Monthly Edition (April 20, 2020)
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Message from MMTA
Brian Parke, MMTA President and CEO
As you already know, the emergency brought on by the spread of COVID-19 has required MMTA to take an unusual approach to our communications. Instead of publishing this e-newsletter once a month, we have sent subscribers daily (and sometimes multiple times a day) updates through this medium. However, we have commitments from advertisers who want to promote their company to the Maine trucking industry, which is why this edition is less about coronavirus and more about the content you would typically find in one of our e-newsletters. We thank our advertisers for their support and understanding during these unprecedented times, and we hope readers of this publication will consider clicking on their ads to see more about their goods/services.
It bears mentioning the thought process we have used to give members updates on the coronavirus. You have probably noticed that we have not reported on a lot of the things that are being widely distributed in typical media channels. Instead, we have taken the approach to not inundate readers with information you are likely getting from other sources so you don’t see our e-newsletter as more “noise” for you to sift through. While not perfect, we hope you see the information provided here as valuable to the trucking industry and supportive of our industry’s incredible efforts to deliver goods during this emergency.
Let me be one of the many people thanking you for playing your role in protecting our fellow Americans and keeping our economy moving, albeit at a different level than before the pandemic. The trucking industry was ready before “normal” changed in our lives and our people continue to excel during these difficult times. But it’s important to not lose sight of our need to be prepared for the next chapter – where we will continue to be counted on regardless of what things look like on the other side of this emergency.
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Maine Truck PAC Golf Tournament (?)
April 2020
Despite not knowing what executive order and social distancing requirements might look like in June, MMTA is collecting registrations and sponsorships for our annual Truck PAC golf tournament. We anticipate clarity on the event being held no later than June 1st when we will decide if golf will be played, or if refunds will be issued. Please consider registering for the tournament – if for nothing more than to give you something to look forward to as the weather warms and we all look for ways to bring back a sense of “normalcy” during this pandemic.
The Truck PAC golf tournament will again be played at Natanis Golf Course, located on the Webber Pond Road in Vassalboro, on June 10, 2020. Natanis features 36 great holes of golf and will serve as an excellent host for this year’s primary fundraising event for the Truck PAC.
The tournament is designed to be player friendly and will feature an on the course meal consisting of hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, watermelon, dessert, and soft drinks. After golf has concluded, light refreshments, and a cash bar will be available as prizes are handed out.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available (Major Sponsors $500 or Hole Sponsors $150/hole)
All registrations must be received by June 5th. You can register online at
www.mmta.com/golf. The cost is $500 per team or $125 per player.
Location: Natanis Golf Course, Vassalboro
Registration: 8:00 am
Shotgun Start: 9:00am
Lunch: On the course
We hope you consider supporting the PAC and registering a team of golfers and sponsoring the event. The Truck PAC funds are used to support business-friendly candidates to the Maine Legislature.
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John W. Austin Scholarship Deadline Nears
April 2020
Like many professions in the state of Maine, the trucking industry continues to be blessed with talented and energetic leaders that shape the future of our essential industry. One such leader, John Austin, passed away unexpectedly in January of 2011 but not before he left his mark on countless individuals and businesses.
In the time since, there has been an outpouring of support to recognize John’s huge impact on the trucking industry and the Maine Motor Transport Association. His generosity with his time and resources set him apart and, in keeping with John’s compassion and kindness towards others, the MMTA re-named its scholarship fund in his honor – now known as the John W. Austin Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Applications for the scholarship is now available online. The qualifications for a candidate to be considered for a scholarship include:
- They must be a graduating high school senior;
- They must be seeking higher education or technical training in areas relevant to the motor transportation industry;
- They must submit a completed application, with transcript, prior to May 1, 2020.
A committee will meet after the May 1st application submission deadline to determine how many scholarships will be awarded based upon criteria which include prior academic performance, recommendations from instructors, financial need and/or demonstrated ability with respect to skills relevant to the motor transportation industry. Prior scholarship amounts averaged $1,000 per recipient.
For more information and to fill out an online application, visit us at
www.mmta.com/jwa.
We hope you can spread the word on the John W. Austin Memorial Scholarship Fund. We can’t think of a better way to honor the memory of our good friend John Austin than being able to deliver educational opportunities to kids who might not otherwise be able to afford it.
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REMINDER: MMTA Board/Membership Meeting - May 8 @ 7:30am
To be held via ZOOM Video Conference
The MMTA’s Annual Board & Membership meetings, originally scheduled for April 8th, has been rescheduled to May 8th starting at 7:30am. Since there is no way to be assured that we will be able to meet in person given the ever-changing factors that have gone into the COVID-19 emergency, the meeting will be hosted virtually through Zoom video conference.
Since this is the first time we have met via Zoom on such a large scale, we are asking members to register for the meeting. Once registered, you will receive Zoom instructions to attend via video conference or to attend via phone only. Please Note: If you attend via phone only, you will need to provide us with the phone number you will be calling from on the online registration form – we will disconnect any unrecognized phone number from the meeting.
We ask for everyone’s patience with this technology and encourage you to test your system prior to the meeting on May 8th. If you would like to test your system with MMTA, please contact Brian as soon as possible.
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Why Can’t We Build Infrastructure Cheaply, Quickly and Well?
Governing.com
As the nation hunkers down and confronts the coronavirus, there have been calls for a surge to build infrastructure to restart the economy while we simultaneously repair, replace and modernize our fraying web of roads, bridges, and train, power and fiber-optic lines.
Nice idea, but there is a problem: We appear to no longer know how to build infrastructure in a timely, cost-efficient and quality manner....
Looking more broadly at infrastructure, analysts generally agree on a set of factors that drive costs and time up and quality down.
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CT Governor Mandates Face Coverings – More States to Follow?
MTAC
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has issued an Executive Order requiring face coverings in certain situations in public, and in the workplace. The order is effective at 8 p.m. today. The Executive Order requires their Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) to update their Safe Workplace rules to incorporate the face covering order –
click here for to access the rules.
The reason this might be important is that other states might follow suit requiring face coverings, especially as Governors make plans to reopen the economy. It is more important than ever for companies and individuals to be proactive in procuring PPE and developing plans to control human contact (with other employees and customers) to eliminate transmission points.
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MMTA PPE Resources Page Updated
April 20, 2020
After publishing our April 16th e-newsletter, we had members contact us with additional resources that they have pursued for personal protective equipment. In the interest of having one location for all of the information, we have developed a PPE Resources page that we will update as new information becomes available.
As indicated before, MMTA’s objective is to provide members with resources to obtain PPE and we do not advocate for or sponsor any of the suppliers or equipment listed.
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Irving Truck Stops Expand Locations offering Free Breakfast and Coffee to Professional Truck Drivers
Irving Oil
Irving continues to say thank you to Professional Drivers with FREE breakfasts and coffee across their network and a FREE shower with any Irving fuel purchase. The number of locations with this offer has grown to include Auburn, Fairfield and Kittery in Maine and Bow Junction in New Hampshire. To see all participating locations, visit
irvingoil.com/thankyoudrivers.
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We will keep MMTA members posted as new information comes in. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to email
Tim,
Randy or
Brian if you have questions.
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THANK YOU MMTA ANNUAL SPONSORS
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Maine Motor Transport Association
P.O. Box 857
Augusta, ME 04332-0857
ph: (207)623-4128
fax: (207)623-4096
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