HIGHWAY BILL

The reauthorization of the highway bill is an event that comes around every five or six years. Among other things, the bill establishes the nation’s surface transportation policies – including highway infrastructure investment priorities and how to pay for them. The bill also provides changes to existing highway safety and trucking safety regulations.

Land Line Magazine

• Senators push six-month highway bill extension (11.19.09)
• Highway bill draws $45 million in lobbying (09.16.09)
• And they're off (Aug./Sept. 2009 Magazine Issue)
  House begins work on next highway bill, despite call from Obama to delay
• Oberstar wants a highway bill; White House wants a short-term fix (06.18.09)

PARKING

For months now, OOIDA members and other truckers have been diligently contacting their lawmakers to support HR2156 and S971, known as “Jason’s Law” bills, for more safe parking options for truckers when they stop to rest.

Rep. Paul Tonko, D-NY, introduced the bill in the House in late April after meeting with slain trucker Jason Rivenburg’s widow, Hope, and their three small children. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, introduced his “Jason’s Law” bill in May.

Rivenburg of Fultonham, NY, was fatally shot twice in the head on March 5 after he parked in an unlit lot of an abandoned gas station in St. Matthews, SC. He was killed for the $7 he had on him while waiting for his appointment time at the nearby Food Lion distribution center the following morning.

Land Line Magazine

• Community where slain trucker was found has truck parking ban (11.09.09)
• 'Jason’s Law’ House bill adds another co-sponsor (10.19.09)
• Virginia adds truck parking to offset 18 rest area closures (07.21.09)
• OOIDA ramps up pressure on Virginia before rest area closures (07.17.09)
• SPECIAL REPORT: OOIDA urges VA governor to keep rest areas open (05.28.09)
• SPECIAL REPORT: VDOT puts 19 rest areas on chopping block (05.21.09)
• Deadly consequences (May 2009 Magazine Issue)
  Slain trucker's family seeks legislation to ensure safer truck parking
• Virginia: Rules of engagement (May 2009 Magazine issue)

• Tonko Support Letter (04.29.09)

DISTRACTED DRIVING

In addition to state efforts, three Congressional bills addressing distracted driving are at the center of the federal debate. Two of those bills are Senate and House companion pieces known as “Avoiding Life-Endangering and Reckless Texting by Drivers Act” or the “ALERT Drivers Act” (S.1536 /H.R.3535) which were introduced in the Senate by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and in the House by Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY).  

Land Line Magazine

• Lawmakers tackle distracted driving, texting (10.20.09)

CAP AND TRADE

A cap-and-trade system would establish carbon emission limits for several business sectors and is expected to cause sharp increases in fuel and diesel prices. A credit system would allow businesses that operate above limits to purchase credits and would allow businesses with leftover credits to sell on the open market.

Land Line Magazine

• Cap and trade proposal passes committee, moves to full Senate (11.09.09)
• Facing heat over cap and trade, U.S. Chamber changes tone (11.04.09)

TRUCK SIZE AND WEIGHT

Some large shippers and the American Trucking Associations have made increasing the allowable vehicle weight from 80,000 pounds on 5-axles to 97,000 pounds on 6-axles one of their top priorities for next year’s reauthorization of the federal highway bill. The ATA and large shippers are also pursuing a much less public campaign to allow longer combination vehicles (double trailers, triples, etc.), or “LCVs,” to operate on more of the Interstate Highway System. OOIDA opposes such measures.

Land Line Magazine

• SPECIAL REPORT: OOIDA debunks push for bigger, heavier trucks (04.01.09)
• SPECIAL REPORT: OOIDA again battles push for longer, heavier trucks (07.09.08)
• Who are they kidding? (July 2009 Magazine Issue)
  Corporate America and their lobbyists want to try and convince lawmakers that increasing truck size and weight is a good idea. Truckers know better.