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  • January 24, 2022 8:49 AM | Anonymous

    ATA is recruiting motor carriers of all types and sizes to participate in its latest Driver Compensation Study. Last conducted in 2020, the study will be used to comprehensively evaluate trends in driver compensation. The participation of State Trucking Association members is integral to the success of study, so we hope you will encourage your members to participate to produce this one-of-a-kind benchmarking tool that will yield valuable information on driver pay.

    Previous studies covered data from over 140,000 employee drivers and nearly 17,000 independent contractors, with data broken down by For-Hire TL carriers, LTL carriers and Private fleets. Survey participants will receive the comprehensive Driver Compensation Study for just $100 ($1,500 for non-participants), a free executive summary prior to the release of the report and an invitation to a participant-only, free of charge webinar hosted by ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello to discuss the results of the study and answer questions. This year’s Driver Compensation Study will be released in the second quarter of 2022.

    If you are interested in participating, please download the survey below that best describes your carrier (TL, LTL, Private Carrier), complete the survey, and return it to ATA's economic analyst Lindsay Bur at [email protected] by Friday, February 25th

    Optional: Carriers also have the option to sign a non disclosure agreement if they so choose. Please download, sign, and return the non disclosure agreement below with your completed survey. All data will be held in the strictest of confidence and no individual company data will be released. Only industry and sector aggregate data will be reported.  


  • January 21, 2022 7:41 AM | Anonymous

    The Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association is now accepting applications for drivers to join the PA Road Team.

    The applications, which can be downloaded here, must be mailed to the office in Camp Hill.

    Please see below for the requirements.

    Eligibility Requirements for consideration to PMTA Road team

    1. Candidates must be currently employed as a full-time truck driver, either as a company driver or independent owner-operator.
    2. Candidates must have an outstanding safety record. A minimum three years accident, citation, and violation free is recommended
    3. Candidates, if selected, must be willing to support PMTA events, (No Zone Demonstrations, Youth Driving Championships, PA State Police Familiarization, PMTA Safety Conference, etc.) spending from one to five days per event.
    4. Candidates must be able to clearly and convincingly communicate their commitment to safety and professionalism.
    5. The nominating company must be a full and current dues paying member of the PMTA.
    6. The nominator must either be a motor carrier executive with the authority to commit his or her company’s support of the program, or a self-sponsored owner-operator. The nominator must confirm before returning the application that the candidate is willing to participate in the program
    7. PMTA will pay all travel expenses associated with PMTA arranged Road Team appearances. The nominating company must be willing to continue to pay full salary and provide benefits to the driver. This would include time spent traveling for and representing the PMTA. In the case of an owner-operator, the company must be willing to pay the driver’s overhead costs, plus an additional sum equivalent to their profit per day for each day traveling for PMTA.
    8. An independent owner-operator who is a dues paying member of PMTA may act as both a nominating company and candidate. PMTA will pay all travel costs but will not be responsible for compensating a self-sponsored owner-operator for lost profits while traveling for the PMTA Road team.
    9. After the individual is nominated, it is the nominator’s responsibility to immediately notify PMTA if the candidate becomes ineligible at any time during the selection process
    10. A candidate and nominator/company must be prepared, if selected as a finalist, to provide a copy of the paperwork to PMTA prior to traveling to PMTA headquarters in Camp Hill, PA for the selection process. This paperwork, which will be shipped to all finalists, is mandatory for consideration to become a Pennsylvania Motor Truck Road Team Captain
    11. The official length of term for PMTA Road Team Captain shall be for two years. However, Road Team Captains will always be considered a Road Team captain, if he/she remains in good standing. Road Team Captains may be asked to mentor new Road Team Captains and/or support PMTA events when needed.


  • January 13, 2022 2:47 PM | Anonymous

    Arlington, Virginia – Today, the American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay of the Biden Administration’s vaccine-or-test mandate for employers:


    “Today, ATA has won a tremendous victory on behalf of the trucking industry and workers and employers everywhere. Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court validates our claim that OSHA far overstepped its authority in issuing an emergency temporary standard that would interfere with individuals’ private health care decisions.

    “Trucking has been on the front lines throughout the pandemic – delivering PPE, medical supplies, food, clothing, fuel, and even the vaccines themselves. Thanks to this ruling, our industry will continue to deliver critical goods, as our nation recovers from the pandemic and we move our economy forward.”
  • January 13, 2022 8:51 AM | Anonymous

    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration released updated FAQs on the vaccine-or-test Emergency Temporary Standard and its applicability to commercial truck drivers. 

