Latest Industry News Briefs Courtesy of PMTA
Truckstop and OOIDA Collaborate Exclusively to Support and Protect Owner-Operators
This article was originally published on PR Newswire.
BOISE, ID… Truckstop and OOIDA (Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association) announced an exclusive collaboration to provide tools that help protect and grow owner-operator businesses. As part of this collaboration, OOIDA has designated Truckstop as its exclusive load board partner, further solidifying the company’s reputation as the most trusted freight network.
For nearly three decades, owner-operators have trusted Truckstop to help manage, safeguard and expand their businesses. As experts in the fight against fraud, Truckstop has implemented numerous security enhancements to build the most trusted network in freight.
“We’re thrilled that Truckstop has teamed up with OOIDA as their exclusive load board partner,” said Kendra Tucker, chief executive officer, Truckstop. “This partnership is a testament to our commitment to putting owner-operators first by empowering them to manage, protect and grow their businesses like never before.”
For owner-operators, access to quality freight at fair rates is critical, but so is knowing that the freight is legitimate and that the brokers and shippers are quality.
“Over the years, Truckstop has continually demonstrated its dedication to empowering owner-operators and small fleet truckers. When rampant freight fraud hit the trucking industry a few years ago, Truckstop swiftly dedicated significant efforts and resources to protect small business truckers,” said Todd Spencer, president of OOIDA. “With OOIDA’s 50 years of advocacy for owner-operators and Truckstop’s longstanding commitment to small carriers, this partnership is a natural fit.”
Truckstop is a trusted partner for carriers, brokers, and shippers, empowering the freight community through a platform of innovative solutions for the entire freight lifecycle to increase efficiency, automate processes, and accelerate growth. As one of the industry’s largest neutral freight marketplaces, Truckstop provides the customer service as well as scale of quality loads and trucks to give customers of all sizes, whether on the road or in the office, the transparency and freedom to build lasting relationships and grow their businesses. To learn how Truckstop is helping move the freight community forward, visit https://truckstop.com.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is the largest national trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. The Association currently has approximately 150,000 members nationwide. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is headquartered in the Greater Kansas City, Mo., area.
Tennessee Received $32 Million in Emergency Relief Funding for Roads and Bridges Damaged by Hurricane Helene
WASHINGTON, DC… The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced the immediate release of $32 million in Emergency Relief funding for the Tennessee Department of Transportation. These funds are a quickly released ‘down payment’ to help in the immediate aftermath to support emergency repair work stemming from Hurricane Helene.
The USDOT is supporting response and recovery efforts in impacted communities.
In Tennessee, Hurricane Helene caused widespread infrastructure damage throughout the state, with substantial damage in eight counties. Damage includes roadway washouts, culvert loss, and a need for bridge repairs and replacements, resulting in the closure of I-40 and I-26 near the Tennessee/North Carolina state line.
These Emergency Relief “quick release” funds will be used by the Tennessee Department of Transportation to restore essential traffic on I-40 and I-26 and other state routes to provide critical connections to impacted areas and restore regional travel.
The FHWA’s Emergency Relief program provides funding to states, territories, tribes, and Federal Land Management Agencies for highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic events. These Emergency Relief funds, provided through the “quick release” process, are an initial installment of funds toward restoring this essential transportation link. Additional funds needed to repair damage in Tennessee will be supported by the Emergency Relief program through nationwide funding allocations.
The FHWA Emergency Relief program complements Bipartisan Infrastructure Law programs and provisions by encouraging agencies to identify and implement measures to incorporate resilience in the design, restoration, and repair of damaged infrastructure, to better withstand future damage from climate change and future weather events.
Tennessee requested and the FHWA approved the quick release amount. This follows quick release funding provided to North Carolina earlier today and to South Carolina earlier this week for Hurricane Helene damage.
More information about the FHWA’s Emergency Relief program can be found online at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/erelief.cfm
PMTA President And CEO Submits Testimony For House Transportation Committee Meetings On Transportation Funding
By Megan Magensky
PMTA President and CEO Rebecca Oyler submitted written testimony for the House Transportation Committee Informational Meetings on "Moving PA Forward by Investing in Roads, Bridges and Transit."
The September 4 meeting took place at the Luzerne County Transportation Authority in Wilkes-Barre.
Oyler's testimony describes the importance of maintaining Pennsylvania's infrastructure system for the good of the trucking industry and economy.
She writes, "any discussion of transportation funding options must consider the benefits as well as the costs for... trucking businesses that are key to Pennsylvania’s economy and communities."
