennsylvania to adopt CARB requirements going into effect for heavy-duty trucks in the future. This is true for important requirements going into effect in just a few months.

Warranty Provisions for Heavy-Duty Trucks - 2022

For the year 2022, CARB requires the warranty period for emissions controls systems in trucks to be extended significantly. Currently, the warranty period for class 4 through 8 trucks is five years, 100,000 miles or 3,000 operation hours, whichever comes first. Next year, the five-year limit will remain, but the hour limit is eliminated, and the mileage is extended to:

• ·         350,000 miles for class 8 vehicles
• ·         150,000 miles for class 6 and 7 vehicles, and
• ·         110,000 miles for class 4 and 5 vehicles.

The extension of these warranty restrictions is resulting in significant increases in the cost of trucks next year. The warranty requirements for Class 8 trucks will further increase to 600,000 miles in 2031.

PMTA’s understanding is that CARB compliance certification will be necessary for any trucks titled or registered in PA. PMTA is seeking additional clarification and information from DEP and other state resources, and we will provide updates as we have them.

ZEV Requirements for Light-Duty Trucks and Passenger Vehicles - 2026

For passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks under 8,500 lbs, DEP is in the process of drafting regulations to implement CARB’s Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) requirements for these vehicles. The PA Clean Vehicles Program rulemaking, which would require a minimum percentage of vehicles sold in Pennsylvania to be ZEV vehicles, is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2022.

Omnibus Low-NOx Rule for Heavy-Duty Trucks - 2024

Members should be aware that, absent changes, Pennsylvania will also adopt CARB’s Omnibus Low-NOx Rule, which dramatically reduces NOx emissions by overhauling emissions standards, testing procedures, and other emissions-related requirements for heavy-duty engines starting in 2024. There is ongoing concern about the technical feasibility of these requirements, in addition to their cost.

Please note that, even though Pennsylvania was one of 15 states to sign onto CARB’s Advanced Clean Truck Regulation in 2020, this step would not be automatic, but would require DEP to promulgate new regulations through a public process. The Advanced Clean Truck Regulation would require that by 2045, every truck sold in Pennsylvania be zero-emission.

PMTA continues to monitor these regulatory changes and will keep members informed.

Harrisburg, PA  – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is seeking motorists’ input on traffic safety and driving behaviors through its annual online Highway Safety Survey found at www.PennDOT.gov/Safety.

“Safety is our top priority and we value continued public engagement in making our roadways safer,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “The results from this annual survey help us gauge participants’ attitudes on highway safety, and potentially allow us to adjust our safety activities so we can further reduce crashes and fatalities.”

The survey is available on PennDOT’s website through August 23 and should take about five minutes to complete. All responses, including the “comments” fields, are anonymous.

Nearly 8,000 people responded to last year’s survey, answering questions about safety habits such as seat belt use, impaired driving, speeding, and distracted driving. Notably, nearly 91 percent of respondents said they always wear a seat belt and approximately 88 percent said they never drive while impaired. When asked how often they choose to exceed the posted speed limit, nearly 84 percent of respondents said they speed at least some of the time.

“Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to react to changing traffic or road conditions,” said Gramian. “It puts you, your passengers, and others on the road at risk. Slow down, be safe.”

For more information on our highway safety efforts, visit www.PennDOT.gov/Safety.

Harrisburg, PA -- On Saturday, drivers from around the state of Pennsylvania competed in a virtual trivia contest based on the Facts for Drivers Books and some Pennsylvania Trivia. The event served as a virtual stand-in for the Annual Truck Driving Championships. 

The Top 10 competitors have qualified to participate in the National Championship, scheduled for August 14, hosted by the American Trucking Associations.

The Top 10 finishers for the Pennsylvania State Competition were:

1. Ron Emenheiser – Walmart  
2. William Bennett – T Force  
3. Eric Valentine – Pitt Ohio 
4. Dante Volpe – Pitt Ohio 
5. Ashlynn Samuels  -- Typhon Transport 
6. Terry Wood – Walmart 
7. Chad Keefer – FedEx Ground 
8. Philip Warwick – Pitt Ohio 
9. Nick Brennis – Typhon Transport 
10. Steve DeRosa – Werner Enterprises

The top four places earned cash prizes in addition to a 65" Smart TV (First place) and tickets to Hershey Park (Second place).

PMTA would like to thank its generous sponsors for their support of the event.

Marcello & Kivisto, LLC
ECBM
Pitt Ohio

Good Luck to all of our Pennsylvania Drivers in the national championships. 

