New Mexico
Trucking Association
4809 Jefferson St. N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87109
505 884-5575
505 884-3661 (fax)
Click on ITH to link
August 13, 2010
In This Issue:
NM Drivers in NTDC Finals
CSA 2010 - The Pilot State Experience
Driver of the Month
Annual Tax Filing
Gasses Falls
FMCSA Revises CSA 2010 Methodology
Study finds States Still in Finance Trouble
FMCSA to Drop Registrant-Only Numbers
The Alliance for Transportation Research (ATRI) Needs Your Help
Senate Truck Weight Bill Introduced
Truck Driver Appreciation Week
J.J. Keller Offers Program to Help CSA 2010 Education
NM DOT Website Tracks Road Status
Unsure
of State road conditions or closures?
Want to check the weather forecast. Then check out the New
Mexico Department of Transportation's website for compressive to State
traffic information. Click
here to visit the NM DOT website.
On the NM DOT site, you'll find a wide array of State maps, photo galleries, video galleries and much more.
You will also find State-wide and city specific details on:
Road Conditions
Accidents & Incidents
Road Closures
Road Construction
Commercial Vehicle Permits
Weather Alerts
Weather Forecasts
Events In The Headlights
Brake Safety
Week
The annual Brake Safety Week is set for September 12-18, 2010 around the country. During this week State Patrols will focus inspection attention on truck brake systems. Brake Safety Week is sponsored by the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Alliance.
CVSA Annual
Conference
Set for September 19-23 in Anaheim, California, this national conference combines several meetings and many sessions targeted at State Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement agencies. Trucking representatives are welcome to attend.
The North American Cargo Securement Harmonization Public Forum will be part of this year's conference. The goal of this effort is to develop and implement uniform regulations for cargo securement throughout North America.
Visit the CVSA website for registration and further details on the conference.
Driver Situation Changing as Demand Climbs
increased economic activity is leading to more driver hiring, but carriers are finding that driver hiring is not so simple, according to a recent article in www.truckinginfo.com
CSA 2010 Changes
Under CSA 2010 drivers are much more responsible for their safety violations which now will stay with them as they move from one carrier to another.
FMCSA has defined 11 red flag violations that can trigger regulatory actions against the driver. Carriers obviosuly have reason to avoid hiring poorly ranked drivers that could be involved in accidents. In addition, now carriers are very aware that poor drivers on their payroll will cause the carrier's overall safety record to drop.
To avoid a poor rating that will trigger a safety audit, one safety consultant predicts that carriers will increasingly improve screening of new drivers and focus on better training of existing dirvers.
Driver Pay Issues
As driver recruitment increases, large fleets are finding current driver pay levels are discouraging drivers. According to research by Morgan Stanley driver pay has decreased by 6.6% between the third quarter of 2007 to the first quarter of 2010. This is the largest pay drop Morgan Stanley has seen since they began conducting the study.
Low pay, in some cases, has caused drivers to leave the profession or stay on unemployment.
Increased driver wages can be expected as the economy recovers, according th Morgan Stanley.
Recruitment Process
During the recession, most fleets reduced their hiring and training departments. Now as things change, they will need to reactivate those efforts and in some cases rething their hiring in light of CSA 2010.
Annual ATA Meet Set for Phoenix
The 2010 ATA Management Conference & Exhibition (MC&E), scheduled for Oct. 16-19 in Phoenix, will assess the economic recovery, midterm elections and environmental initiatives from a motor carrier’s perspective.
MC&E is the trucking industry’s premier event, showcasing new technologies and business services, with more than 150 exhibitors displaying everything from trucks and engines to software and support services. With abundant networking opportunities and social events in Phoenix, MC&E is also a place to cement the personal contacts that make a business successful.
Highlights will include:
<> A performance by award-winning actor and comedian Jason Alexander, who is best known for his role as George Costanza on the television sitcom Seinfeld.
<> A two-part general session on new fuel economy standards for large trucks focusing on likely engine modifications and examining probable vehicle adaptations.
<> Sixteen educational programs targeted to give you practical information you can implement in your business.
<> Bill Kurtis, one of America’s top journalists, and Bob Costello, Chief Economist for ATA, along with a panel of blue-ribbon economists will provide insight into key economic factors affecting the trucking industry today.
Click here for additional information and to register online.
FMCSA Delays Intermodal Rule
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extended the compliance deadline to have a system that requires drivers to fill out inspection reports on every chassis – even if it is not damaged or is free of defects. The reporting process was to begin by June 30. But FMCSA pushed the compliance deadline back one year until June 30, 2011.
The extension will give FMCSA officials a chance to consider dropping the reporting requirement on defect- or damage-free equipment. That issue was brought to light in a petition for reconsideration filed by a pair of groups representing intermodal equipment providers.
Meanwhile, other intermodal equipment requirements remain in effect. These include requiring equipment providers to have in place inspection, repair and maintenance programs, as well as a process for receiving and taking appropriate action in response to driver inspection reports that damage, defects, or deficiencies are reported.