The trucking industry currently represents 10% of the vehicle miles traveled in the commonwealth, but pays more than one third (34%) of all taxes owed by Pennsylvania motorists.
"Currently, Pennsylvania’s trucking companies pay the 3rd highest diesel tax rate in the nation, second only to California and Illinois," Oyler's testimony states. "This makes us uncompetitive with other states – including with all surrounding states – for trucking companies considering locating or remaining in the commonwealth. A comparatively high diesel tax rate also punishes the small companies whose business is in their local communities, where they pass these costs on to their customers."
Oyler states that policymakers often make the case that though fuel taxes in Pennsylvania are high, vehicle registration fees remain low to balance out costs to the public. However, this is not the case for commercial motor vehicles.
Pennsylvania ranks 12th in the nation for registration and weight fees for trucks at $2,764 for a typical five-axle tractor-semitrailer combination. This is over $1000 more than surrounding states.
CT $1,546
DE $1,390
MD $1,800
MA $1,600
NJ $1,223
NY $1,208
OH $1,395
RI $1,044
VA $1,888
The only nearby state with a higher registration/weight fee is West Virginia at $3,192, but their diesel tax is less than half of Pennsylvania’s rate.
The effect of Pennsylvania’s high diesel tax rate and comparatively high registration fees is that the commonwealth is the fifth most expensive state in the nation in which to drive a truck.
"Unfortunately, this costly fact contributes to driving trucking businesses out of Pennsylvania that might otherwise be paying more taxes and registration fees in the state to support the Motor License Fund (MLF). It also places burdensome costs on local small businesses," Oyler states.
Oyler's testimony delves into potential funding solutions and the impact each would have on the trucking industry and economy.
PA State Senator Proposes Near Zero Emission Truck Incentive Program
By Rebecca Oyler
Sen. Rosemary Brown is looking for cosponsors for her bill
Last week, State Senator Rosemary Brown, a Republican senator representing Lackawanna, Monroe, and Wayne Counties, circulated a memo to her colleagues soliciting cosponsors for a bill creating a state Near Zero Emission Truck Incentive Program.
The proposal, supported by PMTA, is based on the fact that trucks produced beginning in model year 2010 emit a fraction of NOx and particulate matter of earlier trucks. The quickest way to reduce emission from Pennsylvania trucks is to incentivize the replacement of some of these trucks with newer models.
The bill would do this by creating a grant program for the purchase of a model year 2010 or later truck if accompanied by a trade-in of a pre-2010 diesel truck.
The federal government took steps to tightly regulate the emissions systems in heavy-duty trucks between model years 2007 and 2010 by requiring standardization of selective catalytic reduction and diesel particulate filters. The result is that a truck sold in 2006 emits roughly 10 times the amount of NOx and particulate matter as today’s near zero emissions trucks.
Today, about 34% of trucks registered in Pennsylvania are pre-2010 models, which do not contain the latest emissions components. Though the Commonwealth has a higher percentage of newer trucks on the road than many other states, these trucks contribute the majority of emissions from the trucking industry in the state. The proposed grant program will lead to the replacement of these trucks with newer, much cleaner trucks, resulting in lower emissions from the trucking industry and cleaner air for all.
In addition, it’s important to note that National Highway Traffic Administration research is clear that newer trucks have better safety records. The addition of multiple standard safety technologies by original equipment manufacturers in recent years has led to safer trucks. Generally, replacing older trucks with trucks having newer standard safety equipment will increase safety on the road.
The legislation will require PennDOT and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to apply for federal funds available for the purpose of reducing pollution. With these funds, PennDOT will provide a grant to incentivize the purchase of model year 2010 or later trucks to be titled and registered in Pennsylvania, if accompanied by a trade-in of a pre-2010 diesel truck that is also titled and registered in Pennsylvania. The trade-in cannot be titled and registered in the state again.
No other single technology transfer can affect Pennsylvania’s air quality and provide immediate health benefits as much as replacing pre-2010 trucks with post-2010 models. Unfortunately, the Federal Excise Tax currently acts as a disincentive to companies wishing to update their equipment to the latest technology. Providing an incentive program at the state level helps offset this impediment and avoids costly mandates that would cripple the trucking industry.
PMTA thanks Sen. Brown for sponsoring this important bill and encourages members to contact their state senators to ask them to cosponsor the bill.
Announcement of Liability Reform Package in Pennsylvania House of Representatives
By Rebecca Oyler, PMTA
These bills are an important step toward stopping lawsuit abuse against trucking companies
The Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA) applauded today’s announcement of a liability reform package announced by Representative Torren Ecker and other members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. With today’s announcement, Pennsylvania joins the list of states where similar common-sense reform bills have been introduced to address abusive litigation practices that target the trucking industry.
