Despite the consideration of SB 382 in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, PennDOT is moving forward with its Major Bridge Public-Private Partnership (P3) plan to toll nine interstate bridges. As part of its plan to sign the contract early next year, PennDOT is soliciting public comment on the bridge projects over the next several weeks.

PMTA members are encouraged to attend on-demand or in-person open houses for information and submit their comments on the specific bridge tolling projects. Public comment periods are noted below.

In comments, PennDOT should hear how paying $10-12 per truck each way to cross a bridge would impact trucking businesses, customers, and surrounding communities. For more information, see PMTA's bridge tolling information page.

I-83 South Bridge Project

• On-Demand Online Virtual Format and 30-Day Comment Period: Oct. 25 - Nov. 24
• In-Person Open House Format:
• • Tuesday, Nov. 9, 1-7 p.m., Harrisburg Mall (East Shore)
  • Wednesday, Nov. 10, 1-7 p.m., Penn Harris Hotel (West Shore)

I-78 Lenhartsville Bridge Replacement Project

• On-Demand Online Virtual Format and 30-Day Comment Period: Oct. 25 - Nov. 24
• In-Person Open House Format: Monday, Nov. 1, 4-7 p.m., Kempton Community Center

I-80 Canoe Creek Bridges

• On-Demand Online Virtual Format and 30-Day Comment Period: Nov. 1 - Dec. 1
• In-Person Open House Format: Monday, Nov. 8, 4-7 p.m., Keystone Elementary

I-81 Susquehanna Project

• On-Demand Online Virtual Format and 30-Day Comment Period: Nov. 8 - Dec. 8
• In-Person Open House Format: Monday, Nov. 15, 4-7 p.m., Blue Ridge School District High School, 5150 School Road, New Milford, PA 18834

I-80 Nescopeck Creek Bridges Project

• On-Demand Online Virtual Format and 30-Day Comment Period: Nov. 15 - Dec. 15
• In-Person Open House Format: Tuesday, Dec. 7, 4-7 p.m., Nescopeck Social Hall, 10 Zenith Rd, Nescopeck, PA 18635

I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridge Project

• On-Demand Online Virtual Format and 30-Day Comment Period: Nov. 17 - Dec. 17
• In-Person Open House Format: Wednesday, Dec. 8, 4-7 p.m., Split Rock Resort, 428 Moseywood Rd, Lake Harmony, PA 18624

I-80 North Fork Bridges Project

• On-Demand Online Virtual Format and 30-Day Comment Period: Nov. 22 - Dec. 22
• In-Person Open House Format: Wednesday, Dec. 15, 4:30-7:30 p.m., Hickory Grove Elementary School, 304 Jenks St., Brookville, PA 15825

The week of November 15 will be a critical one for PMTA in Pennsylvania’s General Assembly because two important issues will see action.

Bridge Tolling

It’s been exactly one year since PennDOT’s P3 Board approved the tolling of interstate bridges in Pennsylvania through a public private partnership. Last November when the initiative was approved, there was no public notice of the details of these projects or even which bridges would be tolled. In fact, the nine bridges to be tolled were not announced by PennDOT until February.

Over the past year, PMTA has pushed back on the Major Bridge P3 Program by pointing out the consequences of tolling for the trucking industry and other businesses in Pennsylvania, the inefficiency of tolling as a means of collecting transportation revenue, and the lack of public notice and debate about the projects. During several testimonies before state legislative committees and member outreach to their lawmakers, PMTA has asked the General Assembly to exert appropriate control over the P3 process. Specifically, any proposed P3 should include sufficient public notice and the opportunity for comment, and any P3 that charges fees should be approved by the legislature, not just an unelected committee at PennDOT.

SB 382, sponsored by Senator Wayne Langerholc, does just this. Thanks in part to PMTA members’ efforts, SB 382 passed the state Senate earlier this year and is now before the full House of Representatives, where it is scheduled for a final vote the week of November 15. Should it pass, it could return to the state Senate for concurrence the week of December 13.

SB 382 will ensure that PennDOT is accountable to the public and their elected officials for the current bridge tolling project and any future P3 that is proposed, like corridor tolling and congestion tolling. It has been a long process, but the end is in sight.

CARB Regulations

At the same time, PMTA has been working to raise awareness about the consequences of Pennsylvania adopting California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations on heavy-duty truck emissions. In 2022, trucks with CARB stickers must have manufacturers’ warranties that cover 350,000 miles (up from 150,000) for new trucks. This is increasing the cost of new trucks in Pennsylvania next year and making the state’s businesses uncompetitive with those in surrounding states.

