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  • June 23, 2023 4:44 PM | Megan Magensky (Administrator)

    Wednesday, Pennsylvania Senators voted to charge owners of electric vehicles an annual fee. 

    Senate Bill 656 amends Title 75 to require owners of noncommercial passenger electric vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of under 14,000 pounds to pay an electric vehicle road user charge. The annual fee to drivers is $290 and will be paid with the registration fee.

    The fees collected will go into the Motor License Fund for highway maintenance and construction.

    In May, President and CEO Rebecca Oyler wrote a letter to the Chairmen of the Senate Transportation Committee in support of the bill. In it, she writes: 

    "This legislation will simplify the process and ensure electric vehicle owners are paying their fair share towards the Commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure, just as individuals who drive gas powered vehicles contribute towards fuels taxes... 

    Approximately 75% of PennDOT’s highway and bridge funding comes from federal and state gas tax revenue, which continues to decline. Fuel economy improvements and the transition to alternative fuels and electric vehicles—positive trends in themselves—will continue to reduce gasoline and diesel consumption, and, therefore, the revenue from the Liquid Fuels tax... The current projected growth in electric-powered vehicles is steep, with corresponding declines in gas tax revenue...

    Senate Bill 656 provides a means for operators of electric vehicles to pay for their use of the system as they do not pay gas tax which funds highway maintenance and construction in our Commonwealth."

    Electric vehicle owners can pay the fee in full by credit or debit card, electronic funds transfer or check or money order to the department or enroll in an electronic payment plan of $24.17 per month by credit or debit card or electronic funds transfer to the department.

    The bill passed by a 49-1 vote and now heads to the state House of Representatives for consideration. 
  • June 23, 2023 4:24 PM | Megan Magensky (Administrator)

    The Pennsylvania Senate voted to expand a ban on texting while driving Thursday. 

    Senate Bill 37 would increase penalties for drivers who have a cell phone in their hand while driving. This includes while sitting in traffic or at a stoplight.

    The bill does allow people to push a single button to start or end a phone call on a phone that is within easy reach and to use it for navigation or listening to musicThe bill includes exceptions for emergency responders and for people calling 911.

    In May, President and CEO Rebecca Oyler wrote a letter to Senate leaders in support of the bill. In it, she writes: 

    "The trucking industry has long been subject to a mobile device ban, and we have seen the positive impact that reducing distractions can have, so we believe that extending similar bans to all drivers – or at the very least, encouraging all drivers to practice personal responsibility can improve safety."

    First-time offenders will receive a $150 fine. 

    If the offender is convicted of homicide by vehicle, Senate Bill 37 would give the court the ability to sentence up to five years. If the offender is convicted of aggravated assault by vehicle, the bill gives the court the ability to sentence up to two years.

    If passed by the House, drivers will have a grace period of a year in which they only receive a written warning for violation.

    Senate Bill 37 will require driving tests to ask a question about the effects of distracted driving and student driving manuals to include a section on distracted driving and the penalties.

    The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 37-11. It now goes to the state House of Representatives for consideration.


  • June 19, 2023 9:59 AM | Rebecca Oyler (Administrator)

    PMTA is providing this update on the status of the suspension of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions requirements for heavy-duty trucks in Pennsylvania. 

    Nearly 20 years ago the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Projection (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 Emission Control Program automatically updates to adopt the California rules.

    In response to PMTA’s members’ concerns about cost increases for new trucks in 2022 due to warranty requirements that have no beneficial impact on the environment, DEP issued a notice in November 2021 that the agency would not be enforcing CARB requirements in PA until at least July 31, 2023.

    PMTA has advocated for extending this suspension.

    Beginning with Model Year 2024 vehicles, CARB regulation imposes increasingly stringent emission standards for heavy diesel engines—which are forecast to dramatically increase costs for trucking companies and consumers. Pennsylvania has also incorporated these requirements by regulation—but without any consideration as to the impact on Pennsylvania businesses and consumers, and without any opportunity for public comment. DEP maintains that these burdensome new California standards apply automatically in Pennsylvania, without need for any Pennsylvania official to endorse them.

    After PMTA expressed these concerns to DEP and legislators, on Saturday, June 10, DEP issued a further extension of CARB enforcement until MY 2027. (Suspension of Enforcement of the Pennsylvania Heavy-Duty Diesel Emissions Control Program).

    However, DEP’s temporary policy of non-enforcement does not protect dealerships and trucking companies from these burdensome California regulations. DEP has warned that truck owners and sellers may still face potential lawsuits from third parties if they fail to comply with CARB standards.

