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  • August 29, 2023 5:02 PM | Megan Magensky (Administrator)

    Any time a company purchases and registers a new vehicle of 55,000 pounds or more, a heavy highway vehicle use tax form must be filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by the end of the month following the month that vehicle is first used on public highways.

    For example, truckers who first used their vehicle in July on a public highway, August 31 is the payment deadline to file the 2290.

    Failure to meet the HVUT deadline could put your vehicles at risk of being placed out of service.

    The IRS cautioned truckers should not confuse the federal tax filing deadline with being linked to a heavy truck’s registration date.

    “Taxpayers must file Form 2290 by the last day of the month following the month in which the taxpayer first used the vehicle on a public highway during the taxable period, regardless of the vehicle’s registration renewal date,” the IRS stated.

    According to the IRS, taxpayers that have 25 or more taxed vehicles registered in their name must e-file Form 2290 and pay the tax.  However, vehicles expected to be used 5,000 miles or less, or 7,500 for farm vehicles, owners are required to file a return but will not have to pay a tax. If the vehicle exceeds the mileage use limit during the tax period, then the owner must pay the tax.

    For more information on filing from the IRS, check out the Trucking Tax Center.

    If you need help filing your 2290, PMTA Titling and Registration Agent Wendy Palermo can help. Please call 717-970-3226.


  • August 18, 2023 8:29 AM | Megan Magensky (Administrator)

    Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced a new, modernized commercial driver's license (CDL) skills test will be implemented starting August 28, 2023.

    According to PennDOT, the new test will waive outdated requirements that hold workers back. As new technologies emerge, PennDOT said, the modernized CDL skills test will ensure CDL drivers have the knowledge and skills to drive safely on the road.

    The new test will be offered at all PennDOT Driver License Centers that offer CDL skills tests and at all third-party CDL driving skill testers.

    According to PennDOT, the skills test has received a “much needed” update to reflect modern vehicle features. Applicants must pass the full CDL Skills Test – which includes pre-trip inspection, basic control and a road test – to receive their CDL. Prospective applicants scheduled to take the test after August 28, 2023, are encouraged to review and study the updated Commercial Driver License Manual to prepare for each portion of the knowledge and driver skills test.

    The Vehicle Inspection (VI) test and the Basic Control Skills (BCS) test have also been updated. CDL applicants may be asked to identify up to 90 different components on the vehicle and describe what they are looking for to ensure it is safe and ready for use compared to the current requirement of more than 100 items. In addition, a checklist is now authorized to be used as a memory aid for this segment.

    The BCS Test will require CDL applicants to demonstrate four maneuvers to demonstrate control: 

    • Forward Stop to demonstrate an applicant's ability to judge the front of the vehicle; 
    • Straight-Line Backing to demonstrate the applicant's ability to back the vehicle in a straight line; 
    • Forward Offset Tracking to demonstrate an applicant's ability to maneuver the vehicle around other objects while moving forward; and 
    • Reverse Offset Backing to demonstrate an applicant's ability to offset reverse and park the vehicle.

    Applicants who have already completed portions of the skills testing prior to August 28 will need to complete current versions of CDL Skills Testing. These applicants should continue to review and study the current Commercial Driver License Manual to prepare for each portion of the knowledge and driver skills test.

    “PennDOT is working to make our services more accessible and effective for the people of Pennsylvania," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. "As someone with a CDL, I know that technology in our vehicles has greatly evolved and improved, even in our commercial vehicles. This modernized test is another way PennDOT is enhancing its services to better serve our CDL applicants while still ensuring the safety of school bus passengers."

    According to the Shapiro administration, this change was implemented specifically to address the school bus driver shortage. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has created a long-term waiver extension that allows a state to modify the Commercial Driver's License test for applicants looking to drive a school bus. 

    For example, PennDOT will waive the "Under the Hood requirement" for school bus driver applicants through November 27, 2024, which means that potential school bus drivers will no longer need to take the portion of the CDL test that requires them to identify engine components.


  • August 09, 2023 4:37 PM | Megan Magensky (Administrator)

    The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released a new study that statistically proves motor carriers who are active in state and national membership associations are safer than both former association members and carriers who have never been association members.

    According to the American Trucking Associations (ATA), it has always been anecdotally assumed that association membership supports safety through a variety of association services and resources, but the necessary industry safety data and methodology had never before been assessed. This new empirical research processed public safety data from the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) through a series of statistical tools to confirm the relationship between association membership and safety performance.

