7/10/08-Gov. Matt Blunt has signed into law a lengthy bill that includes several provisions of interest to truck drivers.
The new law, previously SB930, prohibits large trucks from traveling in the far left lane on certain roads through Kansas City and St. Louis.
Trucks with a registered gross weight in excess of 48,000 pounds will be prohibited from driving in the far left lane of “urbanized” roadways with at least three lanes of traffic in each direction. The rule change will take effect once signage is posted.
Other provisions of note attached to the bill include an incentive to reduce idling, allow local enforcement of truck rules and prohibit certain indemnification agreements.
The maximum gross vehicle weight limit and axle weight limit for large trucks equipped with idle reduction technology will be increased. Affected trucks are authorized to weigh up to an additional 400 pounds.
The procedure for conducting roadside inspections for large trucks also will be revised. A program will be set up to certify local law enforcement officers to enforce commercial motor vehicle laws.
Certified law enforcement officers could conduct random roadside examinations or inspections to determine compliance with the CMV weight and size limit laws. Officers who are not certified still could pull over large trucks with a “visible external safety defect.”
Indemnity agreements also are prohibited in motor carrier transportation contracts that claim “to indemnify a party against loss from negligence or intentional acts void and unenforceable.”
A separate provision in the bill is intended to keep repeat drunken drivers from driving drunk. In order to get back behind the wheel, ignition interlock devices soon will be required to be installed on repeat offenders’ vehicles.
Interlocks are hooked up to the ignition of vehicles. Once such a device is installed, a driver must blow into a mouthpiece, which measures the amount of alcohol on a person’s breath. If the driver blows clean, the car will then start; if not, it won’t budge.
In addition, the devices often require drivers to re-blow in the machine after a designated period of time, to ensure that they have not convinced someone else to blow into the mouthpiece for them, or that they haven’t been drinking since getting behind the wheel.

5/19/08-On the final day of the legislative session, House and Senate lawmakers reached agreement on a lengthy bill that includes several provisions of interest to truck drivers. SB930 now moves to Gov. Matt Blunt’s desk.
A conference committee made up of select members from both chambers endorsed legislation that would prohibit large trucks from traveling in the far left lane on certain roads through Kansas City and St. Louis.
Trucks with a registered gross weight in excess of 48,000 pounds would be prohibited from driving in the far left lane of “urbanized” roadways with at least three lanes of traffic in each direction.
Another provision in the bill would increase the maximum gross vehicle weight limit and axle weight limit for large trucks equipped with idle reduction technology. Affected trucks would be authorized to weigh up to an additional 400 pounds.
The procedure for conducting roadside inspections for large trucks also would be revised. A program would be set up to certify local law enforcement officers to enforce commercial motor vehicle laws.
Certified law enforcement officers could conduct random roadside examinations or inspections to determine compliance with the CMV weight and size limit laws. Officers who are not certified still could pull over large trucks with a “visible external safety defect.”
Another provision authorizes the state to implement and administer the Unified Carrier Registration Act. It is a federal act intended to replace the Single State Registration System.
UCR is a plan that will have a fee structure that goes from the old per-truck basis to a per-carrier basis and will be the same for all member states. Truckers will no longer have to pick and choose states, as they do with the SSRS. One fee will cover all states.
Indemnity agreements also would be prohibited in motor carrier transportation contracts that claim “to indemnify a party against loss from negligence or intentional acts void and unenforceable.”
A separate provision in the bill is intended to keep repeat drunken drivers from driving drunk. In order to get back behind the wheel, ignition interlock devices would be required to be installed on repeat offenders’ vehicles.
Interlocks are hooked up to the ignition of vehicles. Once such a device is installed, a driver must blow into a mouthpiece, which measures the amount of alcohol on a person’s breath. If the driver blows clean, the car will then start; if not, it won’t budge.
In addition, the devices often require drivers to re-blow in the machine after a designated period of time, to ensure that they have not convinced someone else to blow into the mouthpiece for them, or that they haven’t been drinking since getting behind the wheel.
For bill status, call (573) 751-4633. In Missouri, call 1-800-877-5982.