CHAIRMAN’S LETTER
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HAPPY SPRING! At last, March winds, April showers, May flowers, what a great time of year!
At this time there are many issues facing our industry, like the stabilization of the highway trust fund, hours of service legislation, FMCSA and CSA oversight, drug and alcohol clearinghouse, hair testing, sleep apnea, the possibility of tolling, and driver shortages to name a few. We decided it would be a good time to do a Call on Washington to discuss some of these with our elected officials. A group of eleven from the executive committee, staff and members with the association went in March to discuss some of these issues. Staff successfully scheduled meetings with all five of our Congressional Representatives and Senators, with their aids and staff, to discuss three main issues: the highway trust fund, hours of service, particularly keeping the thirty- four hour restart in place, and FMCSA/CSA oversight. We had very productive discussions with all of them, and their aids and staff. All agreed that the highway trust fund needed to be given priority and a plan for a longer period of funding be made available, but with the present funding to expire on May 31 this year, they indicated an extension of the present short-time spending is what will probably happen.
www.nebtrucking.com president
ljohnson@nebtrucking.com
pwood@nebtrucking.com controller
knesja@nebtrucking.com dgarcia@nebtrucking.com
office manager Diana Garcia
Keith Nesja
Along with getting everything ready for the Call on Washington, staff has been monitoring our State Legislature and bills that were introduced, determining what they can mean to our industry. LB 610 in particular, a bill to raise fuel tax 1.5 cents a year for the next four years, is progressing. Tis bill is of interest as it would provide funding for the upkeep of Nebraska roads and bridges.
Trucking Associations (ATA). ATA serves and represents the trucking industry on a national level, influencing federal and state government actions, advancing a positive trucking industry image, providing education programs and industry research, and promoting highway safety and security.
For more information, contact Nebraska Trucking: 1701 K Street P.O. Box 81010 Lincoln, NE 68501 Phone 402.476.8504 Fax: 402.476.8570
Nebraska Trucking Association is a statewide trade association for commercial truck and bus operators and affiliated businesses. It is a not-for- profit association governed by a board of directors elected annually. Nebraska Trucking is an affiliate of the American
Our association like any other needs participation. Tere are a number of upcoming Association events: Waverly scales check on May 14, board of directors meeting and golf on May 21 at Iron Horse Golf Club in Ashland, and the Nebraska truck driving championships on June 5-6 in Grand Island. Also, Road Check 2015 takes place June 2-4. Watch your weekly Good-to-Know for all upcoming events!
I thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Chairman. Sincerely,
Chris Klotz SBT, Inc.
Chair, Nebraska Trucking Association NEBRASKA TRUCKER — ISSUE 2, 2015 —
www.nebtrucking.com 5
vice president Patty Wood
We applaud and express our gratitude to all our elected officials in D.C. for their dedication to our industry and the State of Nebraska. It was a full schedule but we believe we came away from Washington feeling that we had been listened to and accomplished what we set out to do.
Larry Johnson
In regard to the FMCSA/CSA oversight, Sen. Deb Fisher has already questioned both the intent and purpose of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s smart phone app making CSA’s percentile rankings more accessible to third parties and the public. She has also questioned the validity of information and with the scoring of it. Sen. Fisher also stated that she plans to introduce reform legislation to make FMCSA more responsible to Congress and industry stakeholders and increase its transparency.
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