“Trucking companies are often the target of unfair and abusive litigation practices that threaten truckers’ livelihoods, put small businesses at risk, and threaten our supply chain,” said Rebecca Oyler, PMTA’s President & CEO. “We commend the sponsors of these bills for recognizing the harm that lawsuit abuse does to Pennsylvania’s economy and to residents who pay higher costs for the goods they buy every day. Now’s the time to ensure that balance and fairness drive litigation outcomes, not profits.”
Pennsylvania’s economy depends on the trucking industry to transport goods from farm to factory, warehouse to store, and producer to consumer. There are almost 70,000 trucking companies located in the Commonwealth. These companies, which are primarily small, locally owned businesses, hire 341,000 workers in Pennsylvania, or one in every 15 employees.
These companies operate against the backdrop of one of the worst judicial hellholes in the nation, according to the American Tort Reform Foundation. Pennsylvania’s reputation as a center for lawsuit abuse and excessive jury awards makes the state unfriendly for business, resulting in lost economic activity and increased costs for businesses. In the trucking sector, a single lawsuit could mean bankruptcy for a small trucking company. And abusive legal practices increase costs across the supply chain for producers and consumers.
The legislative package includes:
Introduction of seatbelt evidence – Even though seatbelts are legally required for front seat occupants and children in Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth’s law is inconsistent in that it prohibits motor carriers from defending themselves in court with evidence that a plaintiff was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. A plaintiff’s own negligence in choosing not to wear a safety belt should be and is probative evidence to present the full facts of a particular incident – including how injuries occurred. This legislation makes Pennsylvania’s law consistent by allowing for the introduction into evidence of a lack of seat belt use in an automobile personal injury lawsuit.
Regulating third-party litigation funding to protect consumers – Also known as “lawsuit lending,” third-party litigation funding occurs when disinterested, third-party lenders– often out-of-state investment firms with billion-dollar portfolios – front the cost of lawsuits with an agreement that the plaintiff will repay the lender with interest on the verdict or settlement. This form of “jackpot justice” takes advantage of a plaintiff’s suffering as an investment vehicle they hope will bring windfall profits. It also incentivizes plaintiffs to pursue outsized verdicts in order to repay their loan, making it harder to reach reasonable settlements. Third-party funder information is not required to be provided to the defense. This bill requires third-party litigation funders to register with the Department of Insurance in order to do business in Pennsylvania and provide disclosure to all parties in order to protect injured plaintiffs from unfair business practices.
Amend the personal jurisdiction consent statute for out-of-state corporations – Under state law, an out-of-state corporation is subject to personal jurisdiction in Pennsylvania for cause of action that arises completely in another state, simply by registering to do business in the Commonwealth. Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation that has this onerous requirement as a condition of doing business. This legislation amends the statute to omit consent to jurisdiction or, in the alternative, to limit jurisdiction to those causes of action arising within Pennsylvania as a result of the actions of the business within the Commonwealth.
Cap Contingency Fees - Limiting exorbitant profiteering by plaintiff’s attorneys will maximize recoveries for truly injured plaintiffs while discouraging frivolous lawsuit filings by less scrupulous attorneys. This proposal would implement a sliding scale of continency fees: 33.3% of the first $100,000 in verdict; 25% of the subsequent $500,000; 15% of the remainder of verdict awards (i.e., above $600,000).
Fair Share Repair Act (HB 2390) – Over the years, activist judges have chipped away at the tenants of the Fair Share Act, limiting its scope and expanding liability in the Commonwealth. This bill will restore the Fair Share Act to its original, equitable, and carefully balanced original meaning, ensuring that trucking companies are not unfairly and disproportionately targeted.
Constitutional Amendment to remove exclusive jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court over the practice of law and related areas (HB 1124) – The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has exercised its vast control over litigation through its assertion of exclusive constitutional authority of all judicial proceedings. This has effectively blocked the policymaking branches of government from establishing policy in many important areas such as venue. This proposed Constitutional Amendment would remove from Article V the exclusive authority of the Supreme Court over power to prescribe general rules governing practices, procedure, and the conduct of all courts and the practice of law. While the Supreme Court would retain their powers in the absence of legislation, the General Assembly would gain power to pass laws governing any of these subjects.