PMTA and several of its members testified in the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee on November 8 to inform lawmakers about the dire consequences of CARB’s regulations for the trucking industry in Pennsylvania (video available here). Committee members were surprised to learn that the warranty requirement had no environmental impact because owners of trucks must fix emissions system problems, whether or not they are covered by a warranty.

Just before the hearing, on Saturday, November 6, the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin that the agency would not be enforcing CARB in Pennsylvania until at least July 31, 2023 for heavy-duty trucks. However, the notice contains language noting that it does not prevent third parties from suing truck dealers, manufacturers, or owners if their trucks do not comply with CARB.

Because the only way to prevent lawsuits from being filed over the CARB warranty is to change the law, PMTA is supporting HB 2075, a bipartisan bill introduced on November 10 by Rep. Jerry Knowles. HB 2075 would simply remove CARB emissions requirements for PA heavy-duty trucks and revert to EPA standards. Should DEP decide to enforce CARB for trucks in the future, it would need to do so through the regulatory process, which includes an analysis of the impact and opportunities for public comment.

HB 2075 is scheduled to be voted on in the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee on Monday, November 15 and will move to the full House should it pass. It is already on the House calendar for consideration later in the week. If it passes the House, it will then move to the Senate and could also be considered the week of December 13.

Both SB 382 (bridge tolling) and HB 2075 (CARB) have been high-priority issues for PTMA. As the final legislative session days of the year approach, the week of November 15 will be an important one, with votes scheduled on both bills.  PMTA members who have not done so already are encouraged to contact their state House and Senate members and ask them for their support on both bills.

UPDATE: The House Transportation Committee passed SB 382 by a vote of 16-9, sending the bill to the House floor for consideration. 

The House Transportation Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 11:00 am in Room 205 Ryan Office Building to consider:

• Senate Bill 382 (Langerholc-R) amends Title 74 (Transportation), in public-private transportation partnerships, for defs., for duties of board and for operation of board; and voiding prior initiatives of Board.

• Status:  Passed Senate, 28-19, 2021 – House Transportation, 4/29/2021

• Increase transparency by requiring PennDOT to publish a detailed analysis prior to the P3 Board’s voting meeting, and mandate PennDOT to distribute a copy of the P3 Board’s resolution, with or without a user fee, within 24 hours.

• Incorporate public input by creating a new 30-day public comment period prior to the P3 Board meeting.

• Create checks and balances on the obscure P3 Board by clarifying any P3 project with a user fee shall be deemed disapproved unless the Governor and General Assembly approve.

• Void the PennDOT Pathways Major Bridge P3 Initiative and require reconsideration by the P3 Board following the new process outlined in the legislation.

Thank you to those of you that have reached out to your representatives to ask them to support SB 382. If you have not yet done so, PMTA encourages you to ask your representative to support this bill and stop bridge tolling. 

PMTA is pleased to pass the news on to our members that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has published notice in the PA Bulletin that it has suspended enforcement of its Heavy-Duty Diesel Emissions Control Program requiring California Air Recourses Board (CARB) certification of trucks. This announcement is effective beginning November 8, 2021. The notice is posted here: https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pabull?file=/secure/pabulletin/data/vol51/51-45/1847.html

This means that from this date forward until at least July 31, 2023, members buying new trucks in Pennsylvania will NOT be subject to costly warranty or proposed emissions requirements under CARB, including the 2022 CARB warranty provision PMTA has been advocating to suspend.

PMTA and several of its members will be testifying on this issue in a hearing of the state House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee on Monday, November 8 at 9:30 am. The hearing will be livestreamed here: http://www.pahousegop.com/livestreams.

Mobile carriers are shutting down their 3G networks to make room for more advanced network services, including 5G. As a result, many older cell phones and other mobile devices will be unable to use data services.

Once a 3G network is no longer supported, it is highly unlikely that any ELDs that rely on that network will be able to meet the minimum requirements established by the ELD Technical Specifications, including recording all required data elements and transferring ELD output files.

Therefore, any ELD that requires 3G cellular connectivity to perform its functionality will no longer be in compliance with the technical specifications in the ELD rule after the 3G network it relies on is sunset. When in an area that does not support 3G, a 3G device will register a malfunction. In accordance with 49 CFR 395.34, the carrier has 8 days to get the malfunction resolved, in this case by replacement, unless an extension is granted.

The announced sunset dates are below.* These are dates for completing the shutdowns. Mobile carriers are planning to retire parts of their networks sooner.

• AT&T 3G: February 22, 2022
• Sprint 3G (T-Mobile): March 31, 2022
• Sprint LTE (T-Mobile): June 30, 2022
• T-Mobile 3G: July 1, 2022
• Verizon 3G: December 31, 2022

Note: Many other carriers, such as Cricket, Boost, Straight Talk, and several Lifeline mobile service providers, utilize the AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile networks.