    PMTA supports SB 254, a bill sponsored by Sen. Gene Yaw that would suspend the enforcement of CARB emissions regulations through MY26 AND protect businesses from legal challenge by third parties if they are complying with EPA standards during the suspension.

    SB 254, which suspends CARB through MY26, will now be considered by the PA House of Representatives. PMTA members are urged to contact their state House member to support SB 254.

    Additionally, PMTA and several of its members have challenged the delegation of Pennsylvania's heavy-duty emissions standards to CARB in state court. For information on this complaint see: https://pacificlegal.org/case/pa-trucking-diesel-carb-standards/


  • June 12, 2023 12:58 PM | Megan Magensky (Administrator)

    HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The I-95 closure in northeast Philadelphia will have a huge impact on our members and the transportation industry as a whole. 

    I-95 is a major freight corridor along the eastern seaboard. This section of the highway is a critical point through which goods are transported along the East Coast. 

    We have been working closely with PennDOT and other state and national agencies to bring our drivers the most up to date information on detours and updated routes for through-drivers. 

    We've shared the official detour information from PennDOT with our members, but we're hoping they will provide more guidance for drivers to avoid this altogether. 

    The U.S. 1 detour recommended by PennDOT has 60 stoplights. This will greatly impact traffic in the area. According to the Department of Transportation, 160,000 people use I-95 every day. According to American Trucking Associations, about 14,000 trucks travel that stretch of I-95 each day. 

    We are working to keep our members informed and will continue to support efforts to get I-95 repaired and open as soon as possible.


    MEDIA CONTACT: 

    Megan Magensky

    Director of Communications 

    Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association 

    [email protected]


  • June 11, 2023 2:07 PM | Megan Magensky (Administrator)

    PMTA will post updated information here as this situation develops


    UPDATE: 6/14/23 10:30 AM 

    PennDOT changes Southbound detour route

    I-95 remains closed in both directions from Exit 22 to Exit 35. 

    PennDOT has updated detour information for drivers heading southbound. 

    UPDATED Southbound Detour: Use Exit 30 to Right on Bleigh Ave. to Left on State Road (SR) 1007 with reentry to I-95 South at Longshore Ave. 

    The northbound detour remains the same. 

    Northbound Detour: Use Exit 22 to I-676 WB to I-76 WB to US 1 NB to PA 63 EB to I-95 NB. 


    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    UPDATE: 6/11/23 9:00 PM 

    PA Emergency Management Agency says it will take months to fully repair I-95

    According to Molly Dougherty with PA Emergency Management Agency, a truck carrying a petroleum product caught on fire under I-95 before 6:30 AM Sunday, June 11. The northbound lane collapsed and the southbound lane is impassable. I-95 is shut down in both directions. 

    Dougherty says the cause of the incident is under investigation. 

    PA Emergency Management is working with The City of Philadelphia to establishing detours. The city is relying on mass transit to compensate for the loss of the I-95 corridor.

    Preliminary estimates determine it will take months to repair the damage. 

    Penn DOT has established a Website for updates on this incident, further updates from the state will be shared here:  https://www.penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-6/Pages/AlertDetails.aspx

    As always, additional alerts and detour information can be found at https://www.511pa.com/

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Due to a bridge collapse, north and southbound lanes of I-95 in Northeast Philadelphia are closed from Exit 22 to Exit 35.

    We are waiting for more information from law enforcement on the details of the incident. 

    PennDOT released detours for I-95 drivers. 

    PennDOT is directing all I-95 NB traffic to use Exit 22 to I-676 WB to I-76 WB to US 1 NB to PA 63 EB to I-95 NB. 

    PennDOT is directing all I-95 SB traffic to use Exit 35 to PA 63 WB to US 1 SB to I-76 EB to I-676 EB to I-95 SB.

    Sunday morning, Philadelphia managing director Tumar Alexander told the Philadelphia Inquirer,  “I-95 will be impacted for a long time, for a long time." 

    PMTA encourages drivers to check https://www.511pa.com/ for up to date alerts and information. 

  • June 07, 2023 9:17 AM | Megan Magensky (Administrator)

    Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA) President and CEO Rebecca Oyler shared testimony on catalytic converter theft for a House Consumer, Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee hearing.

    The public hearing discussed House Bill 791. The bill would amend the Scrap Material Theft Prevention Act and require scrap processors and recycling facility operators to collect more information when someone brings in a catalytic converter.

