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  • November 01, 2021 9:14 AM | Anonymous

    (HARRISBURG) – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is scheduling the final public comment periods prior to advancing their plan of imposing a new toll on up to nine candidate bridges without legislative approval, according to Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35), chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.

    “I was shocked to hear of PennDOT’s tacit approval in November 2020 to impose tolls on any interstate bridge in this Commonwealth, which was not the legislative intent of the Public-Private Transportation Partnership (P3) Program,” Sen. Langerholc said. “Hard-working Pennsylvanians deserve smarter solutions and common-sense reforms – not a call for higher taxes, fees or tolls. The P3 Program must have transparency, public input, and legislative oversight, particularly if PennDOT usurps a user fee costing the average commuter over $1,000 annually in tolls.”

    PennDOT has provided the launch dates for the 30-day online comment periods as follows:

    There will also be an in-person meeting scheduled within the comment period. The public comment period for the remaining five candidate toll bridges will be announced by PennDOT in the coming days and weeks.

    Sen. Langerholc urges Pennsylvanians to voice their concerns regarding the bridge tolling by participating in PennDOT’s public comment period.

    The DRIVE SMART Act is Sen. Langerholc’s short-term and long-term plan to overhaul the Commonwealth’s transportation system. The comprehensive plan includes Senate Bill 382 (Langerholc), which is currently in the House Transportation Committee, to reform the P3 statute and to terminate PennDOT’s P3 bridge tolling initiative. The plan also recommends innovative federal financing as a better alternative to improve the interstate bridges.


  • October 29, 2021 1:49 PM | Anonymous

    The Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association is moving to refocus efforts to promote and grow the association into the future. One important way to do this is to encourage member involvement in leadership positions in the association. PMTA is actively seeking volunteers for many of its committees to help guide the path forward, especially as PMTA’s strategic plan moves ahead next year. Please consider giving a few hours of your time to help PMTA succeed by volunteering for committee membership.

    By way of background on the association, PMTA has a full-time staff of six individuals. They are a Director of Safety, a Director of Member Communications, a Director of Finance, a Titling and Registration Agent, and an Administrative Assistant/Event Planner, all of which are led by the President and CEO.

    The President and CEO is appointed by the Board of Directors. According to the PMTA bylaws, the Board of Directors is composed of the Chairman, all current officers, the immediate Past Chairman, Pennsylvania’s elected Vice President to the American Trucking Associations Inc., six members elected by the membership and up to six members appointed by the Board of Directors. The Board manages the business and affairs of the association, according to the requirements of the law, the Charter, and the bylaws.

    The Board of Directors establishes committees by adopting a resolution. Each committee consists of one or more Board members as well as other volunteers who are PMTA members.  Each committee serves at the pleasure of the Board and has powers and authorities that are granted and directed by the Board. 

    There are eight committees designated by the Board in addition to the Safety Management Council, which has committees of its own. Membership on six of the eight committee is open to PMTA members who are not state board members.

    Those committees are: AMC Planning, Chapter Relations, Legislative, NextGEN, Nominating, Trade Members, Budget and PAC. A brief description of each is listed below.

    The AMC Planning Committee works closely with the staff to plan and execute the Annual Membership Conference (AMC) and Expo. This process includes choosing a location and session topics and selecting speakers for the AMC as well as outlining a budget for the event.

    The Chapter Relations Committee consists of all the Chapter officers. The Chapter Presidents are required to either attend or send a representative to each of the four annual meetings of this committee. The committee works closely with the Director of Member Communications to help facilitate member engagement at the chapter level.

    The Legislative Committee also meets four times per year prior to the Board of Directors’ meetings, and it works with the President and CEO as well as PMTA’s hired lobbyists to track and discuss legislation and regulations that affect the transportation industry.

    The NextGEN Committee is designed to engage individuals that are either new to the transportation industry or in a position to take leadership roles in the future both with their company and PMTA.

    The Nominating Committee selects potential new members of the Board of Directors. * Bylaws require this committee have at least 5 and not more than 11 members. Also, “in the selection of the Nominating Committee consideration shall be given to representatives of the various sections of the state, the Chapters, and classifications of the trucking industry.  No member of the nominating committee or the chairman of such committee shall be eligible for nomination on the ballot for which they are a member of that year’s committee.” The Chairman of the Board appoints Nominating Committee members.

    The Trade Member Committee was newly commissioned at the September 2021 Board of Directors’ Meeting, and it is designed to allow Trade Members of the association to find ways to best utilize their membership and promote PMTA.

    The Budget Committee works with the President and CEO and Director of Finance to define the association’s operating budget from year to year. The annual budget for the upcoming year is approved annually at the November Board meeting. Budget Committee membership is limited to members of the Board.

    The Political Action Committee manages the PA Truck PAC, which evaluates statewide political candidates and determines where and when contributions are made to legislators who are sympathetic with our industry's concerns. PAC membership is limited to members of the Board.

