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.

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.

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.   ###

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.

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)

The Government of Canada announced last week that as of January 15, 2022, certain groups of travelers, who are currently exempt from entry requirements, will only be allowed to enter the country if they are fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines approved for entry into Canada. These groups include:

• individuals travelling to reunite with family (unvaccinated children under 18 years of age will retain exemption if travelling to reunite with an immediate or extended family member who is a Canadian, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act);
• international students who are 18 years old and older; 
• professional and amateur athletes;
• individuals with a valid work permit, including temporary foreign workers (outside of those in agriculture and food processing); and
• essential service providers, including truck drivers.

After January 15, 2022, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated foreign nationals will only be allowed to enter Canada if they meet the criteria for limited exceptions, which apply to certain groups such as agricultural and food processing workers, marine crew members, those entering on compassionate grounds, new permanent residents, resettling refugees and some children under the age of 18. Exempt unvaccinated travelers will continue to be subject to testing, quarantine, and other entry requirements. Non-exempt unvaccinated or partially vaccinated foreign nationals will be prohibited entry into Canada.

Also effective November 30, 2021, Canada will expand the list of COVID-19 vaccines that travelers can receive to be considered fully vaccinated for the purpose of travel to Canada. The list will include Sinopharm, Sinovac and COVAXIN, matching the World Health Organization Emergency Use Listing.

Travelers should check if they are eligible to enter Canada and meet all entry requirements before heading to the border. In addition, some provinces and territories may have their own entry restrictions in place. Check and follow both the federal and any provincial or territorial restrictions and requirements before travelling.

On December 11, the Wreaths Across America Escort to Arlington will begin. This is a week long truck convoy of wreaths that starts in Maine and ends at Arlington National Cemetery with many stops along the way. 

Dec. 11 – Leave Columbia Falls, Maine

                  West Quoddy, Maine

                  Calais, Maine

Dec. 12 – Calais, Maine

    Ellsworth, Maine

                   Thorndike, Maine

                   Wiscasset, Maine

                   Portland, Maine

Dec. 13 – Portland, Maine

                  Elliot, Maine

                   Merrimack, New Hampshire

                   Brattleboro, Vermont

Dec. 14 – Brattleboro, Vermont

                   Troy, New York

                   Central Valley, New York                             

              Wayne, New Jersey

      Elizabeth, New Jersey

Dec. 15 – Elizabeth, New Jersey

                   Sayreville, New Jersey

                   Holmdel, New Jersey

                   Bordertown, New Jersey

Dec. 16 – Bordertown, New Jersey

                   Claymont, Delaware

                   Middletown, Delaware

                   Stevensville, Maryland

Dec. 17 – Stevensville, Maryland

                   Pentagon, Washington D.C.

                   War Memorials, Washington D.C.

                   Arlington, VA

Dec. 18 – Arlington, VA and Arlington National Cemetery

December 18 – Wreaths Across America Day

Last year, amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, some cemeteries were closed. One Pennsylvania Driver, who wished to remain anonymous, was on his usual annual route delivering wreaths when he passed a cemetery that was normally on his list but was closed due to COVID. He stopped anyway, took off the wreath that WAA ties to the front of all the trucks that deliver for them and he hung it on the gates of the cemetery. He honored those inside in his own way and continued on his route. Each and every driver that volunteers with Wreaths Across America shows this type of commitment to our nation's veterans. 

You can sponsor a live, handmade balsam wreath for $15 at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. Each sponsorship goes toward a veteran’s wreath that will be placed on the headstone of an American hero as we endeavor to honor all veterans laid to rest on Saturday, December 18, 2021, as part of National Wreaths Across America Day. 

“Every donation and wreath sponsorship is a meaningful gift from a grateful American who knows what it means to serve and sacrifice for the freedoms we all enjoy,” said Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America. “We are so grateful to the good people of this great nation for participating in our mission to Remember, Honor and Teach.”

To donate on-line go to www.wreathsacrossamerica.org

To find a cemetery near you to support click here for the link.

