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


By the time you read this the Montana Legislature will be past transmittal and the half-way point of this year’s legislative session. So far both sides seem to be getting along and working together to solve some of the economic issues that will help move Montana forward, they have however been deeply divided on some social issues andCharter schools.


If you have followed our weekly legislative update you will see that most bills supported by MCM and the trucking community are working their way through the process.A couple of note would beHB 347 MCM’sAnti-indemnification legislation has passed theHouse and is now [at press time] in the Senate. This bill would make indemnification clauses in transportation contracts unenforceable in future years. Many times shippers have asked our carriers to indemnify them against losses regardless of who was at fault. MCM members are OK being responsible losses caused by them, but believe when that loss is caused by the shipper it should be their responsibility.


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


MCM has also been working with theDepartment of JusticeDriver’sLicenseBureau in trying to secure more drivers license service people qualified to doCDL testing. It became quite apparent about 10 months ago thatDOJ could not keep up with the increasing demand for drivers and needed some help. MCM has also been in support of a number of bills that would help revise some definitions of misconduct in the unemployment codes as well as helping structure a bill that will bring notice toHuman Trafficking that has been increasing in this country. Originally the bill required a notice with a hefty fine MCM and other business groups were successful in helping the sponsor see that heavy fines for not posting the notice was not the way to make this work.


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


SB 173 is still a thorn in the side of MCM members. This bill will take premium dollars and send them to theGeneral Fund to pay of the OldFundDebt, which 20 years ago was determined to be a responsibility of the state. This bill is poor public policy aimed at teaching the State Fund a lesson when it comes to setting their salaries and investing their money. It would require excess funds (YOUR PREMIUMDOLLARS) to be used to pay off the OldFund. These dollars should be returned to you for providing a safer work environment for your employees. In addition to paying the money to theGeneral Fund it does not allow Montana State Fund to raise premiums to cover the shortfall. Sound like dejavu, it was Legislative oversight that caused the State Fund to become underfunded in the 1980’s and at this rate it won’t be long before it happens again. Many of you may not be happy with MSF at times but over the last 25 years they have cut the rates in half compared to what they were in the late 80s.


I guess enough rambling for now please remember to check out our legislative updates every Monday morning during the session and as always THEWORLDISRANBY THOSEWHO SHOWUP.GET INVOLVED TODAY.


Barry “Spook” Stang


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


ROADWISE | ISSUE 1, 2013 | www.mttrucking.org 5


From the Executive VP


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