    The Board of Directors and President and CEO would like to encourage all interested PMTA members to engage with the association by either joining one of these committees or your local chapter’s Board of Directors.


  • October 25, 2021 3:57 PM | Anonymous

    It’s been almost a year since PennDOT’s P3 board approved the bridge tolling project that will soon cost PMTA members $10-12 every time their trucks cross one of nine interstate bridges in Pennsylvania. PMTA has been fighting this initiative since November because of the devastating impact these tolls will have on the trucking industry in the state.

    Now is the time for PMTA members to reach out to your state representative and ask them to support SB 382 to stop bridge tolling!

    Over the course of a year, PMTA has testified several times, addressed letters to lawmakers, and spoken out at every chance to educate policymakers about the consequences of targeting an industry that already pays almost 40% of the taxes on transportation in Pennsylvania. PMTA members have also spoken to elected officials about the impact of bridge tolling on their businesses. These efforts have paid off, but there is more to do. In April, the state Senate passed SB 382, a bill introduced by Senator Wayne Langerholc, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, which would stop the bridge tolling initiative and require future PennDOT tolling projects to be approved by the legislature. After passing the Senate, that bill moved to the state House, where it must be approved by the House Transportation Committee before it can be considered by the full House.

    Getting SB 382 passed this fall is critically important for two reasons. First, PennDOT is planning to sign the contract with the vendor to manage the nine projects in January. After this, it will be too last to reverse the plan. The legislature must act now.


    Second, this past summer, the Governor’s Transportation Revenue Options Commission recommended that PennDOT proceed with other tolling projects to raise revenue, including corridor tolling and managed lanes in high-volume corridors.


    The House Transportation Committee has had two hearings on the bridge tolling initiative, yet still have not scheduled a vote on SB 382. It is critically important that PMTA members contact their state House member NOW and ask them to urge a vote on SB 382. 

    Find your representative here and give their office a call or send a message: Find Your Legislator - PA General Assembly (state.pa.us). PMTA’s talking points are available here 

    Lawmakers want to hear from their constituents on issues that matter to them. Please don’t miss this opportunity to let them know how tolling will affect our industry and your business!


  • October 15, 2021 11:45 AM | Rebecca Oyler (Administrator)

    PMTA is excited to be hosting a VIRTUAL call on Washington this year. As Congress considers issues that will affect your business in many ways, please plan to participate in a conversation with YOUR representatives on Capitol Hill.

    Infrastructure funding, taxes, vaccine requirements, independent contractors, and environmental mandates are all issues on the table. Your participation in these meetings will help our DC representatives understand how the trucking industry will be affected as decisions are made. 

    PMTA's Virtual Call on Washington will be November 16 - 19. (Individual meetings with members of Congress will be scheduled separately during this timeframe.)

    It's important to let us know you'll be attending now so that we can make sure YOUR member of Congress is a priority for scheduling a meeting.

    In order to reserve your spot, please contact PMTA today at (717) 761-7122 or [email protected].




  • October 08, 2021 2:51 PM | Anonymous

    In support of its mission to improve truck and bus safety on our nation's highways, the FMCSA Pennsylvania Division will be hosting FREE educational seminars designed to help carriers familiarize themselves with important safety programs impacting the motor carrier industry.

    November 10, 2021 9:00am - 10:00am Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT)

    The Entry Level Driver Training requirements will take effect February 7, 2022. This session will provide an overview of the training requirements for future entry-level drivers. This seminar will also discuss the Training Provider Registry, which is now open.

    November 16, 2021 9:00am - 10:00am Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse (DACH)

    This session will include a review of the drug and alcohol clearinghouse, the requirements for employers and drivers, how to register and conduct queries, along with the use of consent forms and more.

    Registration Link: https://forms.gle/skZa8SgxWEJ236mk7   


  • October 07, 2021 9:50 AM | Rebecca Oyler (Administrator)

    For several months, PMTA members have raised concerns about the California Air Resources Board (CARB) warranty requirements taking effect for trucks in 2022. It seems that Pennsylvania may be one of only three states (the others being California and New Jersey) that will require CARB's extended warranties for truck emissions systems next year. The result of the warranty requirement is that 2022 trucks will cost more if purchased or registered in Pennsylvania, making the state and its businesses less competitive with those elsewhere. 

    As a result of PMTA and its members raising this issue with elected officials, the PA General Assembly is asking questions of the state's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) about the warranty requirement. On October 5, Chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy (ERE) Committee Rep. Daryl Metcalfe sent the letter below to DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell to get clarification on the agency's interpretation of the CARB warranty requirement and its impact on Pennsylvania.

    Among the questions Rep. Metcalfe asked are:

    • Are CARB's extended warranty requirements in effect for new trucks in Pennsylvania next year?
    • Will future CARB regulations be automatically adopted in Pennsylvania?
    • Is this delegation of regulatory authority to CARB constitutional?
    • Did DEP consider a waiver to the warranty requirement?
    • How will the warranty provision benefit Pennsylvania?