    The bill would require anyone turning in a catalytic converter to provide information on the year, make, model, and VIN of the car or truck the converter is from, a photo of the converter, and a photo of the seller.

    The bill also would require a processor and operator to withhold payment for 48 hours and keep the converter intact and safe.

    Oyler says PMTA supports the bill, saying trucks are particularly vulnerable to catalytic converter theft.

    In her testimony Oyler shared four main points:

     

    ·         Many trucks have more than one catalytic converter.

    ·         Truck catalytic converters generally fetch high prices in the aftermarket. Even small trucks, which are typically used by small businesses to haul their trailers, are in demand. The Ram 2500 and Ford F-250 are the 2nd and 3rd most expensive catalytic converters.

    ·         Catalytic converters are often more exposed and vulnerable to theft on trucks, especially box trucks that sit high off the ground and are easier to slide under. Depending on the type of truck, catalytic converters are sometimes installed in locations where thieves can access them without jacks or even having to get under the truck.

    ·         Trucks are often parked closely together at dealers, truck rental companies, and small businesses with truck fleets, allowing thieves to target multiple vehicles quicker and more easily. Catalytic converters from newer vehicles fetch a higher price than from older vehicles, making truck dealers an especially vulnerable target.

    She says while all car-owners are targets, this crime is particularly devastating for truck drivers.

    “For many drivers, their trucks are their livelihoods,” Oyler said. “For small businesses, trucks are often the only way they can get to their job sites and customers, deliver their products or provide their services. Putting their trucks out of commission puts their business out of commission.”

    Oyler says the cost of replacing a new catalytic converter can range from $1,000 to $2,500, and that doesn’t factor in the business lost due to the truck being out of service.

    In her testimony, Oyler points to several examples of catalytic converter theft in Pennsylvania.

    •       A family-owned fireplace store in Larksville having both catalytic converters stolen from its only truck.
    •         A local HVAC parts distributor’s trucks targeted in 2022.
    •        A family farm in Brownsville found trucks stripped of catalytic converters.
    •       At a business in Upper Moreland, catalytic converters were stolen out of 14 work trucks.
    •         In January, three men were charged in Allegheny County for stealing catalytic converters from dozens of businesses and individuals in three counties, including tow trucks.

    At the hearing, the bill’s primary sponsor Mary Isaacson, testified that catalytic converter theft has been a problem for years but has significantly worsened during the pandemic. She said the purpose of her bill is to provide a tool for people to seek relief and potentially recover from these thefts. She acknowledged the concerns about imposing additional regulations on the scrap metal industry but says it is an area where stolen products are likely being sold. She said involving the industry could help identify and recover stolen converters.

    To read more about the bill, click here. 

    To read Rebecca Oyler’s testimony in full, click here. 


  • June 02, 2023 1:25 PM | Megan Magensky (Administrator)

    Is there someone on your staff going above and beyond to build a safe culture for your company?

    Applications for the 2023 J. J. Keller Safety Professional of the Year (SPOTY) Award are now open. The prestigious North American awards highlight excellence in building a culture and vision for safety.

    Environmental health and safety professionals can apply for the SPOTY Awards directly, or be nominated by someone else.

    The winning safety professionals will be chosen by a panel from J. J. Keller’s staff of 75+ safety consultants and experts.  They are acknowledged industry leaders with a combined 500+ years of experience. The winners will be announced in September.

    “The SPOTY Awards differ from many other company-wide awards in the industry because they focus on the personal commitment and influence of the safety professionals who are on the ground doing the hard work of keeping people safe every day,” said Rustin Keller, president and CEO of J. J. Keller.

    The first-place J. J. Keller SPOTY Award winner will receive a prize package totaling more than $20,000 in value. It includes:

    •      $2,500 to be donated by J. J. Keller to the winner’s nonprofit 501(c)3 organization of choice.
    •      A free one-year subscription to the J. J. Keller® SAFETY MANAGEMENT SUITE for the winner and their staff (up to 10 users.)
    •      $1,200 in free online training from J. J. Keller.
    •       $200 toward J. J. Keller® SAFEGEARTM PPE.
    •      A commemorative plaque

    The winner and their company will also be featured in a webcast by J. J. Keller in October 2023.

    Second place receives a $500 donation to the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization of their choice, a free one-year subscription to the J. J. Keller® SAFETY MANAGEMENT SUITE, $250 toward J. J. Keller® SAFEGEARTM PPE and a commemorative plaque.