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that the Transportation Revenue Options Commission (TROC) has submitted its report to Governor Tom Wolf and the General Assembly.

You can read PennDOT's press release here and you can read President and CEO Rebecca Oyler's full response here, but an excerpt is below. 

“TROC was given a list of potential taxes and fees to increase to close PennDOT’s funding gap, and PMTA is disappointed to see the final report essentially recommends ‘all of the above,’ without weighing the unintended consequences of many of these increases, particularly for commercial motor vehicles.

“The final report should not be viewed as a comprehensive plan that balances various state interests to fund our transportation system,” Oyler said.  “Instead, TROC’s report is a list of potential options, among others, that can be considered by members of the General Assembly as they weigh the consequences of policy choices and their impact on the state’s economy.”

Funding options in the report include:

Road Use Charges

• Mileage-Based User Fee (MBUF) – 8.1-cents per-mile on all miles travelled in PA
• Electric Vehicle (EV) MBUF Pilot

Tolling

• Corridor Tolling – Toll Interstates/expressways based on distance traveled along that highway
• Managed Lanes (Limited Lane Tolling) – Toll additional lanes on a highway where the traffic is regulated by charging a toll or by encouraging carpooling

Redirection of Funding

• A State Police Funding – Eliminate transfers from Motor License Fund to PSP

Fees

• Vehicle Registration Fee – Increase all vehicle registration fees 100%
• Electric Vehicle Fee – Introduce a $250 fee for EVs and eliminate the Alternative Fuels Tax on EVs
• Vehicle Lease Fee – Increase current rate from 3% to 5%
• Aircraft Registration Fee – Introduce a $50 registration fee for all aircraft in PA
• Transportation Network Company Fee – Establish a $1.10 per-trip fee on all TNCs and taxis in PA
• Vehicle Rental Fee – Increase current fee per rental from $2 to $5
• Goods Delivery Fee – Establish a $1 fee on all deliveries to an end point in PA

Taxes

• Vehicle Sales Tax – Increase tax from 6% to 8% (PGH and Phil rates would increase from 7% to 9% and from 8% to 10% respectively)
• Gas Tax – Index gas tax to inflation
• Jet Fuel Tax – Increase tax from 1.5 cents to 4 cents per gallon

Other

• Ad Valorem (Value-Based) Vehicle Tax – Tax passenger vehicles annually based on their current value
• Reduction to Registration Fees with Ad Valorem – Offset to vehicle registration increases on passenger vehicles with an Ad Valorem tax
• Elimination of Gas Tax with full MBUF – Replace most of gas tax proceeds with MBUF in Phase 3

“I was honored to have served on the Transportation Revenue Options Commission (TROC) and appreciate Governor Tom Wolf and PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian recognizing the important perspective the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association brings to this critical conversation,” said Rebecca Oyler, President and CEO. 

“Pennsylvania roads and bridges are our workplaces, so we know how important it is to ensure sustainable funding to keep our infrastructure up-to-date and in good repair. However, we have to recognize that there are tradeoffs that come with every funding option, and serious consideration must be given to the real-world impacts of the recommendations. The final report lacks this analysis.

“TROC was given a list of potential taxes and fees to increase to close PennDOT’s funding gap, and PMTA is disappointed to see the final report essentially recommends ‘all of the above,’ without weighing the unintended consequences of many of these increases, particularly for commercial motor vehicles.

“Pennsylvania is already the third most expensive state in the nation in which to operate a truck. Doubling registration fees, increasing fuel and vehicle sales taxes, and tolling interstates will likely be enough to put us in first place, not to mention the other cost increases on the list. This dubious distinction would make it nearly impossible for Pennsylvania trucking companies to compete with those in other states. It will also increase costs across the board for in-state manufacturers, farmers, other businesses, and consumers that rely on trucks to transport their goods. Unintended consequences like this are not addressed by the TROC report.