Other bills in the package address the following issues:
* Restoring fairness to medical malpractice by restoring venue to the county where the alleged injury occurred
* Strengthening statutory confidentiality protections for peer review to provide healthcare providers and facilities with clear guidance regarding confidentiality
* Limiting website accessibility litigation by requiring a 60-day safe harbor for website owners to cure an accessibility issue before a lawsuit can be filed
“We look forward to discussing with the General Assembly the many benefits to the trucking industry and to the Commonwealth of restoring fairness, balance, and transparency to our judicial system,” said Oyler. “This package of bills gives us the opportunity to do just that.”
Truckers Applaud House Transportation Committee on Fighting Freight Fraud
WASHINGTON, DC… The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) applauded the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee for taking action to combat freight fraud by passing the bipartisan Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection to combat freight fraud. The legislation introduced by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Congressman Mike Ezell (R-MS) would enhance the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) ability to crack down on freight fraud. Motor carriers are victimized through unpaid claims, unpaid loads, double brokered loads, or load phishing schemes on a daily basis. This costs the trucking industry over $800 million annually.
"Freight fraud committed by criminals and scam artists has been devastating to many small business truckers simply trying to make a living in a tough freight market,” said OOIDA President Todd Spencer. “OOIDA and the 150,000 small-business truckers we represent applaud the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee for its bipartisan approach in providing FMCSA better tools to root out fraudulent actors, which are also harmful to consumers and highway safety. Because of the broad industry support for these commonsense reforms, we hope this legislation will move to the full House of Representatives for a vote without delay.”
Problem: Professional truckers have been telling the U.S. Department of Transportation for decades about inadequate broker regulations that are rarely, if ever, enforced. This has resulted in an inequitable economic environment for truckers, especially small-businesses who are victimized by unscrupulous brokers and other fraudulent entities. The current regulatory framework limits fraud enforcement, enables bad actors to operate with impunity, and forces out drivers who want to build sustainable trucking careers.
Solution: The Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act restores and codifies FMCSA’s authority to issue civil penalties against bad actors. The legislation also requires that brokers, freight forwarders, and carriers provide a valid business address to FMCSA in order to register for authority.
The bill has been endorsed by the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), American Trucking Associations’ Moving & Storage Conference (ATA-MSC), Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association (OOIDA), the National Association of Small Trucking Companies (NASTC), Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), Institute for Safer Trucking (IST) and Road Safe America.
Additionally, the Committee passed the Motor Carrier Safety Screening Modernization Act, which would require states to implement an impartial process to review challenges against incorrectly issued citations or violations. Under current practice, states have the authority to establish their own review process. Unfortunately, nearly all of them have established a system where a review is conducted by the same person or agency who issued the violation, which creates an inherent conflict of interest. The Motor Carrier Safety Screening Modernization Act will require that a “Request for Data Review,” or “DataQ,” is adjudicated by someone other than the officer that issued the citation. This change will finally ensure some level of due process for truckers in the DataQ process.
Both bills now move on the full House of Representatives for consideration. Truckers and the traveling public are welcome to go to FightingForTruckers.com to encourage their lawmakers to support the bills.
North Carolina Receives $100 Million in Emergency Relief Funding for Roads and Bridges Damaged by Hurricane Helene
WASHINGTON, DC… The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced the immediate availability of $100 million in Emergency Relief funds for the North Carolina Department of Transportation to help pay for the costs of immediate emergency work resulting from Hurricane Helene flood damage.
Hurricane Helene brought heavy rainfall, flooding, winds, and tornados that impacted the state during September 26-28, 2024. Numerous areas throughout the state experienced significant damage, including flash flooding, landslides, rock fall, road washouts and bridge collapses. This includes damage to I-40 at several locations.
These ER funds will allow the North Carolina Department of Transportation to act more quickly to fund eligible repairs to their damaged facilities.
FHWA’s Emergency Relief program provides funding to states, territories, tribes, and Federal Land Management Agencies for highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic events. These Emergency Relief funds, provided through the “quick release” process, are an initial installment of funds toward restoring this essential transportation link. Additional funds needed to repair damage in North Carolina will be supported by the Emergency Relief program through nationwide funding allocations.
The FHWA Emergency Relief program complements Bipartisan Infrastructure Law programs and provisions by encouraging agencies to identify and implement measures to incorporate resilience in the design, restoration, and repair of damaged infrastructure, to better withstand future damage from climate change and future weather events.
Hirschbach Motor Lines Wins 2024 SmartWay Excellence Award
DUBUQUE, IA… Hirschbach Motor Lines, Inc. is proud to announce that we have been honored with the prestigious SmartWay Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This award highlights our commitment to environmental stewardship and leadership in freight supply chain energy efficiency.