    "PMTA does a lot for safety – between regular safety training, speakers, and events; monthly Safety Management Council meetings; and connecting our members to safety products and services, we’re proud to have built our culture around safety. Ask any member, and they’d probably tell you that their companies are safer because they are members of PMTA. But until now, we didn’t have the data to back that up," said President and CEO of PMTA Rebecca Oyler. "Now we have the statistic information to prove that PMTA membership makes a difference. If you want to be a safer trucking company, PMTA is a great place to start."

    The research compared motor carrier MCMIS crash and violation data for trucking fleets that are members of trucking associations, are former members and those who have never been members. According to ATRI, this carrier status data came from a geographically representative sample of state trucking associations as well as from ATA.

    "I have been involved in Motor Carrier Safety since 1985 and have found that companies working together in the trucking industry to share best practices and the like could always be counted on to do the right thing," said PMTA Safety Director John Rigney. "This study confirms my conviction.  Our member companies promote safety every day with employees from top to bottom."

    The research data confirms that among the three carrier groups, current members of an association, like the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association, have fewer overall crashes and violations than former members and companies who have never been members. Companies with previous membership also had fewer crashes and violations than fleets who have never been members. 

    “All safety stakeholders in the trucking industry are looking for strategies and solutions for improving large-truck safety,” said Dr. Brenda Lantz, Associate Director of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute. “This new ATRI research confirms that association membership is another important and proven safety tool for trucking companies.”

    The ATRI association safety research also provides some guidance on how the findings might be applicable to commercial transportation insurers, enforcement agencies and academic researchers.

    You can find a full copy of ATRI's report here.

  • August 07, 2023 4:07 PM | Megan Magensky (Administrator)

    They might be far away, but we have mountains, snow and construction too! 

    The Colorado Motor Carriers Association (CMCA), Colorado State Police and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), teamed up to launch a campaign called "The Mountain Rules." 

    The organizations are releasing a series of videos to educate trucking companies and their drivers on the challenges of driving in mountainous regions of the country. 

    This newest release covers hot breaks, winter driving and construction zones. The organizations say these are critical pieces to driving in any state, not just Colorado. 

    “We know that our state’s terrain and unpredictable weather conditions create immense challenges for semitruck drivers,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “We’ve created this series as a way to equip truck drivers with the necessary knowledge and awareness to safely and confidently navigate our highways, especially in the high country.”

    CDOT and its partners encourage all truck drivers to educate themselves and view the videos, which can be found on CDOT’s YouTube channel and at freight.COtrip.org. The Mountain Rules videos also are distributed to truck driving schools, trucking companies, and other trucking-related entities.

    “The steep downgrades, winding roadways, and fast changing weather conditions, make for a challenging drive, for even the most experienced truck driver,” said CMCA President Greg Fulton. “The Mountain Rules program and videos provide a great educational tool for truck drivers, especially those unfamiliar with Colorado's mountains. It helps them to understand how to navigate our mountainous roadways in a safe manner.  We believe this tool and other strategies by our state and local partners will make mountainous corridors like I-70 safer and reduce delays and closures.”

    Find the videos and more information here: https://freight.colorado.gov/mountain-rules/mountain-rules

  • August 03, 2023 3:58 PM | Rebecca Oyler (Administrator)


    (Picture from PennTrux, June 1990)

    Samuel, J. Lansberry, 82, passed away on Sunday, July 2 in Pittsburgh. 

    Mr. Lansberry founded Samuel J. Lansberry, Inc. in 1959 in Woodland, PA with one 10-ton two-axle dump truck that he used to haul coal from local strip mines to tipples for processing. As business grew, Sam began to haul additional commodities and added tractor-trailer end dumps to the fleet. In the 1980s, Sam added pneumatic tank trailers, and the late 1990s saw the addition of tri-axles. 

    Today, Lansberry Trucking, Inc. is a diversified dry-bulk transportation firm offering services to customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. 

    Lansberry Trucking continues to be a PMTA member. 