New Webinar Looks at CSA2010 From the Pilot State Experience
Motor carriers in CSA 2010 Pilot States have a unique perspective. They know what this new enforcement program is like, both on the roadside and how it plays out during compliance reviews.
A new Webinar will let you explore that experience and gain critical knowledge before the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration comes knocking at your door.
The three hour webinar is set for September 8th.
Click here for details and to register. New Mexico Trucking Association Members get a special discounted price.
In the wake of the Gulf oil spill, Congress and the administration are debating proposals - including higher taxes and fees on the oil and natural gas industry -- that could cost Amercian jobs, threatn our fragile economic recovery and jeopardize our energy security.
The New Mexico Rally for Jobs is an opportunity for both the countless men and women whose liveihoods depend on the oil and natural gas industry and consumers who rely on access to affordable energy to express their concerns about these harmful proposals.
Simple put: more energy equals more jobs, higher incomes, and greater economic growth. In light of this fundamental truth, we must let Washington know that we cannot be overlooked. That the current energy proposals will have negative effects on the daily lives of everyday Americans; and that any legislation they support must delivery what the American people want in terms of environmental protection, without sacrificing jobs, economic growth and energy security.
With 15 million people out of work, now is not the time for energy legislative that could hurt the American economy.
Visit the New Mexico Rally for Jobs on Sept. 8 to hear from local community leaders, learn more and speak out against proposals that could affect you, you family and your job.
Doors open at 11 a.m.
Farmington:
McGee Park
41 Road 5568
Farmington, NM 87401
www.rallyforjobs.org
New Mexico Still Considering Closing Rest Areas as Financial Woes Continue
Click on map for PDF version
New Mexico has joined a growing list of states struggling to find money in their transportation budgets for rest area maintenance.
While Mark Slimp, chief public information officer for the New Mexico Department of Transportation, admitted his agency is considering closing some of its rest areas, he told Land Line that a final decision has not been made yet on how many, or if any, will be closed.
“We are analyzing our budget and our revenues from our (state) road fund,” Slimp said. “Once we have all of the necessary data, we will make some decisions.
He said there is no set timetable for when a decision will be made on whether to close some of the state’s 32 rest areas. Closing half of the sites could save the state as much as $1.6 million in maintenance costs. New Mexico is currently facing a $160 million budget shortfall.
Some states, including Virginia and Arizona, closed rest areas because of budget shortfalls and are now reopening critical safety rest areas. In Virginia, all 19 rest areas have been reopened, while Arizona is in the process of reopening nine sites by fall after closing 13 sites last fall because of a $100 million budget deficit.
New Mexico
2010 Safety Awards
Driver of the Year:
Kelvin Holly, ABF Freight
Systems
Phil Snapka Allied Member of the Year:
Lori Harris, HUB International
Jim Wilcox Sr. Safety Professional of the Year:
Don Boyer, LRC Trucking
Outstanding Service to the Industry Award:
John Holland, ABF Freight (Retired)
2010 Fleet Safety Awards
100,000 - 500,000 Miles:
ABF Freight Systems
500,000 – 1,000,000
Support Contract Services/UPS
1,000,000 – 3,000,000
Conway Freight
3,000,000 – 5,000,000
United Petroleum Transport/OTL
5,000,000 & over
Fedex Freight
Well done and congratulations to all the individuals and fleets concerned – all of these awards were well deserved.
2010 N.M. Truck Driving Championships
Overall Grand Champion
Kirk Weis, ABF Freight Systems
Overall Team Champions
ABF Freight Systems
Rookie-of-the-Year
Kevin Childers, Groendyke Transport
Step Van Rookie-of-the-Year
Chris Shaw, Fedex Express
Straight Truck:
1 st. - Kirk Weis, ABF Freight Systems
2 nd.- Kim Hendrix, YRC
3 rd. - Shannon Mike, Fedex Freight
3-Axle:
1st. - Jose Mora, Conway Freight
2nd. - Armando Rojas, YRC
3rd. - Chris Kovacs, YRC
4-Axle:
1st. - Carlos Sandoval, Conway Freight
2nd.- Donnie Tafoya, ABF Freight Systems
3rd. - Mario Gurule, Fedex National LTL
5-Axle Sleeper:
1st. - Ralph Garcia, ABF Freight Systems
2nd. - Jeff Scott, Fortune Transport
3rd. - CJ Owens, LRC Transport
Flatbed:
1st. - Michael Contreras, ABF Freight Systems
2nd. - Bryon Myres, Navajo Refining
3rd. - Garrett Santillan, Conway Freight
Tanker:
1st. - Tom Fullerton, Conway Freight
2nd. - Kevin Childers, Groendyke Transport
3rd. - Jarret Poe, Navajo Refining
Twin Trailers:
1st. - Tony Vigil, Conway Freight
2nd. - Luis Hermida, Fedex Freight
3rd. - Dion Saiz, Fedex Freight
Step Van:
1st. - Chris Shaw, Fedex Express
2nd. - Eric Y. Martinez, Fedex Ground
3rd. - Jeffry Sena, Fedex Ground
Click here for a PDF copy of the 2010 TDC Winner list above.