Oversize and Overweight Vehicles (SF 2248 and HF 2383)
Legislation supported by IMTA has passed that will allow 46,000 pounds on a single tandem axle of the trailer is each axle of each tandem has at least four tires.
Iowa DOT Appropriations
In the last 15 years the Iowa DOT has reduced staff sizes by approximately 1,500 employees. Certainly, a great deal of that was forced by belt tightening measures, as well as new measures implemented over the years. This year marked the first time in maybe 10 years that the department asked the legislature for an increase in funding for salaries.
It was argued the funding was needed due to merit pay increases, insurance costs and collective bargaining agreements, plus the 10 cent per gallon increase in the gas tax has increased workloads. The department was requesting $9.7 million and told legislators this was needed just to maintain current staffing levels. Without the funding the DOT claimed there could be as many as 400 layoffs in the next few years.
Although increased workload tied to the gas tax was one of the reasons cited by the Iowa DOT, that argument was met with little support by many in the legislature. Republican leaders, in particular, stated publicly they had not supported a gas tax to have it go into salaries. The Senate passed the $9.7 million increase, but the House failed to provide any increase in funding.
This issue came down to one of the sticking points stopping the legislature from adjourning. The bill ended up in a conference committee with the final compromise being a $4.8 increase.
Wage Study Passes
Tucked into the standings bill is a provision calling for a wage study between public sector and private sector jobs. In other words, is a truck driver for the state being paid more or less than a truck driver for an IMTA member. The study is not specific to the trucking industry by any means, but it is aimed at focusing on jobs which can be easily compared across the public and private sector lines. The bill is on the Governor's desk and he as 30 days from the end of the session to act.
CDL Testing
Legislation was introduced to allow community colleges and other third party vendors to test CDL applicants. AFSCME argued this could cost state employee jobs, but the Iowa DOT disagreed. Ultimately, the legislation did not advance after the DOT and the community colleges agreed current law allows the community colleges to offer testing for students who were not part of a community college CDL program.