    In 1975, Sam and his wife Sandy co-founded Woodland Equipment & Supply Company, which provided trucking, stockpiling, and transloading services for customers in the northeast. In 1989, they also co-founded Cress-Wood Co., LLC, a commercial real estate company. Sam also founded a river terminal and warehousing company, Armstrong Terminal, Inc., in Schenley, PA in 1991, and acquired a hydraulic hose company, World Wide Equipment Co., LLC in 2018.

    Sam was involved in PMTA throughout his career, helping to shape legislation and grow the trucking industry in Pennsylvania. He served as Chairman from 1989-1991. 

    Sam was an avid Harley Davidson rider and enjoyed long trips with his wife and friends throughout Pennsylvania and beyond. Sam was also an enthusiastic racing fan, particularly of sprint car racing and the "World of Outlaws." He enjoyed visiting sprint car tracks. 

    Sam was an outdoorsman, including hunting and fishing in Pennsylvania and beyond. He made many trips west and to Canada to hunt elk, moose, mule deer, and antelope, as well as to fish with his friends and family over the years.  

    Sam served in the U.S. Army Reserves.

    He is survived by his wife, Sandy L. Lansberry of Woodland; two sons, Samuel J. Lansberry, II of Treasure Lake, and Adam T. Lansberry and wife Angi of Clearfield; and two grandchildren, Alex and Alayna Lansberry. 

    Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. A public memorial service will be announced at a later day. 

    PMTA's thoughts and prayers are with Sandy and the entire Lansberry family.

    Sam was an outstanding leader, businessman and friend. We will miss him.

    https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/gantdaily/name/samuel-lansberry-obituary 

     

  • August 01, 2023 2:49 PM | Megan Magensky (Administrator)

    In light of the announcement that Yellow Corp. has ceased operations, American Trucking Associations (ATA) launched a new database to help jobseekers find new employment in the trucking industry.

    This portal will connect former Yellow employees with prospective employers who are eager to utilize their unique and in-demand skills and experience.  

    ATA President and CEO says he wants to ensure former Yellow employees remain part of the industry they have done so much to build and strengthen.  

    Providing this personal information is completely voluntary and will not be given to employers outside of ATA membership, nor will it be disclosed to third-party vendors.

    “Yellow’s closure is a substantial blow to America’s economy and the company’s 30,000 hardworking employees and their families in all 50 states," Spear said in a statement to PMTA. “The past several days have been especially difficult for drivers, dock workers, mechanics, salespeople, administrative and support personnel, and other employees, many of whom dedicated decades of their careers to the company.  Yellow personnel earned a well-deserved reputation as being professional and solution-oriented, helping countless customers to seamlessly navigate the complexity of logistics to ship their products on time virtually anywhere in the country.  

    Spear said ATA hopes this tool will help former Yellow employees find work in the industry. 

    “Since its founding nearly a century ago, Yellow has been an integral part of our supply chain.  As the nation’s first less-than-truckload carrier, it was a key part of trucking history as well.  Through the company’s involvement with the American Trucking Associations, Yellow employees promoted the industry and were tremendous advocates for highway safety, leading by example."

    PMTA's Northwest Chapter is hosting a job fair in Erie, PA August 19. Employers from across PA will be hiring on the spot for a variety of trucking industry jobs. It is free to attend, though we suggest bringing a resume. 

  • July 24, 2023 11:53 AM | Megan Magensky (Administrator)

    The new deadline to get a Real ID is May 7, 2025. 

    Previously, the deadline to get a Real ID was in 2020. The deadline was pushed back when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down Departments of Motor Vehicles. 

    According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, the latest extension is needed to “address the lingering impacts of the covid-19 pandemic” that have created vast backlogs for state motor vehicle departments.

    “This extension will give states needed time to ensure their residents can obtain a Real ID-compliant license or identification card,” Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas said. “DHS will also use this time to implement innovations to make the process more efficient and accessible. We will continue to ensure that the American public can travel safely.”

    REAL ID is a 2005 federal law that affects how states issue driver's licenses and ID cards if they are going to be acceptable for federal purposes, such as boarding a domestic commercial flight, or entering a military installation or federal facility that requires ID.

    With this extension, starting May 7, 2025, Pennsylvanians will need a REAL ID-compliant license/identification card, or another form of federally-acceptable identification (such as a valid passport or military ID) to:

    • Board domestic commercial flights.
    • Enter a military base.
    • Enter a federal facility that requires ID at the door.

    REAL ID-compliant versions of all Pennsylvania driver's license types are available, including commercial driver's licenses.