“The final report should not be viewed as a comprehensive plan that balances various state interests to fund our transportation system,” Oyler said.  “Instead, TROC’s report is a list of potential options, among others, that can be considered by members of the General Assembly as they weigh the consequences of policy choices and their impact on the state’s economy.” Funding options in the report include:

Road Use Charges

• Mileage-Based User Fee (MBUF) – 8.1-cents per-mile on all miles travelled in PA
• Electric Vehicle (EV) MBUF Pilot

Tolling

• Corridor Tolling – Toll Interstates/expressways based on distance traveled along that highway
• Managed Lanes (Limited Lane Tolling) – Toll additional lanes on a highway where the traffic is regulated by charging a toll or by encouraging carpooling

Redirection of Funding

• A State Police Funding – Eliminate transfers from Motor License Fund to PSP

Fees

• Vehicle Registration Fee – Increase all vehicle registration fees 100%
• Electric Vehicle Fee – Introduce a $250 fee for EVs and eliminate the Alternative Fuels Tax on EVs
• Vehicle Lease Fee – Increase current rate from 3% to 5%
• Aircraft Registration Fee – Introduce a $50 registration fee for all aircraft in PA
• Transportation Network Company Fee – Establish a $1.10 per-trip fee on all TNCs and taxis in PA
• Vehicle Rental Fee – Increase current fee per rental from $2 to $5
• Goods Delivery Fee – Establish a $1 fee on all deliveries to an end point in PA

Taxes

• Vehicle Sales Tax – Increase tax from 6% to 8% (PGH and Phil rates would increase from 7% to 9% and from 8% to 10% respectively)
• Gas Tax – Index gas tax to inflation
• Jet Fuel Tax – Increase tax from 1.5 cents to 4 cents per gallon

Other

• Ad Valorem (Value-Based) Vehicle Tax – Tax passenger vehicles annually based on their current value
• Reduction to Registration Fees with Ad Valorem – Offset to vehicle registration increases on passenger vehicles with an Ad Valorem tax
• Elimination of Gas Tax with full MBUF – Replace most of gas tax proceeds with MBUF in Phase 3

The TROC report proposes a phased approach with near-, medium-, and long-term proposals to address shortfalls in funding levels. To address declines in fuel tax revenues over time, the report calls for a Mileage Based User Fee (MBUF) in the long term to fully align revenues with identified needs of $18.15 billion – requiring an additional $9.5 billion annually within the next five years to close the projected gap.

“Such a drastic increase in funding for infrastructure over a short period of time may outstrip the capacity of our industries to manage these projects, especially with the current labor shortage affecting many, trucking included,” said Oyler. “This must be weighed against the extensive tax and fee increases included in the recommendations. A more balanced approach would advance revenue strategies as capacity grows.”

PMTA continues to be concerned about the lack of transparency and oversight in PennDOT’s Public-Private Partnership process, which has been used to pursue tolling of nine bridges across the state. PMTA supports Senator Wayne Langerholc’s (R-Cambria) SB 382, which would require P3 projects to undergo a full public review process and legislative approval. This would require the TROC’s recommended corridor tolling and managed lane tolling to be fully and transparently considered before being implemented.

PMTA looks forward to continuing discussions with the administration and the General Assembly on ensuring responsible and sustainable funding for our transportation infrastructure without disproportionately impacting industries as critical to the state economy as trucking.

 The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) announces an opportunity to apply for $3 million in grants offered through the Truck and Bus Fleet Grant Program (Program) (formerly Class 8 Truck and Transit Bus Grant Program), one of the programs under the Driving PA Forward Initiative. This funding is available for eligible diesel emission reduction projects that will improve air quality and protect public health and the environment by reducing emissions from diesel-powered vehicles and engines.

 The Department is seeking applications for projects that will replace or repower eligible diesel-powered Class 4—8 trucks, school buses, shuttle buses or transit buses. The majority of the fleet's annual operation time must occur within this Commonwealth. Public and private entities that operate eligible diesel-powered vehicles throughout the State should apply. These entities may include school districts, municipal authorities, political subdivisions, State agencies, nonprofit entities, corporations, limited liability companies or partnerships incorporated or registered in this Commonwealth, air quality or transportation organizations, and metropolitan or rural planning organizations.

 The Department will not reimburse grant recipients for project costs incurred prior to the grant performance period set forth in the applicable grant agreement.

 The Program guidelines and application instructions are available on the Department's Driving PA Forward webpage at www.depgis.state.pa.us/DrivingPAForward/ or by contacting the Bureau of Air Quality (Bureau) at [email protected] or (717) 787-9495.

 A recorded presentation providing an overview of the Program and application process will be available on the Department's Driving PA Forward web site during the application period. Applicants can contact the Bureau at [email protected] or (717) 787-9495 with questions or to request clarification about the presentation or Program documents.

 Applications must be submitted online through the Commonwealth's Electronic Single Application web site, eGrants, at www.esa.dced.state.pa.us/Login.aspx. Applications are now being accepted. Applications must be received by 4 p.m. on October 9, 2021, at which time the Department will review and score applications.

