VOLUME 49 NO.

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READY, SET, GO SLOW!
If your local media havent picked up on it yet, the central core highways of Columbus are going to be a mess for several years and we would advise strongly to make sure your drivers take the I-270 outerbelt unless they have scheduled deliveries in the city. Construction will also be popping up on the western and southern legs of I-270, but that option is way better than taking I-7 or I-670 through town. Currently, placarded hazmat loads are routing around Columbus on I-270 and have been for years, but city council is in the process of changing the violation to a M-, which carries up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail and a mandatory court appearance. If you are pulling a placarded HM load and do not have a drop off or pick up inside I-270, go around. Due to some nasty truck accidents in the area in recent months, we are sure that the Columbus police, county sheriff and highway patrol will be paying particular attention to trucks regarding compliance with reduced speed limits and other traffic laws. Please pass this on to all of your drivers. Project updates can be obtained from www.odot71670.org

NOVEMBER 15, 2011

be applied. This is for OTA members only, so please do not share the code with nonmembers.

OHIO STATEHOUSE UPDATE

With the election behind us, the General Assembly has returned to Columbus for a number of session days over the next couple of weeks. They continue to attempt to resolve the redistricting mess, which has arisen because of the referendum being attempted by the Ohio Democratic Party.

NOTES FROM THE CHAIR

Dear Members: As I said in a previous column, I want to bring you my personal views on the products and services offered by OTA, and this is my second review. Last week I got an email from the staff about a new product called OTA2290.com powered by Express Truck Tax, which is an electronic system to file your Heavy Vehicle Use Tax. I still had mine to file (deadline is Nov. 30) and decided it was the perfect time to try this new service. WOW! I love it! From start to finish, with 15 trucks, it took me only 45 minutes, including learning how the program works. I had my stamped IRS receipt and could now get tags for a new truck without a trip to Lima or Columbus IRS offices. That in itself is a huge savings. The program was very easy to follow, instructions very clear, and the price very reasonable. OTA2290 offers a yearly package for larger fleets and has the lowest price in the industry for a single truck ... all with a 0% discount for OTA members! Be sure when using this service to use the discount code OTA0 to get the lower rate. I hope you will try this if you haven't filed yet. Suzie Schindewolf, OTA Chairperson
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PROMO CODE NEEDED FOR MEMBER SAVINGS ON HVUT FILING

If you are required to file the federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax with the IRS, your OTA membership can save you some money on electronic filing. We have entered into a partnership with Span Enterprises and Express Truck Tax to create a one-stop HVUT website at http://OTA2290.com where you can set up an account, enter your data, and e-file the tax at 0% lower rates than nonmembers are charged. Make sure to enter the Promo Code OTA10 (as in 10%) at the top of the Credit Card Page and your discount will automatically

Questions continue about the dates of the primary(s), currently scheduled for both March and May, due to the referendum on the election bill being pushed by former Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. What happens now that the collective bargaining bill has been repealed is anybodys guess. Local governments will still have to balance their budgets with the revenue the state provided and wont have the ability to make changes to the collective bargaining agreements that would have been allowed had voters approved the law. This could create huge problems for some local governments. With the results being what they were, and next year being an election year for every member of the Ohio House, it will be interesting to see what a budget corrections bill will look like and whether the state will attempt to send more money to school districts or local governments to deal with their budget shortfalls. Bills up for debate this week include one that will update Ohios CDL laws to bring them into compliance with FMSCA requirements. Ohio has had years to make these changes and has failed to do so despite the fact that they are not all that controversial. Failure to make these changes in Ohio law could mean that Ohio would be prohibited from issuing CDLs. Another bill being heard would implement a statewide texting while driving ban. This bill has passed the Ohio House and is currently in the Senate Transportation Committee. We may look for an amendment to this bill to bring Ohio into compliance with FMCSA requirements for penalties associated with texting in a commercial vehicle. Hours of Service continue to be a topic in Washington. The new rule has been filed with OMB and we are still hearing that it should come out before the end of the year. Ed Nagle of Nagle Toledo, Inc. has been invited to testify on the impact of the proposed changes in front of the U.S. House Committee on Government and Oversight Reform.

examiners certificate to the state licensing agency. State agencies must post the certification info in the Commercial Drivers License Information System. After the 2008 final rule, several states told FMCSA their offices lacked the capacity to comply by the rules Jan. 30, 2012 deadline. The agency extended the paper copy requirement for interstate CDL holders and carriers for two years to provide sufficient overlap for state agencies. But FMCSA did not extend the deadline for states. Beginning Jan. 30th, drivers applying for new or renewing CDLs under the nonexcepted interstate category will have to self-certify and provide the certificate or a copy to the state licensing agency.

