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Truck Electrification Headlines Next MMTA Meeting Agenda
In an effort to educate and prepare the Maine trucking industry for future technology changes, we have invited Volvo to the January 9th MMTA Membership and Board meetings to be a featured presenter. Joining us will be Roberto Camacho, Volvo E-mobility Specialist for the Northeast Region, to talk about truck electrification from a manufacturer’s perspective.
We all know that electrification is coming at some point, hopefully with voluntary adoption and when the market demands it. But manufacturers of our trucks face unique challenges to balance that demand and political realities, and this impacts MMTA member choices and costs. Please join us to hear from Volvo about their ZEV goals, manufacturing challenges, and what they see for the future of truck electrification.
We know the meeting is a way off, but we wanted to let everyone know about the topic in case you wanted to bring your maintenance and purchasing folks to the meeting on January 9th. You may recall that this meeting is a little different than most because it will be held in conjunction with the MMTA Annual Banquet to be held this year at the Sheraton Sable Oaks in South Portland. The Membership/Board meeting starts at 2pm and the hospitality reception, hosted by Volvo, starts the banquet event at 5pm. If you haven’t yet registered for the banquet, you can CLICK HERE to register.
We hope you will join us on January 9th!
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Maine State Police Implement a New Performance-Based Brake Tester at Weigh Stations
MMTA
The Maine State Police have introduced a new Performance-Based Brake Tester (PBBT) that is being transported to weigh stations across the state, to assess the braking performance of commercial motor vehicles (CMV’s). This device aims to ensure that commercial trucks and trailers meet required safety standards for braking force outlined in section 393.52 of the FMCSA Safety Handbook. Recently, Maine Motor Transport Association visited the York Weigh Station to observe the PBBT in action.
Read more...
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MMTA to Host Virtual Meeting to Discuss New Maine Law on Lease/Rental Taxation
MMTA
As we have previously reported, this past spring lawmakers passed a new law making substantive changes to the rental/lease of equipment from up-front on the lessor at purchase, to a tax on the lease stream to the lessee. This change is set to go into effect on January 1, 2025 so we have reached out to Maine Revenue Services to see if they would present the new law to our members and answer the many practical questions that will arise given the significance of the change.
For more information on the changes made, click here to access the May article we wrote when the law was passed.
We are happy to report that MRS has agreed to make such a presentation and it has been scheduled for December 5th at 9:30am via Zoom (details to join below). You do not need to register to attend, but we would like to gather as many of your questions in advance as possible to make good use of their time and yours. Please send your comments/questions to either Brian or Tim and we will send them along to MRS for them to be prepared on the 5th.
Read more...
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2025 MMTA Employee Benefits Program Rates/Plans Now Available
We are excited to announce the details for the 2025 MMTA Employee Benefits Program!
Are you taking advantage of MMTA’s group employee benefits? MMTA works with some of the most respected insurance carriers in Maine to create a diverse employee benefits program to offer our members. The program includes a variety of plan options, including dental, vision, short-term disability, and life insurance, for all budgets.
Read more...
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Driver Educator Summit Has Truck Safety Component
MMTA
On September 23rd AAA, the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety brought together national, local and regional leaders in a traffic safety and driver education for a statewide driver educator summit at the Holiday Inn by the Bay, Jon Brockway, professional driver and Road Team Captain for Walmart Transportation in Lewiston, provided an educational segment on avoiding the No Zone and how to manage distractions.
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Maine Department of Labor to Hold New Paid Family & Medical Leave Portal Webinars
Maine DOL
MAINE - The Maine Department of Labor is inviting employers and third-party administrators to upcoming webinars that will focus on what they need to know about the new Paid Family and Medical Leave online contributions portal before they need to register in January.
The Department partnered with FAST Enterprises - https://www.fastenterprises.com/ to build the portal, which will allow employers to register their business information with the Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave Program, file quarterly wage reports and remit contributions, and to apply for private plan substitutions when eligible. The system will also provide the opportunity for self-employed individuals and tribal governments to opt into coverage from the Paid Family and Medical Leave program.