Availability of Rebates through the Driving PA Forward Onroad Rebate Program

 The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) announces an opportunity to apply for $6 million in rebates offered through the Onroad Rebate Program (Program), one of the programs under the Driving PA Forward Initiative. This funding is available for diesel vehicle replacement and repower projects that will improve air quality and protect public health and the environment by reducing emissions from older diesel vehicles.

 The Department is seeking applications for projects that will replace or repower eligible diesel-powered Class 4—8 trucks, school buses, shuttle buses or transit buses. The new vehicles or engines may be powered by clean diesel, electric, natural gas, propane or other alternative fuels. Eligible applicants include school districts, municipal authorities, political subdivisions, other State agencies, nonprofit entities, corporations, limited liability companies or partnerships incorporated or registered in this Commonwealth, air quality or transportation organizations, and metropolitan or rural planning organizations.

 The Department will not reimburse rebate recipients for project costs incurred prior to the date of the rebate application, unless otherwise noted.

 The Program guidelines and application instructions are available on the Department's Driving PA Forward webpage at www.depgis.state.pa.us/DrivingPAForward/ or by contacting the Bureau of Air Quality (Bureau) at [email protected] or (717) 787-9495.

 A recorded presentation providing an overview of the Program and application process will be available on the Department's Driving PA Forward web site during the application period. Applicants can contact the Bureau at [email protected] or (717) 787-9495 with questions or to request clarification about the presentation or Program documents.

 Applications must be submitted online through the Commonwealth's Electronic Single Application web site, eGrants, at www.esa.dced.state.pa.us/Login.aspx. The application period for this round of funding is now open. The Department will close the application period following the issuance of $6 million in vouchers, or at 4 p.m. on November 12, 2021, whichever occurs first. The Department will accept, review and approve completed applications for rebates on a first-come, first-served basis.

HARRISBURG, PA. — The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) approved a 5% toll increase for 2022 for both E-ZPass and TOLL BY PLATE customers on July 6. The increase is slated to start at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 2, 2022 and will be effective across the entire system except on the Southern Beltway (PA Turnpike 576) west of Pittsburgh. E-ZPass drivers will continue to receive the lowest toll rates across the PA Turnpike, with some customers saving nearly 60%. Non-E-ZPass customers can now download the PA TOLL PAY smartphone app to create an autopay account and receive 15% savings on their monthly TOLL BY PLATE invoices. Like all previous annual increases since 2009, the measure is generally required to meet escalating debt-service costs resulting from the PTC’s payments to the Commonwealth of PA for transit operations under Pennsylvania Acts 44 and 89. This year, however, there is one significant difference: Under those statutes, the PTC plans to make its final annual payment of $450 million later this month. “Today’s action is the first time in six years that the rate of increase is under 6%,” explained PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “Starting in July 2022, our transit funding requirement to PennDOT under Act 44 of 2007 will be cut to $50 million annually. Finally, we are seeing a light at the end of this very long tunnel. In addition to breathing a huge sigh of relief ourselves, it enables us to begin to offer some relief to customers from those heftier toll increases and refocus on essential improvements to our roadway.” Beginning in July 2022, the $400 million in annual transit funding that had been provided by the PTC will be funded by the Commonwealth’s Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax (MVSUT) as prescribed by Act 89 of 2013. Act 89, however, does not eliminate the Commission’s debt, future debt service or funding obligation. Even with this much-needed relief, the PTC is still responsible for annual payments to PennDOT of $50 million until June 2057, and it must continue to pay down debt incurred from previous borrowing needed to fund Act 44 payments. “The Act 44 sunsetting spelled out in Act 89 of 2013 is critical if the PTC is to remain fiscally sound as an organization and for the economic vitality of Turnpike-connected communities,” Compton explained. “But it’s important for customers understand that, even with the reduced obligation, we are still looking at annual toll increases of 5% from through 2025, 4% in 2026, 3.5% in 2027, then 3% annually from 2028 to 2050.” Because of borrowing required by the Act 44 funding plan, the PTC currently has annual Act 44 debt-service obligations of nearly $400 million. Due to the terms of these bonds, the PTC’s Act 44 debt service will continue to rise even though borrowing has ended. Act 44 debt service will grow to an annual maximum of nearly $600 million by 2038 before it starts to decrease. Because of today’s action, the most-common toll for a passenger vehicle next year will increase from $1.60 to $1.70 for E-ZPass customers and from $3.90 to $4.10 for TOLL BY PLATE customers. The most common toll for a Class-5 tractor trailer will increase from $13 to $13.70 for E-ZPass and from $26.60 to $28 for TOLL BY PLATE. The cashless toll for a passenger vehicle at the westbound Delaware River Bridge will increase from $6.10 to $6.50 for E-ZPass customers and from $8.20 to $8.70 for those who use PA Turnpike TOLL BY PLATE. The PTC also approved the toll-rate schedule for the opening of the Southern Beltway slated for October. Tolls for the Southern Beltway will include the application of the 45% additional charge that is in place on the Turnpike system. However, there will be no January 2022 toll increase for the Southern Beltway. The PTC first started making Act 44 payments to PennDOT in August 2007. It has increased tolls annually since 2009, providing $7.45 billion in toll-backed funding to PennDOT in 14 years. After the 2022 increase is applied, E-ZPass and TOLL BY PLATES rates for both passenger and commercial vehicles will round up to the next dime. The PTC will post a 2022 trip calculator and toll schedule online this fall. Visit https://www.paturnpike.com/toll/tollmileage.aspx.