    Third place receives a $100 donation to the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization of their choice, a free one-year subscription to the J. J. Keller® SAFETY MANAGEMENT SUITE, $200 toward J. J. Keller® SAFEGEARTM PPE and a commemorative plaque.

    “Safety is one of the most important things a company can provide for employees,” said Keller. “We want to honor safety professionals who create a safety culture every day.”

    Open applications can be found through July 31, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. CST, by clicking here.  

  • June 02, 2023 12:23 PM | Megan Magensky (Administrator)

    The PMTA Allied Committee is hosting a legislative outlook and networking event Monday June 12.

    Senator Scott Martin (R-Berks, Lancaster) will be sharing information on upcoming legislation and industry topics.

    Following Sen. Martin’s presentation, our event sponsors will share presentations and there will be time for networking.

    The event is free for attendees, though there are still sponsorship opportunities available.

    The event will be at The Pheasant Room at the Pheasant Run Bed and Breakfast located at 200 Marticville Road in Lancaster from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

    Hors D’oeuvres will be served.

    To sign up, click here. 

  • June 01, 2023 2:19 PM | Megan Magensky (Administrator)

    PMTA is pleased to welcome Megan Magensky to the team as our director of communications.

    With an insider knowledge of the news and communication industry, Megan will handle communication with press, PMTA’s social media, website and the quarterly PennTrux publication. She will also work with PMTA’s team to promote membership, manage events, and make sure the public understands the critical role of trucks in Pennsylvania.

    “We are excited to have Megan on board at PMTA,” said Rebecca Oyler, PMTA President & CEO. “Her experience as a reporter gives us a fresh perspective on how to tell the story of trucking in a compelling and meaningful way. We appreciate her enthusiasm and are looking forward to her new ideas and efforts on behalf of our members.”

    Megan has lived in Central Pennsylvania since 2020. She spent the last several years working as a reporter for CBS 21 News in Harrisburg.

    On the CBS 21 News team, Megan covered the I-83 South Bridge Tolling projectand PennDOT’s funding challenges through the state fuel tax and infrastructure legislation.

    “I’m thrilled to be with PMTA,” said Megan. “I’ve spent years telling stories about the transportation industry, and I’m excited to get to know some of the people affected by what I’ve reported on.”

    Megan has degrees in Broadcast Journalism and Musical Theatre from Columbia College Chicago. She describes herself as a “total theatre nerd” enjoying local performances on the weekend.

    In addition to Central PA and Chicago, Megan lived in Southeastern Washington where she reported for KEPR Action News covering wildfires and other breaking news. Originally, she’s from Northeast Ohio, though she’s a Pittsburgh sports fan.


  • May 16, 2023 10:13 PM | Rebecca Oyler (Administrator)

    At PMTA’s Annual Membership Conference on April 20, awards were presented to two PMTA members and one PMTA Chapter for promoting membership growth in the organization.

    The President’s Award was to be presented to the single member who refers the most new members to PMTA in 2022 membership year. However, last year, there was a tie for members referred, so two members received President’s Award plaques. Dale Knox of Vorzik Transport, Inc.  and Brian Wanner of Peters Brothers, Inc. were both recognized for growing PMTA’s membership in 2022 and making the association stronger. Thank you, gentlemen, for your commitment to PMTA!

    Both Brian and Dale will receive a free AMC registration next year as well as a meal with a guest and PMTA’s president as a special thank you.

    In addition, the new Chapter Challenge Award was presented to the PMTA chapter that was able to grow its membership by the highest percentage. For the 2022 membership year, the Chapter Challenge awardee was the Northwest Chapter. PMTA will host an event for the winning chapter of their choice to celebrate their success.

    Both of these challenges are continuing during 2023 as PMTA seeks to grow its membership. Let the competition begin for the following membership growth awards!

    • Chapter Challenge Award for the single PMTA chapter that is able to grow its membership by the highest percentage during the calendar year. Every chapter represents PMTA in its local community, and its members are colleagues and associates of other local businesspeople. They are often the first encounter these companies have with PMTA, so chapters are membership representatives in their communities. 
    • President’s Award for the PMTA member who refers the most new members to PMTA in 2023 membership year. As PMTA grows, so does its strength and influence. PMTA members are our best salespeople, and word of mouth is our best advertisement. We encourage members to discuss the benefits of PMTA with colleagues and refer them for membership. This award recognizes the most successful of our membership advocates.

    Both awards will be presented at next year’s Annual Membership Conference (May 5-7) at the Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburon, Naples, FL.



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