Employer webinar: The employer-focused webinar will take place on December 3 from 12pm-1pm
Read more and register...
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FHWA Awards $96M to 16 States for High-Tech Safety Projects - Maine to Have Mobile Phone, In-Cab Low Bridge Alerts
Transport Topics
“Audible notifications will be sent to the cabs of drivers’ vehicles or to their mobile devices, alerting them of the potential obstacle. The messaging is intended to occur multiple times, providing repeated notices in advance of the posted overpasses to allow vehicles to divert prior to reaching the restricted bridge. The Maine Motor Transport Association is very interested in partnering with MaineDOT on this important project, which will help create a smarter, more efficient transportation network throughout the state,” MaineDOT noted.
Read more...
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Litigants Allege EPA Cannot Legally Mandate Electric Trucks
Transport Topics
The Environmental Protection Agency lacks legal authority to mandate electric vehicles, according to a court brief filed by a coalition of 24 states and various economic interests seeking federal appellate court review.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit review request challenges EPA’s “Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles-Phase 3.”
The Oct. 16 court filing alleges the mandate requiring large trucks to transition to all-electric vehicles would significantly impact truck manufacturers, fuel and energy markets, the biofuel industry, farmers and trucking companies.
Read more...
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178,000 CDLs scheduled for downgrades for drug, alcohol violations on Monday (Nov. 18)
Overdrive
More than 178,000 truck drivers and other CDL holders who find themselves in “prohibited” status in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse will have their licenses downgraded and their commercial driving privileges revoked on Monday, November 18.
This move is what FMCSA refers to as Clearinghouse II, or Phase 2 of its Clearinghouse that first launched at the beginning of 2020.
Read more...
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Blue states are pausing their clean truck rules amid charging and supply challenges
Politico
California’s blue-state allies in the electric truck transition are getting cold feet.
New Jersey — one of the 10 states that follows California’s rules to transform the heavy-duty trucking sector — is contemplating giving truck manufacturers a break from having to sell electric models.
“The state is just not ready,” said New Jersey Senate Transportation Chair Patrick Diegnan, who introduced a bill this week that would delay the start of New Jersey’s zero emission sales mandate by two years amid concerns that there aren’t enough electric trucks or chargers.
Read more...
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Automation, speed limiters on former FMCSA deputy’s radar for 2025
Freight Waves
WASHINGTON — Three federal rulemakings that have cost implications for truckers and motor carriers are on the short-term horizon for a former top official at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Earl Adams, who served as FMCSA’s deputy administrator and chief counsel under former administrator Robin Hutcheson, led a team at the agency that is developing the first major set of rules for high-level automation in heavy-duty trucks.
Read more...
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Independent contractor rules: How did trucking get here?
Fleet Owner
What does the Department of Labor’s final rule do, and what came before it? Dive into the messy history behind the 2024 independent contractor classification final rule.
Read more...
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The Case for RNG in Trucking
Heavy Duty Trucking
It has become obvious that while battery-electric powertrains are a viable solution for short- and regional-haul fleets, zero-emission options for longer-range applications are sorely lacking.
It’s true that fuel cell battery-electric vehicles have the potential to move into long-haul applications. But no products are commercially available yet. And even if they were, acquisition costs and infrastructure issues are problematic. (As is still the case for commercial BEVs.).
Read more...
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UPCOMING MMTA TRAINING & EVENTS | |
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MMTA Safety Management Council Meeting
November 21, 2024
8:00am
MMTA Office, Augusta
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MMTA Membership & Board Meetings
January 9, 2025
2:00pm
Sheraton Sable Oaks, S.Portland
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MMTA Annual Banquet
January 9, 2025
Sheraton Sable Oaks
South Portland
FMI and Registration
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Thank you MMTA Annual Sponsors | |
Zero percent loans for approved CDL school training |
MMTA
Students attending approved CDL schools are eligible to apply for tuition loans to attain their Class A or Class B Commercial Driver’s License at an amazing ZERO percent interest.
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