King of Prussia, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today joined the Pennsylvania State Police and municipal police departments to kick off a statewide aggressive driving mobilization that runs through August 22.

The enforcement wave will focus on red light running, tailgating, pedestrian safety, and heavy truck violations. State police, along with over 80 municipal police departments from Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, will take part in the wave to target motorists exhibiting other unsafe behaviors such as driving too fast for conditions, following too closely, or other aggressive actions will also be cited. 

Law enforcement will use traffic enforcement zones, saturation patrols, speed enforcement details, corridor enforcement, work zone enforcement, and multi-jurisdictional patrol strategies to identify and cite aggressive drivers. 

Municipal police agencies that participated in last year’s campaign wrote 43,349 citations, including 22,353 for speeding, 1,003 for occupant protection violations, 3,077 for red light violations, and 126 impaired driving arrests.  

The enforcement is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Aggressive Driving Enforcement and Education Project. It is funded by part of the department’s investment of federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

If you encounter an aggressive driver, PennDOT offers these tips:

• Get out of their way and don't challenge them.
• Stay relaxed, avoid eye contact, and ignore rude gestures.
• Don't block the passing lane if you are driving slower than most of the traffic.

To learn more about aggressive driving and other PennDOT safety initiatives, visit www.penndot.gov/safety. 

PennDOT’s media center offers resources for safety organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders. Social-media-sized graphics highlighting topics such as seat belts, impaired driving, and distracted driving can be found online at www.PennDOT.gov in the “Media Center” under the “About Us” footer. 

This year’s Operation Safe Driver Week will take place July 11-17 with an emphasis on speeding. During Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement personnel will be on the lookout for commercial motor vehicle drivers and passenger vehicle drivers engaging in risky driving behaviors in or around a commercial motor vehicle. Identified unsafe drivers will be pulled over and issued a citation or warning.

“Data shows that traffic stops and interactions with law enforcement help reduce problematic driving behaviors,” said Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) President Sgt. John Samis with the Delaware State Police. “By making contact with drivers during Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement personnel aim to make our roadways safer by targeting high-risk driving behaviors.”

CVSA selected speeding as its focus this year because despite a drop in roadway travel last year due to the pandemic, nationally, traffic fatalities increased. According to the National Safety Council’s (NSC) preliminary estimates, the estimated rate of death on roads last year increased 24% over the previous 12-month period, despite miles driven dropping 13%. The increase in the rate of death is the highest estimated year-over-year jump NSC has calculated in 96 years.

In addition to speeding, law enforcement personnel will be tracking other dangerous driver behaviors throughout Operation Safe Driver Week, such as reckless or aggressive driving, distracted driving, following too closely, improper lane change, failure to obey traffic control devices, failure to use a seat belt, evidence of drunk or drugged driving, etc.

CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Program was created to help to reduce the number of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles and passenger vehicles due to unsafe driving behaviors. Operation Safe Driver Week is sponsored by CVSA, in partnership with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and with support from the motor carrier industry and transportation safety organizations. This initiative aims to improve the behavior of all drivers operating in an unsafe manner – either in or around commercial motor vehicles – through educational and traffic enforcement strategies.

To find out about Operation Safe Driver Week enforcement events in your area, contact the agency or department responsible for overseeing commercial motor vehicle safety in your area.