*Sunset dates are subject to change. Contact your mobile carrier for up-to-date information.

What actions do motor carriers need to take?

Confirm whether your ELD relies on a 3G network

If you are unsure if your ELD relies on a 3G network, contact your ELD provider. If your ELD does not rely on 3G, and meets all minimum requirements, no further action is needed.

Ask your provider for their upgrade or replacement plan

If your ELD relies on a 3G network, ask your ELD provider about their plan for upgrading or replacing your device to one that will be supported after the 3G sunset, and complete the necessary actions as soon as possible.

The earliest announced sunset completion date is February 22, 2022. See all announced dates listed above and plan accordingly to avoid service disruptions and compliance issues. FMCSA strongly encourages motor carriers to take the above actions as soon as possible to avoid compliance issues, as portions of carrier 3G networks will be unsupported in advance of the announced sunset dates.

Questions?

Contact [email protected].

(HARRISBURG) – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is scheduling the final public comment periods prior to advancing their plan of imposing a new toll on up to nine candidate bridges without legislative approval, according to Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35), chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.

“I was shocked to hear of PennDOT’s tacit approval in November 2020 to impose tolls on any interstate bridge in this Commonwealth, which was not the legislative intent of the Public-Private Transportation Partnership (P3) Program,” Sen. Langerholc said. “Hard-working Pennsylvanians deserve smarter solutions and common-sense reforms – not a call for higher taxes, fees or tolls. The P3 Program must have transparency, public input, and legislative oversight, particularly if PennDOT usurps a user fee costing the average commuter over $1,000 annually in tolls.”

PennDOT has provided the launch dates for the 30-day online comment periods as follows:

• Lenhartsville (Oct. 25)
• South Bridge (Oct. 25)
• Canoe Creek (Nov. 1)
• Susquehanna (Nov. 8)

There will also be an in-person meeting scheduled within the comment period. The public comment period for the remaining five candidate toll bridges will be announced by PennDOT in the coming days and weeks.

Sen. Langerholc urges Pennsylvanians to voice their concerns regarding the bridge tolling by participating in PennDOT’s public comment period.

The DRIVE SMART Act is Sen. Langerholc’s short-term and long-term plan to overhaul the Commonwealth’s transportation system. The comprehensive plan includes Senate Bill 382 (Langerholc), which is currently in the House Transportation Committee, to reform the P3 statute and to terminate PennDOT’s P3 bridge tolling initiative. The plan also recommends innovative federal financing as a better alternative to improve the interstate bridges.

The Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association is moving to refocus efforts to promote and grow the association into the future. One important way to do this is to encourage member involvement in leadership positions in the association. PMTA is actively seeking volunteers for many of its committees to help guide the path forward, especially as PMTA’s strategic plan moves ahead next year. Please consider giving a few hours of your time to help PMTA succeed by volunteering for committee membership.

By way of background on the association, PMTA has a full-time staff of six individuals. They are a Director of Safety, a Director of Member Communications, a Director of Finance, a Titling and Registration Agent, and an Administrative Assistant/Event Planner, all of which are led by the President and CEO.

The President and CEO is appointed by the Board of Directors. According to the PMTA bylaws, the Board of Directors is composed of the Chairman, all current officers, the immediate Past Chairman, Pennsylvania’s elected Vice President to the American Trucking Associations Inc., six members elected by the membership and up to six members appointed by the Board of Directors. The Board manages the business and affairs of the association, according to the requirements of the law, the Charter, and the bylaws.

The Board of Directors establishes committees by adopting a resolution. Each committee consists of one or more Board members as well as other volunteers who are PMTA members.  Each committee serves at the pleasure of the Board and has powers and authorities that are granted and directed by the Board. 

There are eight committees designated by the Board in addition to the Safety Management Council, which has committees of its own. Membership on six of the eight committee is open to PMTA members who are not state board members.

Those committees are: AMC Planning, Chapter Relations, Legislative, NextGEN, Nominating, Trade Members, Budget and PAC. A brief description of each is listed below.

The AMC Planning Committee works closely with the staff to plan and execute the Annual Membership Conference (AMC) and Expo. This process includes choosing a location and session topics and selecting speakers for the AMC as well as outlining a budget for the event.

The Chapter Relations Committee consists of all the Chapter officers. The Chapter Presidents are required to either attend or send a representative to each of the four annual meetings of this committee. The committee works closely with the Director of Member Communications to help facilitate member engagement at the chapter level.

The Legislative Committee also meets four times per year prior to the Board of Directors’ meetings, and it works with the President and CEO as well as PMTA’s hired lobbyists to track and discuss legislation and regulations that affect the transportation industry.