    Rep. Metcalfe has asked for the Secretary's response to these questions by October 21 and is considering future action on the matter. Please contact your state lawmakers to make them aware of this issue and the House ERE committee's actions.

    View the full letter here: CARB Truck - McDonnell 10-5-21.pdf

  • October 05, 2021 11:23 AM | Anonymous

    The renewal period to obtain your 2022 decals and license is now available to submit on the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue's e-service portal: myPATH. You will no longer receive the paper renewal application through the mail. In order to receive your 2022 decals and license in a timely manner, please submit your renewal information and payment on myPATH as soon as possible.


  • October 04, 2021 5:30 PM | Rebecca Oyler (Administrator)

    Did you know that PMTA members can subscribe to the leading trucking and logistics news source for almost 40% off the cover price? Transport Topics’ award-winning coverage of regulatory, technology, business, and equipment news is unparalleled in the industry. But coverage is not limited to national news stories. Recent Pennsylvania news has included bridge tolling, miles-based user fees, and registration fee increases.

    Contact PMTA today at (717) 761-7122 to subscribe to the print and digital editions of Transport Topics at substantial savings. 


  • September 28, 2021 1:34 PM | Rebecca Oyler (Administrator)

    PennDOT is seeking comments on its draft 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and Freight Movement Plan (FMP) until October 19, 2021. PMTA urges its members to review these plans for impact to their businesses and to the trucking industry and provide comments to PennDOT. 

    The LRTP looks ahead to multimodal strategies for the next 20 years and is updated every 6 to 10 years. The FMP recommends strategies and policies to improve multimodal freight management in Pennsylvania. The plans, which are scheduled to be adopted in 2021, are in the final stages of a two-year planning process. Comments are due on October 19.

    The public is invited to view both draft plans and provide comments. Further information may be found on PennDOT's planning website here: 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan & Freight Movement Plan (penndot.gov).

    Comments may be provided here: Comment Forms (penndot.gov)

    Freight Movement Plan

    Some of the recommendations and goals in the draft FMP that may interest PMTA members include:

    • Establishment of a core PA highway freight network to identify critical urban and rural freight corridors, along with standards to measure benefits and costs of freight-oriented industry development. Collaboration with other organizations on industrial site development standards/ordinances.
    • Continuing to identify and address truck bottlenecks.
    • Working with public and private stakeholders to expand truck parking capacity.
    • Developing better ways to measure costs and benefits of freight-related initiatives, programs, and projects.
    • Evaluating and implementing select recommendations of the TAC truck weight exemptions study of 2020 (truck weight exemptions (talkpatransportation.com)
    • Reducing truck-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities statewide. 
    • Adapting to advances in truck automation, electrification, and other technologies. 

    Long-Range Transportation Plan

    PennDOT's Long-Range Transportation Plan is a comprehensive assessment of a broad range of transportation issues and recommendations through 2045. It includes recommendations related to:

    • Safety - Promoting safe habits, reducing injury crashes, and collecting safety data.
    • Mobility - Improving public transportation, improving system efficiency and reliability, and expanding mobility options.
    • Equity - Improving equity and accessibility, including developing measurable goal and increasing education and awareness.
    • Resilience - Focusing on long-term system stability, including for expected climate change impacts.
    • Performance - Leveraging technology to improve transportation efficiency, developing public transportation performance measures, making real-time travel information more available (including emergency and inclement weather events), and improving environmental stewardship.
    • Resources - Ensuring sufficient funding for all modes of transportation (including implementing recommendations of the Transportation Revenue Options Commission) and streamlining and improve the planning process.
  • September 22, 2021 8:57 AM | Rebecca Oyler (Administrator)

    The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research organization, is conducting its 2021 Top Industry Issues Survey. This annual survey asks trucking industry stakeholders to rank the top issues of concern for the industry along with potential strategies for addressing each issue. 

    The data collected will help the trucking industry identify priorities and monitor issues across the country. From PMTA's perspective, it is critical that members participate so that data specific to Pennsylvania can be separately analyzed. 

    “We are asking PMTA members to take a few minutes to complete ATRI's survey. The data collected will help us put together a clearer picture of our industry across the country. For PMTA, it will help us focus our efforts on the issues that are most important in Pennsylvania. The more members who participate, the better,” said Rebecca Oyler, PMTA President and CEO.

    The results of the 2021 survey will be released on October 24 at the American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition to be held in Nashville, Tennessee. 

    All industry stakeholders are encouraged to complete the survey by clicking here.  The survey will remain open through October 15, 2021.


© 2021 Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association
910 Linda Lane • Camp Hill, PA 17011 • United States of America
Phone: 717-761-7122 • Fax: 717-761-8434

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