Official Magazine of the Motor Carriers of Montana


Roadwise is owned by the Motor Carriers


of Montana and is published bimonthly by Matthews PublishingGroup. For additional


copies, to order reprints of individual articles or to become a subscriber to Roadwise, contact Katie Bowlds at 406-442-6600.


publisher JENNIFER MATTHEWS KIDD


jennifer@matthewspublishing.com executive editor


BARRY “SPOOK”STANG spook@mttrucking.org


art director JON D. KENNEDY


freelanceco@comcast.net contributing writers


STEVE BRAWNER, SAM EIFLING, ERIC FRANCIS JENNIFER BARNETT REED, JOHN SCHULZ, TODD TRAUB


illustrator


BRENT BENNETT brentdraw@cox.net


photographers MARK BRYANT


TOMBURTCHAELL ad production


DEAH CHISENHALL DUSTY TOWNSEND


printer


TCPrint Solutions www.tcprint.com


ANewYear, new session, new issues The 63rd


From the Executive VP


legislative session is well under way and as usual will prove to be interesting. The


Republicans again will have large majorities in theHouse andSenate and again the person living in the governor’s mansion is a Democrat. Legislative leaders as well as theGovernor have pledged to try and work together for the good of Montana and will do their best to be productive this session.


executive vice president BARRY “SPOOK”STANG spook@mttrucking.org


administrative assistant KATIE BOWLDS


katie@mttrucking.org


safety diretor KEVIN ERNST


kevin@mttrucking.org


safety transportation consultant AL CALKIN


al@mttrucking.org


Another issue that MCM will follow will be the usual suspects—taxes, undo regulations, workers’ compensation are just a few. In order to keep MCM members up to date on the issues please read your weekly On The Horizon legislative report and if you wish call the MCM office to get information on how to join our weekly conference call to discuss legislative issues and other MCM business. All members are welcome to participate. These calls will be every Monday morning at 11 a.m. throughout the session.


An affiliate of the American Trucking Associations


Motor Carriers of Montana (MCM) has served as the voice for Montana’s trucking industry since 1939. MCM is a trade association dedicated to the furtherance of the trucking industry’s goals and interests in Montana and the United States. Our membership is a very diverse group comprised of trucking companies, passenger carriers, garbage haulers, construction & excavation companies, and companies providing products and services to the industry. MCM serves these companies as a governmental affairs representative before legislative, regulatory and executive branches of government on issues that affect the trucking industry. The organization also provides public relations services, operation services and serves as a forum for industry meetings and membership relations.


Phone 406-442-6600 Facsimile 406-443-4281 www.mttrucking.org


For more information, contact MCM at: Motor Carriers of Montana 501N. Sanders, Suite 201 Helena, MT 59601


You may also access information on how to contact your legislative or congressional delegates on the MCM web page www.mttrucking.org under the legislative tab. Please take advantage of these opportunities to get involved in your association.


´Til next time; Remember the world is run by those who show up.Get involved today. Barry “Spook” Stang


Executive Vice President, Motor Carriers of Montana spook@mttrucking.org


This year the MCMBoard is taking on as a priority tort reform. Currently 36 states have passed some rendition of anti-indemnification legislation and Montana is hoping to be next. We have found that a number of shippers, particularly the larger shippers, have been forcing the insertion of an indemnification clause in their contracts. This clause basically says that the carrier will indemnify the shipper for all damages arising from the transport of their goods, regardless of whom is at fault. In some cases the shippers have been the party causing the damage and the carrier has been forced to cover the damages. That is hardly fair. By the time you read this we are hoping to have the bill moving through the legislative process and will be looking to MCM members for examples of these contracts. This concept is not new to Montana as contractors currently have a statute that prohibits this language in their contracts.


ROADWISE |


ISSUE 6, 2012 | www.mttrucking.org


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