Last week ATA unveiled the 2015 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week logo and announced it has opened a new online The NTDAW online store for merchandise. 

 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, which ATA began celebrating in 1988, will be September 13-19. During that time, America takes the time to honor all professional truck drivers for their hard work and commitment in tackling one of our economy's most demanding and important jobs. These 3.4 million professional men and women deliver our goods safely, securely and on time.

The official NTDAW online store features affordable merchandise in a wide range of products and colors. The official NTDAW banner, which companies and organizations display during the week long festivities, is available in the online store. Orders must be placed by August 19.

To request the NTDAW logo, please email NTDAW@trucking.org. 

On Wednesday the Senate Commerce Committee approved its title of the federal highway bill, S. 1732, the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act, by a party line vote of 13-11. This bill is expected to be added to a manager's package that will be brought to the Senate floor next week - reportedly a three-year, $50 billion highway bill. This bill, if passed, will compete with an $8 billion temporary extension to the federal highway trust fund and MAP-21 passed by the House today 312-119. The very different funding demonstrate how far apart the two chambers are with regards to highway reauthorization and will make for an interesting few weeks as we approach the existing July 31 funding deadline.

Of note, Senator Wicker (R-MS) withdrew his amendment regarding twin 33's. The amendment would authorize a DOT rulemaking on twin 33's if the pending FMCSA Truck, Size and Weight study produces favorable findings. In other words, it would delay twin 33's indefinitely. The Senator is apparently working with Senator Feinstein (D-CA) to offer an amendment on the Senate floor.

Additionally, S. 806, the hair testing bill offered by Senators Boozman (R-AR) and Manchin (D-WV), was pulled from the chairman's mark last Friday due to late hour concerns raised by DOT. Senator Manchin successfully added S. 806 back into the underlying bill during the committee markup, accepted by voice vote.

Finally, there were multiple amendments defeated that would have struck other ATA priority provisions from the bill, including:

• Senator Blumenthal (D-CT) amendment striking Senator Fischer's (R-NE) FMCSA reform (Blumenthal 9) failed by voice vote;
• Amendment striking Chairman Thune's CSA (R-SD) reform language (Blumenthal 4) failed by voice vote;
• Senator Booker (D-NJ) amendment increasing minimum insurance levels (Booker 5) failed by voice vote;
• Senator Markey (D-MA) amendment striking Senator Fischer's CDL language - the Commercial Driver Act -  (Markey 2) failed by voice vote;
• Ranking Member Nelson's (D-FL) substitute amendment failed by a 11-13 vote.

We are now accepting driver of the month applications for July 2015. You may download an application from our webpage at www.mttrucking.org on our Home Page under the Driver of the Month tab.

All applications must be in by Friday, July 31 at 8:00 a.m.

TO:            MCM Members

FROM:      Barry Stang

RE:            TRUCK DRIVER APPRECIATION EVENTS

The MCM sponsored Truck Driver Appreciation events will be held Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at the westbound and eastbound Mossmain scale between Billings and Laurel and Muralt's Truck Stop in Missoula. This annual event will provide lots of great food and prizes.

Any MCM member interested in helping with this event may do so by completing the bottom of this sheet and returning it to the MCM office. Sponsors will be recognized on a banner at each location, on a flyer presented to each truck driver, and in our monthly newsletter.

If you are interested in helping sponsor this event, please respond to our office ASAP, in order to have your name on the banners.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call the MCM office at 406-442-6600.

Please return this form to the MCM office by August 24, 2015 to ensure banner and newsletter placement.

You may also be contacted by the local Safety Management chapters for contributions.
They will notify MCM to make sure recognition is given.

_____ YES, I would like to help sponsor the Driver Appreciation events:

            $ ­­­­­­­­­­­­____________

            Other (items): _________________________________________ 

_____ BILL MY ACCOUNT  

I'M AVAILABLE TO VOLUNTEER

COMPANY NAME: ____________________________________  
PHONE: ____________________

COMPANY ADDRESS: _________________________________         
EMAIL:   ____________________

CONTACT: ___________________________________________

Please email to katie@mttrucking.org, fax to MCM at (406) 443-4281 or mail to 501 North Sanders, Suite 201, Helena, MT 59601                                                                      

We are accepting nominations for our Dedicated Service Award and Volunteer Award via a letter of nomination spelling out why person is deserving. The dedicated service award & volunteer award are for anyone you'd like to nominate who you feel has shown dedication or has given their time throughout the year within their company and/or MCM services. 

This only needs to be a short 1-2 paragraph nomination.  There is no official application for this. 

Nominations to MCM office by August 3, 2015.

Please email to katie@mttrucking.org