The NextGEN Committee is designed to engage individuals that are either new to the transportation industry or in a position to take leadership roles in the future both with their company and PMTA.

The Nominating Committee selects potential new members of the Board of Directors. * Bylaws require this committee have at least 5 and not more than 11 members. Also, “in the selection of the Nominating Committee consideration shall be given to representatives of the various sections of the state, the Chapters, and classifications of the trucking industry.  No member of the nominating committee or the chairman of such committee shall be eligible for nomination on the ballot for which they are a member of that year’s committee.” The Chairman of the Board appoints Nominating Committee members.

The Trade Member Committee was newly commissioned at the September 2021 Board of Directors’ Meeting, and it is designed to allow Trade Members of the association to find ways to best utilize their membership and promote PMTA.

The Budget Committee works with the President and CEO and Director of Finance to define the association’s operating budget from year to year. The annual budget for the upcoming year is approved annually at the November Board meeting. Budget Committee membership is limited to members of the Board.

The Political Action Committee manages the PA Truck PAC, which evaluates statewide political candidates and determines where and when contributions are made to legislators who are sympathetic with our industry's concerns. PAC membership is limited to members of the Board.

The Board of Directors and President and CEO would like to encourage all interested PMTA members to engage with the association by either joining one of these committees or your local chapter’s Board of Directors.

It’s been almost a year since PennDOT’s P3 board approved the bridge tolling project that will soon cost PMTA members $10-12 every time their trucks cross one of nine interstate bridges in Pennsylvania. PMTA has been fighting this initiative since November because of the devastating impact these tolls will have on the trucking industry in the state.

Now is the time for PMTA members to reach out to your state representative and ask them to support SB 382 to stop bridge tolling!

Over the course of a year, PMTA has testified several times, addressed letters to lawmakers, and spoken out at every chance to educate policymakers about the consequences of targeting an industry that already pays almost 40% of the taxes on transportation in Pennsylvania. PMTA members have also spoken to elected officials about the impact of bridge tolling on their businesses. These efforts have paid off, but there is more to do. In April, the state Senate passed SB 382, a bill introduced by Senator Wayne Langerholc, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, which would stop the bridge tolling initiative and require future PennDOT tolling projects to be approved by the legislature. After passing the Senate, that bill moved to the state House, where it must be approved by the House Transportation Committee before it can be considered by the full House.

Getting SB 382 passed this fall is critically important for two reasons. First, PennDOT is planning to sign the contract with the vendor to manage the nine projects in January. After this, it will be too last to reverse the plan. The legislature must act now.

Second, this past summer, the Governor’s Transportation Revenue Options Commission recommended that PennDOT proceed with other tolling projects to raise revenue, including corridor tolling and managed lanes in high-volume corridors.

The House Transportation Committee has had two hearings on the bridge tolling initiative, yet still have not scheduled a vote on SB 382. It is critically important that PMTA members contact their state House member NOW and ask them to urge a vote on SB 382. 

Find your representative here and give their office a call or send a message: Find Your Legislator - PA General Assembly (state.pa.us). PMTA’s talking points are available here.  

Lawmakers want to hear from their constituents on issues that matter to them. Please don’t miss this opportunity to let them know how tolling will affect our industry and your business!

PMTA is excited to be hosting a VIRTUAL call on Washington this year. As Congress considers issues that will affect your business in many ways, please plan to participate in a conversation with YOUR representatives on Capitol Hill.

Infrastructure funding, taxes, vaccine requirements, independent contractors, and environmental mandates are all issues on the table. Your participation in these meetings will help our DC representatives understand how the trucking industry will be affected as decisions are made. 

PMTA's Virtual Call on Washington will be November 16 - 19. (Individual meetings with members of Congress will be scheduled separately during this timeframe.)

It's important to let us know you'll be attending now so that we can make sure YOUR member of Congress is a priority for scheduling a meeting.

In order to reserve your spot, please contact PMTA today at (717) 761-7122 or [email protected].

In support of its mission to improve truck and bus safety on our nation's highways, the FMCSA Pennsylvania Division will be hosting FREE educational seminars designed to help carriers familiarize themselves with important safety programs impacting the motor carrier industry. November 10, 2021 9:00am - 10:00am Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) The Entry Level Driver Training requirements will take effect February 7, 2022. This session will provide an overview of the training requirements for future entry-level drivers. This seminar will also discuss the Training Provider Registry, which is now open. November 16, 2021 9:00am - 10:00am Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse (DACH) This session will include a review of the drug and alcohol clearinghouse, the requirements for employers and drivers, how to register and conduct queries, along with the use of consent forms and more.

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/skZa8SgxWEJ236mk7