    In the new FAQ, OSHA answers Does the vaccine-or-test Emergency Temporary Standard apply to truck drivers in this way:

    There is no specific exemption from the standard’s requirements for truck drivers. However, paragraph (b)(3) provides that, even where the standard applies to a particular employer, its requirements do not apply to employees “who do not report to a workplace where other individuals such as coworkers or customers are present” or employees “who work exclusively outdoors.” Therefore, the requirements of the ETS do not apply to truck drivers who do not occupy vehicles with other individuals as part of their work duties. Additionally, the requirements of the ETS do not apply to truck drivers who encounter other individuals exclusively in outdoor environments. On the other hand, the requirements of the ETS apply to truck drivers who work in teams (e.g., two people in a truck cab) or who must routinely enter buildings where other people are present. However, de minimis use of indoor spaces where other individuals may be present (e.g., using a multi-stall bathroom, entering an administrative office only to drop off paperwork) does not preclude an employee from being covered by these exemptions, as long as time spent indoors is brief, or occurs exclusively in the employee’s home (e.g., a lunch break at home). OSHA will look at cumulative time spent indoors to determine whether that time is de minimis.

    Even when the requirements of the ETS do not apply to specific truck drivers pursuant to paragraph (b)(3), those truck drivers are still counted for purposes of the 100-employee threshold for coverage under paragraph (b)(1) of the ETS. 

    The ATA and several other state associations are currently involved in a lawsuit that would remove the ETS and expect a final judgement from the Supreme Court soon. You can view this toolkit from the ATA to help prepare for compliance with the ETS.


  • January 10, 2022 11:04 AM | Anonymous

    By execution of this Emergency Declaration, motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts transporting heating fuel, including propane, natural gas, and heating oil, into the Affected States (which includes Pennsylvania) are granted emergency relief from 49 CFR § 395.3, maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles, subject to the restrictions and conditions set forth herein.

    Please see Emergency Declaration for complete details.

    https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/esc-wsc-ssc-msc-regional-emergency-declaration-2022-001-heating-fuel-01-07-2022

    Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions and Permits

    https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency-declarations


  • December 23, 2021 10:46 AM | Anonymous

    Do you use 322 West to State College as a part of your business? Take this brief survey about potential changes to roadways in the area.

    Click here to take the survey.

  • December 21, 2021 12:11 PM | Anonymous

    The trucking industry needs talented, knowledgeable, and dynamic young leaders to drive us into the future. Do you know an emerging leader in the industry? Nominate them today for the inaugural class of PMTA’s new leadership program PA Trucking: FFWD.

    Participants will hear speakers, meet industry leaders, and participate in discussions that give them a 360-degree view of the industry and equip them to lead in their companies, their communities, and in the trucking industry.

    Details:

    PA Trucking: FFWD 2022’s class will meet monthly – four in-person, all-day meetings and online meetings throughout the year.

    In person meetings will include sessions focused on:

    • Overview, including PMTA and its place in the industry, legislation and our elected representatives
    • Trucks – mechanical overview and driving
    • The Future – state-of-the-art technology, autonomous vehicles, and data
    • The Business of Trucking, including accounting, insurance, and other important business aspects of the industry

    Monthly online meeting will feature FMCSA, economics of trucking, emerging technologies, and other topics.

    Participants in PA Trucking: FFWD will be invited to attend PMTA events throughout the year, including the Annual Membership Conference (AMC), Safety Day, TDCs, and Calls on Harrisburg and Washington. They will participate in PMTA classes and meetings, including Board of Directors Meetings and Safety Management Council.

    Upon completion of the program, participants will receive a PA Trucking: FFWD Certificate of Accomplishment and be recognized as PMTA’s trucking leaders at the AMC and in PennTrux.

    Send your nominations here.


  • December 16, 2021 12:42 PM | Anonymous

    Meeting reveals PennDOT has not been forthright with public, elected officials

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson on Tuesday hosted a meeting with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to voice his concerns over the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) plan to toll nine major bridges throughout Pennsylvania. It was revealed during the meeting that PennDOT has been in consultation with FHWA for more than a year and recently filed paperwork expressing its interest in receiving more than $5 billion in financing for the projects.