National Text to Donate from AT&T Veterans: text WREATH22 to 20222 on your mobile phone (there are local text programs in many states please check the list below to see if there is a participating local program in your area before broadcasting the national text program).

Local Text to Donate Programs from AT&T Veterans Across the Country

Text the local corresponding code listed below to 20222

PA – Mount Moriah Cemetery - Text Wreath 37

UPS is currently hiring more than 100,000 essential seasonal employees including 12,380 in Pennsylvania, to fill full and part time positions. Most of these are package handlers, drivers, driver helpers and personal vehicle drivers. 

Research shows that 74% of American seasonal workers want their seasonal job to turn into a long-term position. Over the last three years, about one-third of UPS seasonal hires were later hired in a permanent role, and about 138,000 current UPS employees started as seasonal workers.

More information is available here, and interested applicants should apply here. 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

November 29, 2021  

EXTENSION OF THE MODIFIED EMERGENCY DECLARATION No. 2020-002 UNDER 49 CFR § 390.25

THE FIFTY UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) hereby declares that the continuing national emergency warrants extension of the modified Emergency Declaration No. 2020-002.  The extension of the modified Emergency Declaration continues the exemption granted from certain requirements in Part 395 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for the fifty States and the District of Columbia as set forth below. 

 

This extension of the modified Emergency Declaration No. 2020-002 is effective at 12:00 A.M. (ET), December 1, 2021 and shall remain in effect until 11:59 P.M. (ET), February 28, 2022, modification or termination by FMCSA, or revocation of the declaration of national emergency under 42 U.S.C. § 5191(b), whichever is soonest. 

 

The extension of the modified Emergency Declaration No. 2020-002 provides regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle operations providing direct assistance in support of emergency relief efforts related to COVID-19 and is limited to transportation of

(1) livestock and livestock feed;

(2) medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19;

(3) vaccines, constituent products, and medical supplies and equipment including ancillary supplies/kits for the administration of vaccines, related to the prevention of COVID-19;

(4) supplies and equipment necessary for community safety, sanitation, and prevention of community transmission of COVID-19 such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectants;

(5) food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores;

(6) gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and ethyl alcohol; and

(7) supplies to assist individuals impacted by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., building materials for individuals displaced or otherwise impacted as a result of the emergency). 

 

Direct assistance does not include non-emergency transportation of qualifying commodities or routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of this emergency declaration.  To be eligible for the exemption, the transportation must be both (i) of qualifying commodities and (ii) incident to the immediate restoration of those essential supplies.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/extension-modified-emergency-declaration-2020-002-under-49-cfr-ss-39025-november-29-2021

The Lancaster County Career & Technology Center is interested in receiving bids for the purchase of the equipment as outlined here. The Center reserves the right to select units in its best financial interest. Bid units must include all costs, including delivery, fees, etc. The Center reserves the right to independent inspection of the equipment offered, and furthermore reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids upon inspection.

Please bid based on the following specifications. Product specification sheets should also be included with the bid response. If multiple units are available that meet all specifications below, the product specification sheet does not need to reference a VIN. However, upon inspection of the vehicle after the bid closes, maintenance work orders for the past three (3) years must be provided. If an extended warranty is available, please include this information with your bid response. A sealed bid response sent to the Willow Street Campus must include all forms in the accompanying Bid Instructions and General Conditions. Any questions regarding the enclosed forms should be directed to Dr. Michael DelPriore at 717-464-7060 or [email protected].

Note times outlined in the accompanying Bid Instructions and General Conditions – bids may not be withdrawn within 60 days of bid opening date (Par. 6) and delivery must be made within 45 days of bid award (Par. 8b). LCCTC reserves the right to cancel the order if timeframes are not met.

Sealed bids to be delivered to the attention of Dr. Michael DelPriore: Willow Street Campus, 1730 Hans Herr Drive, Willow Street, PA 17584

Sealed bids due no later than: 3:00 P.M. EST on Thursday, December 9, 2021