KYU NUMBER NOT NEEDED

If you operate in Kentucky, the Kentucky Motor Transport Association has made your job a little easier. KMTA has confirmed that carriers subject to the Kentucky weightdistance tax will not need the KYU number displayed on your trucks. Instead the KY Transportation Cabinet will use US DOT numbers to administer the tax.

CHANGES TO CDL RULES COMING

Drivers must keep paper copies of their medical certificates with them while driving for another two years, according to a final rule just published. FMCSAs final rule will extend that mandate for interstate CDL holders until January 30, 2014 and it will also continue requiring carriers to keep paper copies of their drivers certificates until then. This months final rule is a follow-up to the agencys NPRM issued last June, which proposed amending a 2008 final rule. That rule required drivers subject to federal physical qualification provide an original or copy of their medical
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OTSC TO HEAR UPDATE ON ALL SAFETY REGS FROM NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: PLUS OMCIS UPDATE FROM THE PUCO
Most of the hot topics in transportation regulation lately, i.e. driver hours of service, electronic on-board recording devices, driver health and wellness, etc., are coming from Washington. So who better to update members on what we can expect on these issues than someone close to the source? That someone, our guest speaker for the Thursday, December 8th Ohio Trucking Safety Council meeting, is Rob Abbott, Vice President of Safety Operations for the American Trucking Associations. Following Robs presentation, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Deputy Director Alan Martin will unveil a new tool available to carriers allowing them to look up inspection

reports and compliance reviews that were generated in Ohio only. This is the first product coming out of the Ohio Motor Carrier Information System (OMCIS). Come hear what the other upcoming capabilities of OMCIS will be and how they will affect your job and company. The meeting will begin with registration at :00 a.m. followed by lunch and the program at 12:30. It is expected to conclude by 2:00 p.m. Cost is $30 for OTSC members, $35 for OTA or OAM members who do not belong to the council and $55 for nonmembers of OTA or OAM. Make reservations by calling OTA at 888/382-1574, faxing to 614/221-3717, emailing to ssaunders@ohiotruckingassn.org, or online by going to www.ohiotruckingassn.org. Wedgewood is at 9600 Wedgewood Blvd., Powell, 43065. Normal cancellation policy applies.

Take advantage of this member benefit and start saving on your workers compensation costs by filling out an AC-3 from the Downloads area of OTAs website at www. ohiotruckingassn.org. This year alone, our members participating in OTAs workers compensation program are seeing up to a 51% savings. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Jason Bainum with CCI at 800/837-3200 Ext. 7114, or email Jason.bainum@ccitpa..com.

VOCWORKS MODIFIED DUTY PROGRAM: REDUCE YOUR COMP/DISABILITY COST

Modified Duty Off-Site (MDOS) is an innovative program offered to employers to help them reduce the cost and duration of lost-time incidences by helping their injured employees return to work after a period of disability or injury. VocWorks (a CareWorks company) works with area nonprofit agencies to provide placement for injured employees with temporary restrictions that are unable to return to their original jobs. Each case is handled individually with placements generally lasting no longer than 90 days. Studies show that the likelihood of an injured worker returning to work after six months off is only 50% and drops even lower to 25% after one year off work. VocWorks makes it easy for you to use MDOS by: Achieving an average time of two days to secure a modified duty placement, Assisting employers with program documentation and a written job offer letter, Meeting injured employees at the nonprofit location on the initial day of work to review program details, Performing ongoing telephone follow up with injured employees and the selected nonprofit, Attending a Physician of Record follow-up appointment for full-duty release or an update on restrictions. VocWorks MDOS can often make the difference between a successful return to work and a long-term disability. They recognize that every employer is unique and has needs stemming from the nature of their company policies, employee population, company philosophy, and union involvement. This is why their programs are customized to meet each individual customers specific needs. To learn more about VocWorks MDOS programs, contact Kimberly Wickert at 330/722-3098, or email Kimberly. wickert@vocworks.com. Visit online at www.vocworks. com.
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FULL WRITE-OFFS EXPIRING

(From State Laws Newsletter)

Currently, federal tax law allows businesses of all sizes to take a full write-off (termed 100% bonus depreciation) of almost any capital equipment, including rolling stock, placed into service during calendar year 20. But this provision expires at the end of December, and Congress may not extend it. As it stands now, the law will allow smaller businesses to take only a 50% bonus depreciation on new equipment next year, and there are certain limits on that.