    “Several lawsuits have been filed across the Commonwealth, suggesting that PennDOT has not followed its own guidelines for public comment. Tuesday’s meeting with the Federal Highway Administration confirmed that PennDOT had been talks with the federal government for nearly a year prior to even being authorized to look at tolling,” Rep. Thompson said. “PennDOT is merely providing lip service to public input and has always been moving towards tolling, regardless of feasibility, public safety, or economic sense. This is a betrayal of the public trust and it must be stopped.”

    Rep. Thompson, a strong opponent of tolling interstates was instrumental in convincing the FHWA to deny the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission the ability to tolling Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania nearly a decade ago. According to a report published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Turnpike is installing gantries to collect tolls for PennDOT along the nine bridges.  

    “I’m not sure what’s more shocking: the fact that the Pennsylvania Turnpike failed to collect $104 million in tolls last year, or that PennDOT knows this and still wants to put the fox in charge of guarding the hen house,” Rep. Thompson said.


     

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  • December 13, 2021 2:46 PM | Anonymous

    Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced updates to the 511PA traveler information service including new features and alert customization for passenger vehicle and commercial vehicle drivers. The department also shared brief videos outlining the features and how to use them.

    “511PA helps travelers plan ahead year-round but can be especially useful in winter,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “511PA allows users to view color-coded winter conditions, see plow truck locations, and now receive alerts more tailored to their needs.”

    511PA allows motorists to set up personalized travel alerts for specific roadways, days of the week, and times of the day. New to this feature, users can now select the type of alerts they would like to receive, rather than receiving all alerts. Categories include incidents, roadwork, general travel information, travel restrictions, and weather-related alerts.

    Additionally, motorists can now use just an email or mobile phone number for speed and vehicle restrictions or full roadway closures without creating a personalized account.

    Commercial vehicle drivers can also benefit from two enhancements tailored to their needs. 511PA now includes locations for all bridges under legal height (<13’6”) over state roads to enhance information that drivers may be receiving from third-party navigation systems. This information can be viewed on the web map and is also available as an alert that can be heard in drive mode on the mobile app.

    Additionally, the 511PA mobile app now allows drivers to specify vehicle type – either commercial or passenger vehicle. If commercial vehicle is selected, vehicle restrictions and low-bridge data is turned on in drive mode by default.

    To enhance traveler information for the growing number of electric-vehicle (EV) drivers, 511PA now also includes EV charging station locations as an option on its traffic map. Using data from the U.S. Department of Energy, the map shows locations across the state by connector type, including CCS, J1772, CHAdeMO, Tesla, and NEMA.

    “511PA is a valuable tool that helps motorists plan safe travel by providing them with as much information as possible,” said Gramian. “These new features are just another way we put our data to work for all motorists, including those driving passenger or commercial vehicles, and now electric vehicles, too.”

    While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

    511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts.

    For more information on safe winter travel, an emergency kit checklist and information on PennDOT’s winter operations including a video, visit www.PennDOT.gov/winter. Additional winter driving and other highway safety information is available at www.PennDOT.gov/safety.

    PennDOT’s media center offers resources for organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders. Social-media-sized graphics highlighting winter safety are among the available options.

    Follow PennDOT on Twitter and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.


  • December 07, 2021 11:34 AM | Anonymous

    The American Tort Reform Foundation recently released its 2021/22 report on the top judicial hellholes in America and two Pennsylvania courts remain on the list.

    The ATRF Judicial Hellholes program "has identified and documented places where judges in civil cases systematically apply laws and court procedures in an unfair and unbalanced manner, generally to the disadvantage of defendants."

    Coming in at number four on the list this year is the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. 

    From the report: "The reigning No. 1 Judicial Hellhole®, the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas & Supreme Court of Pennsylvania once again lands near the top of the list in 2021. Its drop to the No. 4 spot is not due to reforms or progress made in the state, but indicative of the number of issues plaguing California, New York and Georgia. Additionally, shutdowns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic led to a decrease in activity.

    The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas continues to be a preferred court for pharmaceutical mass torts cases and asbestos litigation. Plaintiffs from across the country flock to the Court of Common Pleas because of its reputation for excessive verdicts and its “open door” policy to out-of-state plaintiffs. This policy clogs the courts, drains court resources, and drives businesses (and jobs) out of the state.

    The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania joined the Court of Common Pleas atop the list in 2020, and the Court continues to expand liability for businesses and municipalities across the state."

    You can view the full report here: 

    ATRA_JH21_layout_FINAL.pdf (judicialhellholes.org)

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910 Linda Lane • Camp Hill, PA 17011 • United States of America
Phone: 717-761-7122 • Fax: 717-761-8434

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