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Thursday, March 3, 2016
Volume 7 --- Issue 8
Safety Fitness Determination Rule
Comment Period Ending Soon
On January 21 the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a proposed safety fitness determination rule that would use data from agency and roadside inspections and investigations, or both, in evaluating on a monthly basis whether a carrier is fit to operate.

The proposed rule would replace the current three-tier federal SafeStat rating system of "satisfactory, conditional or unsatisfactory" for carriers used since 1982 with a single determination of "unfit," which would require the carrier to either improve or cease operations. A carrier could be proposed unfit by failing two or more Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) through inspections or investigation results, or a combination of both, the agency said.

Once in place, the rule will permit FMCSA to assess the safety fitness of approximately 75,000 companies a month using the agency's Compliance, Safety, Accountability program's safety measurement system methodology. FMCSA said it currently is only able to investigate 15,000 motor carriers annually.

The agency is accepting comment on the rule for 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register, slated for Jan. 21.

We would encourage our members to submit comments on this proposed rulemaking. For information on how to file comments, or to obtain a sample comment letter and talking points, please contact us at the IMTA office.

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CSA Safety Measurement System "Measures" Due to Be Publicly Displayed Again
Early next week, motor carriers' Safety Measurement System absolute measures in each BASIC will once again become publicly available via the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Compliance, Safety, Accountability website.

BASIC measures represent a ratio of time and severity weighted violations to some calculation of exposure (e.g., number of inspections).

FMCSA compares carriers' measures to determine percentile rankings (i.e., scores) in each BASIC. It is important to stress that percentile rankings and alerts are not due to return to public display any time soon, only carriers' measures will. 


Read more about this article at www.iowamotortruck.com

SOURCE:  ATA
EPA, NHTSA to Seek Comments on GHG
The EPA and the NHTSA jointly published a notice in the Federal Register seeking comment on their proposal to tighten greenhouse-gas emissions for trucks.

The proposal governs trucks, including combination tractors, and commercial trailers. The heavy-duty category includes all vehicles with a gross weight rating of at least 8,500 pounds, as well as the engines that power them. The more stringent standards would phase in from 2021 to 2027.

The agencies are seeking comment on the greenhouse-gas emissions model (GEM) P2v2.1, default gasoline engine fuel map for use in GEM, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Powertrain data, the Southwest Research Institute program update on cycle average mapping data and the Final Southwest Research Institute report to NHTSA, to name a few.

Read more about this article at www.iowamotortruck.com

SOURCE:  CCJ

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2016 Leadership Class Almost Complete!
If you were planning to nominate yourself or a coworker to be part of the 2016 IMTA Leadership Class, you better act fast!

The IMTA Leadership Class has a long standing tradition of offering high quality sessions featuring some of the best educators in their field of expertise.  The curriculum is designed to address both personal and professional development needs.  At the conclusion of this program, each participant walks away with added knowledge, expertise and confidence in many different areas.

The schedule for each session,and nomination form, is available at www.iowamotortruck.com.  Extremely limited spots remain to take part in this prestigious program!

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ATA Begins Search for Next America's Road Team
The American Trucking Associations has opened the nominating process for professional truck drivers to serve on the 2017-2018 America's Road Team.

Every two years, the torch is passed to a new group of America's Road Team Captains, while America's Road Team Captains from previous classes remain very active within the program--serving as mentors and attending events alongside the newest class. The professional drivers, most of whom have millions of accident-free miles, take a few days away from their companies each month to meet with the motoring public, the news media, students, transportation officials, and public policy makers to perform truck safety demonstrations and explain the sustainable role that trucking plays in the nation's economy.
 
Read more about this article at www.iowamotortruck.com
Senate Panel to Vote on Darling Nomination March 3
The Senate Commerce Committee has scheduled a vote March 3 on Scott Darling's nomination to be administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

If the panel advances his nomination, it will be up to the full Senate to confirm him. Darling, FMCSA's acting administrator, had served as chief counsel since September 2012.

Darling testified before the committee Feb. 2, telling senators the agency plans to advance myriad policy proposals this spring. Darling also said the agency's Compliance, Safety, Accountability performance scoring program is being reviewed by the National Academy of Sciences. FMCSA removed CSA from public view soon after the enactment of the FAST Act, the 2015 highway law, in December.

Read more about this article at www.iowamotortruck.com
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Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation Scholarships
Since 1986, the Iowa Motor Carriers Foundation has awarded scholarships to Iowans pursuing education in any field of study at an Iowa-based college or university. 

To be eligible to receive one of the $1000 scholarships, a student must be a permanent resident of the state of Iowa.  Selections are based on the applicant's academic record and outside activities as they pertain to school and community citizenship.

For information please visit www.iowamotortruck.com.  

Application deadline is March 15, 2016!
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Brenda Neville, President � [email protected]
Jon Dill, Membership Manager � [email protected]
Don Egli, Director of Safety � [email protected]
DeAnn Moody, Office Manager � [email protected]
Janelle Stevens, Director of Communications, Education & Events � [email protected]
Whitney Tapia, Marketing & Public Relations Manager � [email protected]