    CDL holders are currently NOT eligible to apply for REAL ID online - you must apply in person at a PennDOT Driver License Center.

    If a CDL holder chooses to get a REAL ID, they are still required to present the required documents to PennDOT.

    These documents can be taken to any PennDOT Driver License Center for pre-verification:

    • Proof of Identity
      • Examples: Original or certified copy of a birth certificate with a raised/embossed seal (not a sticker) or valid U.S. Passport
        *Please note that hospital or commemorative certificates are not acceptable
    • Proof of Social Security Number - proof must display current legal name and full nine (9) digits of the Social Security Number:
      • A Social Security card;
      • A W-2 form;
      • A SSA-1099 from;
      • A non-SSA-1099 form; or
      • A pay stub;
    • Two Proofs of Current, Physical PA Address
    • Examples: Current, unexpired PA license or ID, PA vehicle registration, auto insurance card,  utility bill with the same name and address
    • Proof of all Legal Name Changes (if applicable)
    • Examples: Certified marriage certificate or court order issued by your county's family court
      *Please note: You must show a complete name change history that links your birth certificate name to your current name. If you have a valid U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card with your legal name, you may use that as your name change document.

    For information on REAL ID for non-U.S. citizens, please visit our REAL ID Info for Non-U.S. Citizens page.

    CDL holders have two options when obtaining a REAL ID:

    1. When you opt into REAL ID, renew your CDL at the same time.
      You'll pay a one-time fee of $30, plus the applicable renewal fee. Your first REAL ID CDL will include all the time remaining on your existing product, plus four additional years. For example, if your current CDL expires in March 2022 and you get your first REAL ID in March 2019, your first REAL ID CDL will expire in March 2026. Once your first REAL ID CDL expires, you'll go back to a regular four-year renewal cycle and you won't pay any additional fees (beyond normal renewal fees) to have a REAL ID CDL vs. a non-REAL ID CDL.

    2. When you opt into REAL ID, get a duplicate CDL.
      You'll pay a one-time fee of $30, plus a duplicate fee (the current duplicate fee is $31.50). The expiration date of your first REAL ID CDL will be the same as the expiration date on your current product.
  • July 13, 2023 12:17 PM | Megan Magensky (Administrator)

    PennDOT released a Summer 2023 project update for the I-83 South Bridge Project. 

    The update says: 

    "PennDOT resumed work preparing the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the I-83 South Bridge Project to replace the I-83 John Harris Memorial (South) Bridge over the Susquehanna River in Dauphin and Cumberland counties. The bridge will not be tolled and is no longer included in the Major Bridge Public-Private Partnership (MBP3). The project will be moving forward with non-tolling funding sources and to expedite this critical project, the department continues to seek federal discretionary funding so the project can be delivered earlier. Further opportunities for public involvement are planned, including a Public Hearing later this year. 

    PennDOT is preparing an EA for this project to address the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). An EA is a detailed study of how a project would affect the surrounding community's quality of life, including health, safety, cultural resources, natural resources, and more."

    The update includes a description of the project, stating "The I-83 South Bridge is aging. It no longer meets current design standards, and it is reaching the end of its serviceable lifespan. Due to bridge conditions and anticipated increases in traffic volumes, the bridge and its connections on the West Shore and East Shore need to be upgraded."

    In November 2020, PennDOT approved a plan to toll nine interstate bridges to raise money for their repair including the I-83 South Bridge that connects Cumberland and Dauphin Counties. 

    This outraged PMTA members who said the consequences of tolling would be catastrophic. Members believed the tolls would add over $5,000 in expenses per year per truck which would deeply impact any business, but particularly the small, local trucking companies.

    On February 15, 2022 PMTA filed an amicus brief in the lawsuit South Fayette Township et. al v. PennDOT, a challenge by several municipalities near the I-79 Bridgeville bridge arguing that PennDOT did not follow the basic requirements of the law in its P3 process.

    On May 18, 2022, the court issued an injunction putting a halt to all nine tolling projects. 

    At the time of the injunction, PMTA President and CEO Rebecca Oyler released a statement saying "And although we are pleased to know that no additional motor license funds, 40% of which come from trucks, will be spent on this clear agency overreach, we wonder how many bridges could have been built with the money PennDOT has already spent on the Major Bridge P3 Initiative. "

    Now, the update from PennDOT says the agency will replace the bridge using state funds and additional federal funds now available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

  • July 13, 2023 12:00 PM | Megan Magensky (Administrator)

    Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA), joined the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) to announce the launch of a crash reduction initiative on I-81. 

