Month: October 2022

Adams and Reese Legislative Update – 11-1-2022

Posted on by carol

 

One of the major challenges that the state of Tennessee will face in the future will be maintaining the state highway fund at a level needed to continue to repair and replace roads and bridges but to also construct new highways.  Anita Wadhwani with the Tennessee Lookout Report recently published an excellent article.  A link to that article is: https://tennesseelookout.com/briefs/advisory-group-projects-looming-deficits-in-tennessee-road-and-highway-project-funding/. 

As noted in her article, there was a hearing where representatives of the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (“TACIR”) provided an update which should get the attention of not only the legislature but also the trucking industry.  TACIR testimony indicated by 2040 10% of all vehicles on Tennessee’s roadways are projected to be electric. It is also expected that the average national vehicle fuel efficiency will increase from 23-miles-per-gallon to 30-miles-per-gallon during the same timeframe.  As a result, based on loss of fuel tax revenue, fuel efficiency and inflation, it is projected that Tennessee will see a $399 million reduction in its gas tax spending power.

The challenge faced by the State to maintain the highway fund at a level to pay for repairs and construction of new projects will be challenging.  Not only will there be a decrease of revenue but the fact that the state fuel tax is not indexed for inflation will certainly cause issues that the legislature will want to review in the near future.  As noted in the article, Tennessee has 96,000 miles of public roads and 20,000 bridges but federal government funding is designated only for about 1/5 of all of the state’s roads and highways.

We expect this issue to remain on the radar of the legislature in the near future with all options being on the table.  Recent options that were recommended include raising registration fees for electric vehicles, implementing indexing on the state fuel tax, and even the possibility of reviewing some type of fee based on mileage.

We are heading into the final days of the 2022 election season.  Thanks to your support, TruckPAC has been very active in helping legislators who are supportive of the industry.  TTA along with Adams and Reese hosted a dinner in Nashville on October 19, 2022 in support of House Speaker Cameron Sexton and his leadership PAC.  As always, thank you for your support!

STATE REPRESENTATIVE PAT MARSH, LONGTIME TRUCKING EXECUTIVE, RECEIVES TENNESSEE TRUCKING ASSOCIATION’S PINNACLE AWARD

Posted on by Ashlee Taylor

STATE REPRESENTATIVE PAT MARSH, LONGTIME TRUCKING EXECUTIVE, RECEIVES TENNESSEE TRUCKING ASSOCIATION’S PINNACLE AWARD

State association’s highest honor bestowed for the first time in eight years to longtime industry veteran and state leader

NASHVILLE, TN (September 2022) – State Representative Pat Marsh, a pioneer in the trucking industry whose career has spanned nearly 60 years, has been named a recipient of the Pinnacle Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Tennessee Trucking Association (TTA), for his lifetime commitment to and advocacy for the industry. Marsh is just the thirteenth recipient of the prestigious award in its 28-year history, presented only when an individual is identified for demonstrating uncommon service and dedication to the industry.

 

“Since its origination in 1994, the Pinnacle Award has been presented to a select few of TTA’s most influential and effective members who have made lasting contributions to the state’s trucking industry,” said Donna England, TTA President & CEO.  “As the first to receive this award since 2014, Pat epitomizes what the Pinnacle Award stands for. His years of experience have proven invaluable as a leader for the TTA and as an advocate for the industry as a state legislator.”

 

A native of Lincoln County, Marsh graduated from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville with a business degree in Transportation before embarking on a career in the automotive industry.  In 1973, he left a job with the Ford Motor Company in Nashville and moved to Shelbyville to join Goggin Truck Line, a small company with six tractors and twelve trailers. He eventually bought the company and grew it to 500 tractors and 1000 trailers while employing over 1,000 people. In 1995, Marsh sold the company and started another trucking company, Big G Express, with his brother Jack.

 

Marsh was elected to the Tennessee State Legislature in October of 2009 to represent the 62nd District, which includes Bedford and parts of Lincoln Counties. In 2021, he was selected by his fellow state House members to serve in the role of Speaker Pro Tempore for the 112th General. He also serves on several legislative committees, including the Transportation Committee. Since being elected to the Legislature, Marsh has helped pass numerous bills that have a positive impact on the trucking industry, including funding for improvements to highways, roads and bridges across the state.

 

“It was an honor for me to be a recipient of the Pinnacle Award in 2012, and I believe Pat was an ideal choice to be added to the list of those who have received this prestigious honor,” said Dale Allen, Partner, Adams and Reese LLP.  “Throughout his business and political careers, Pat has made countless contributions that have benefited Tennessee’s trucking industry and thus all Tennesseans.”    

 

Marsh joins an elite group of previous TTA Pinnacle Award winners, including Governor Ned McWherter (1994), Phillip B. George (1995), Forrest M. Durrett (1996), Tommy L. Wilson (1997), Kelly Wagner (1998), G. Tommy Hodges (2005), Gary Sasser (2006), Tommy Ross (2008), J.B. Baker (2009), David Dortch (2010), Bill Reed, Jr. (2011), Dale Allen (2012), and Dave Huneryager (2014).