The SmartWay Excellence Award is reserved for the top two percent of industry leaders, including shippers and truck carriers, selected from over 4,000 SmartWay Partners. This recognition reflects our ongoing dedication to reducing emissions and promoting sustainability within the transportation industry.
There is a photo with our leader Fred Staugh – Chief Maintenance Office at Hirschbach and Brad Pinchuk – Owner and Executive Chairman at Hirschbach who accepted the award on behalf of Hirschbach. Thank you for your continued support of Hirschbach, and please don’t hesitate to reach out for further information or interview opportunities.
ATA Truck Tonnage Index Increased 1.8% in August
Washington, DC… American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index grew 1.8% in August after rising 0.4% in July. In August, the index equaled 115.8 (2015=100) compared with 113.8 in July.
“August tonnage levels rose to the highest level since February 2023,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “Not only does the latest robust gain show freight levels are coming off the bottom, but so does the sequential pattern over the last eight months. Starting earlier this year, every time tonnage falls, it is higher than the previous low. For me, this month-to-month pattern is more important than looking at the year-over-year percent changes since we are at an inflection point in the freight market.”
July’s increase was revised up from our August 20 press release.
Compared with August 2023, the index increased 0.7%, just the second year-over-year gain in the last eighteen months (the other being in May 2024). In July, the index was down 0.9% from a year earlier.
The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 119.4 in August, 2.2% above July. ATA’s For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index is dominated by contract freight as opposed to traditional spot market freight.
In calculating the index, 100 represents 2015.
Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 72.6% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 11.46 billion tons of freight in 2022. Motor carriers collected $940.8 billion, or 80.7% of total revenue earned by all transport modes.
ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. This is a preliminary figure and subject to change in the final report issued around the 5th day of each month. The report includes month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic comparisons, and key financial indicators.
ATA Mourns Passing of Former Federation President Donohue
Washington, DC… American Trucking Associations’ President and CEO Chris Spear issued the following statement on the passing of Thomas J. Donohue, former President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and ATA:
“America has lost one of the most passionate advocates for free enterprise. Tom was a powerful voice for all businesses, employers and their employees.
“His time as President and CEO of the American Trucking Associations cemented his unyielding commitment to our industry. He was a persuasive leader, a personal mentor to me and a dear friend. Tom leaves the world better than when he entered it.”
Donohue joined ATA as President and CEO in 1984 before leaving in 1997 to lead the Chamber.
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, Candidate Rob Mercuri Visit PGT Trucking
Aliquippa, PA… PGT Trucking, Inc., a multi-service transportation firm offering flatbed, dedicated, international, sustainable and specialized solutions, were visited by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Rob Mercuri, congressional candidate for PA’s 17th Congressional District. Speaker Johnson and Mercuri stopped at PGT Trucking’s headquarters in Aliquippa on Friday to discuss the importance of the trucking industry in the November election.
The trucking industry provides one in 15 jobs in Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association and the American Transportation Research Institute. Truck drivers move an average of 414,630 tons per day in the state.
PGT Trucking, which was founded and headquartered in Beaver County, part of PA 17, since 1981, had the opportunity to showcase their impact on the local economy.
The company employs over 200 employees and company drivers in the Pittsburgh region, with more than 600 staff and drivers nationwide, and partners with over 500 owner-operators and agents. Mercuri spoke to PGT Trucking’s staff, drivers and guests about the need to strengthen PA’s industrial roots.
“It is time to get Western PA and America back on track,” said Rob Mercuri, candidate for U.S. Congress. “We need to bring common sense back to Washington, and we need to bring jobs back to Western PA.”
Speaker Johnson also addressed the crowd of supporters, acknowledging the work ethic of truck drivers and PGT’s Proud Professionals.
“PGT is a great American company, showing the kind of grit,
American know-how, and can-do spirit that we need to bring back to this country,” stated Speaker Johnson.
U.S. Representative Andy Harris (MD) and congressional candidate Julie Fedorchak (ND) were in attendance as well.
“PGT Trucking was honored to host Speaker Johnson and candidate Rob Mercuri,” stated Gregg Troian, PGT Trucking President. “As a state representative, Rob Mercuri has supported our business and the trucking industry as a whole, and we are excited to see him continue his work in the U.S. House of Representatives.”
PGT Trucking, Inc. is a multi-service transportation firm offering flatbed, dedicated, international, sustainable and specialized solutions. PGT is the leader in innovative freight transportation, building the Future of Flatbed®. PGT was recognized as a 2023-2024 Best Fleets to Drive For®. At PGT, “Safety is Everyone’s Job – All the Time.” www.pgttrucking.com