    This is a multi-state initiative to discourage the unsafe driving behaviors that are statistically proven to cause crashes. 

    I-81 is an 855-mile stretch of highway extending from the Canadian border in New York to Tennessee. The interstate runs through Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. It is one of the most heavily traveled corridors in the eastern U.S.  

    Between 2018 and 2022, there were over 5,000 crashes on I-81 involving commercial motor vehicles. Pennsylvania had the second-most crashes with over 1,605. The most crashes occurred from Scranton south to Hazleton and around the Harrisburg area.

    The USDOT Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is working with law enforcement, including PSP, to conduct extra patrols and engage in education efforts. 

    The education piece is focused on teaching drivers of passenger cars how to drive safely around commercial motor vehicles. 

    Listed below are the reminders and calls to action the involved agencies are sharing. 

    For commercial motor vehicle drivers:

    ·         All vehicles must share the road safely.

    ·         Always obey all traffic laws: Wear your seatbelt, obey the speed limit, slow for work zones, and don’t drive distracted. Unsafe driving behaviors can lead to crashes and fatalities.

    ·         Make sure your vehicle is in safe working order, and follow all regulations regarding hours of service, medical certification, and CMV credentialing and driver licensing.

    ·         Additional tips for commercial motor vehicle drivers can be found at FMCSA’s website here.

    For passenger vehicle drivers:

    ·         Obey the speed limit on I-81 and wear your seatbelt.

    ·         Never drive distracted or impaired.

    ·         When driving around large trucks and buses, be patient and leave more space.

    ·         Drivers of large trucks and buses have natural blind spots: Don’t cut off commercial motor vehicles or drive on the left or right side of them for a long period of time.

    ·         Big trucks take 40% more space to stop: Don’t follow commercial motor vehicles too closely or merge or make sudden stops directly in front of them.

    ·         Additional tips for motorists can be found at FMCSA’s Our Roads, Our Safety website.

    PA Road Team member Bob Dolan spoke about his career driving I-81. He used the Road Team trailer to demonstrate blind spots on trucks and encouraged drivers to be mindful around truck drivers on the road. 

  • July 10, 2023 2:07 PM | Megan Magensky (Administrator)

    Senator Dan Laughlin (R-49) and Senator Sharif Street (D-3) introduced bipartisan legislation that would legalize adult use of marijuana in Pennsylvania.

     If passed, Senate Bill 846 would legalize recreational marijuana use for Pennsylvanians ages 21 and above. 

    “Legalized adult use of marijuana is supported by an overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians and this legislation accomplishes that while also ensuring safety and social equity,” said Laughlin. “With neighboring states New Jersey and New York implementing adult use, we have a duty to Pennsylvania taxpayers to legalize adult-use marijuana to avoid losing out on hundreds of millions of dollars of new tax revenue and thousands of new jobs.”

    Additionally, law enforcement would be given the means to adjudicate driving under the influence and the authority to pursue and eradicate any illicit market. Senate Bill 846 would ban any marketing directed toward children and would set workplace requirements regarding marijuana use for all those operating in good faith.

    If passed, this bill would grant licenses to sell marijuana to social and economic equity applicants while providing room for new and existing licensees to ensure demand in Pennsylvania is met. It would also expunge non-violent marijuana convictions for medical marijuana patients and all non-violent marijuana convictions.

    “We have a unique and singular opportunity to correct decades of mass incarceration, disproportionate enforcement against marginalized communities, the criminalization of personal choice and the perpetuation of violence, which all materialized from the failed war on drugs,” Street said. “Legalizing the adult use of cannabis will help us fully and equitably fund education, lower property taxes, and address a variety of community needs throughout Pennsylvania.”

    Senate Bill 846 would allow medical marijuana patients to grow a limited number of cannabis plants at their home for personal use to help ease what supporters of the bill call "cost and accessibility burdens."

    During state budget hearings held in 2021, the Senate Appropriations Committee was told by the Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office that legalized adult-use marijuana could generate $400 million to $1 billion in new tax revenue for the Commonwealth.

    For more information on PMTA's stance on this and other legislation, click here. 


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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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