 

“To be mentioned among these trailblazers who’ve made such an incredible impact on the industry is truly an honor,” said Marsh.  “I’ve been very fortunate to work with individuals who have a passion for the industry and are dedicated to doing things the right way. I think that experience as a businessperson has greatly impacted my work in state government. It has been a privilege to serve Tennessee’s trucking industry, a vital part of keeping our state’s economy moving forward.”

 

The Pinnacle Award was presented to Marsh at TTA’s 92nd Annual Convention September 18-20 at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa.  For those who would like to make a donation in Rep. Marsh’s name to the Tennessee Trucking Foundation, which is dedicated to highway safety, education and other charitable causes throughout the state, more information can be found here: Give Online (icheckgateway.com)

 

About Tennessee Trucking Association (TTA)

Founded in 1930, TTA was forged out of the belief that a strong, unified industry would be essential in remaining effective and profitable in the future. Today, TTA is the driving force and the voice of the trucking industry in Tennessee.  As an independent, non-profit trade association representing trucking companies and industry vendors, TTA exists to encourage the healthy growth and betterment of its more than 400 members statewide.  TTA represents an important engine of Tennessee’s economy, supporting over 200,000 jobs and the safe transport of goods across the state.

The Tennessee Trucking Association is an affiliate of the American Trucking Associations.

 

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Adams and Reese Legislative Update – 10-1-22

Posted on by carol
Thanks to all those who attended the TTA convention recently held in Sandestin, Florida, September 19-21, 2022. It was good to see everyone engaged on many issues that affect the trucking industry. Also, a major thank you to Senator Paul Bailey and Representative Pat Marsh for attending. The legislative update not only included Senator Bailey and Representative Marsh but also representatives of the Department of Safety which was very enlightening and informative.
 
It was also very nice to honor one of our own, Pat Marsh, as the 2022 recipient of the Pinnacle Award. Pat’s service in the legislature over the past several years has been so helpful. He is someone we have always leaned on for assistance on issues involving the trucking industry. As I noted in my comments at the convention, we are so fortunate to have individuals like Pat Marsh and Paul Bailey whose involvement in this industry makes all of our jobs a lot easier. 
 
TTA will be involved with supporting a dinner for House Speaker Cameron Sexton on October 19, 2022. This is the third fundraising dinner of the year that TTA has hosted for a member of the legislature. These dinners prove to be very helpful in that they give representatives of the industry an opportunity to spend quality time with leaders of the legislature to discuss issues affecting the industry. This would not be possible without your support of TruckPAC. Before the year is over, TruckPAC will have contributed more than $100,000 to legislative candidates. This is only made possible by your continued support. Thank you for your support of TruckPAC and our lobbying efforts on behalf of the industry!

A Notice for Federal Drug Testing Collection Sites & CDL Employers

Posted on by carol
On September 9, 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sent out a list serve titled “A Notice for Federal Drug Testing Collection Sites & CDL Employers Regarding FMCSA Regulated Employees”. The notice reminds collection sites and employers to only use a Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form (CCF) when testing employees subject to FMCSA drug testing regulations and to properly fill out the Federal CCF.
The notice is being re-posted here in its entirety. For any questions, please contact FMCSA’s drug and alcohol program office at

FMCSADrugandAlcohol@dot.gov

 
A Notice for Federal Drug Testing Collection Sites & CDL Employers Regarding FMCSA Regulated Employees
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has regulations governing drug and alcohol testing for certain transportation industry employees. These regulations help ensure that the traveling American public can feel safe in their day to day journeys. Part of the effective execution of these regulations relies upon drug testing collection sites. For Federal drug testing programs to operate efficiently and effectively, collection sites play an integral role in making sure the right individuals are administered the right tests.
There are several modes under DOT that have regulations about how employees in their specific part of the transportation industry should be tested. For the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), one of the modes under DOT, only commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders, commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders, or drivers that should have either a CDL or CLP should be given a DOT drug test with FMCSA specified as the DOT Agency on the custody and control form (CCF). Administering Federal drug tests to anyone other than these groups under FMCSA regulations creates an unnecessary administrative burdens on everyone in the Federal drug testing arena including, employers, drivers, medical review officers, third party administrators, and Federal staff. It is for this reason that FMCSA put together the, “Collection Site Notice” linked below. This notice provides important information for both collection sites and employers to use when determining who should be given what type of test.
Employers: Please keep this notice handy and make sure that anyone involved in drug and alcohol testing at your company has a copy of it.
Collection Sites: Please review the attached notice with your staff. Also, we encourage posting the second page of the notice in your collection site, particularly in places where collections are actively taking place.
DOT and FMCSA drug and alcohol testing regulations make it safer for everyone in the United States to get around. This notice will help ensure that these regulations are implemented properly.