BWC REVIEWING PROGRAM RULES

The Ohio BWC recently informed OTA that they are currently evaluating the impact of changes made to various alternative rating programs in recent years and are working to develop an updated package of comprehensive program rules. The goal is to formally approve the yet-to-be written package of program rules by the end of November. In the meantime, BWC has prohibited all group rating sponsors and third-party administrators from releasing group rating program quotes for the 202 policy year. This marketing moratorium would be lifted once BWC approves the new program rules, which may potentially include updated discount levels. The moratorium does not include quotes for Group Retrospective Rating Programs. However, at this time you can still send in your AC-3 form to CareWorks Consultants to receive a no-obligation comprehensive study and quote, which will be sent to you once the agency reaches a decision on the changes mentioned above.

WHAT YOU DONT KNOW COULD HURT YOU

(By Bill Plesich, Renier Construction Project Executive) Its not unusual to find trucking company owners who have placed their renovation and new building projects on the back burner due to the slow and unstable economy. But if youre one of the ones that cant wait any longer, then its time to review the best strategy for moving forward with the construction project. Knowing and understanding the types of construction contracts is critical and can make a huge difference in the outcome of the project and your companys bottom line. Design-build, design-bid-build and construction management are the three project delivery systems most commonly employed in North America. Over the past 15 years, use of design-build has greatly accelerated in the United States, making this delivery method one of the most significant trends in design and construction today. Construction Management (CM) uses multiple layers of project management staff and project costs are generally determined after the project is completed. This methodology is usually associated with excessive fees, a lack of accountability for cost and schedule, as well as adversarial relationships and litigation. According to a national study conducted in 2010, it is estimated that less than 6.5% of projects are completed using this methodology. Design-Bid-Build is a project delivery method where the owner contracts with separate entities, which means separate contracts and separate work. As with CM, final project costs are determined after the project is complete. When compared to design-build, there are a disproportionate number of lawsuits and mechanics liens filed on design-bid-build projects where contractor selection decisions were made solely on price. This delivery methodology has been declining since 1985 and is anticipated to slip an additional 15% over the next five years. Design-Build is a project delivery method where the owner contracts with a single entity with one contract for both design and construction services - one entity, one contract, one unified flow of work. It is the most practical approach to building because there is accountability from a single source from the beginning, with the design phase, through to completion of the project. The design-builder keeps the owner informed through all the phases while protecting the customers investment. This approach benefits the owner in time, money and peace of mind. Design-build is not new. Its roots are found in medieval master builders. It is the most noteworthy and heavily discussed method and many predict that design-build will be the majority project delivery method before the end of the decade.

Wreaths Across America is accepting volunteer truckers willing to transport wreaths, as well as donations for the wreaths themselves. If youd like to help out, go to www. wreathsacrossamerica.org or call 877/385-9504 to learn more. You can sponsor a wreath for as little as fifteen bucks. WAAs website shows three OTA members as corporate donors to the effort; Walmart, Marvin Johnson & Associates, and Qualcomm.

DEADLINE FOR CANADIAN EMANIFEST

(From Tony Palmer, Law Offices of John Alden) Beginning November , 202, highway carriers will be denied entry into Canada if the carrier has not complied with the eManifest requirement to electronically transmit cargo and conveyance data prior to border arrival. Carriers may also face non-monetary penalties for non-compliance. On May 12, 2013, however, the Canada Border Services Agency will begin assessing monetary penalties for non-compliance. The eManifest implementation timeline began on November , 20.

OTA CLASSIFIED AD
Wanted: Sales Executive needed for 50+ year TL company based in Northwest Ohio. Candidate may reside in Ohio or Indiana. Please send resume with compensation requirements to Garner Transportation Group. P.O. Box 1506, Findlay, OH 45839, Attn: HR Dept., or email to garner@ garnertrucking.com. Find out more @ www.garnertrucking.com.

OTA MEMBER NEWS NOTES

Harold Tuttle, father of OTA Treasurer Keith Tuttle and founder of Motor Carrier Service, passed away on October 31st at the age of 83. In addition to MCS, based in Northwood, Mr. Tuttle also founded Transport Equipment and Transport Leasing and was involved in many trucking organizations. He could also frequently be found driving his restored 1947 KB7 International truck in local parades. Harold is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lois, sons, Bruce, Keith and Scott, and daughter Laura. Donations can be made to the St. Mathews Episcopal Church Youth Fund, or the Zenobia Shrine Hospital Transportation Fund, 8048 Broadstone Blvd., Perrysburg, OH 43551.

OTA WELCOMES THESE NEW MEMBERS

(bold name is new member sponsor!)
Gem City Tire Jeff Lecklider, President 2531 Needmore Rd. Dayton, OH 45414 937/890-8189 jlecklider@gemcitytire.com David Pohl, Pohl Transportation Kurtz Bros., Inc. Matt Malone, Equipment Mgr. 6415 Granger Rd. Independence, OH 44131 26/986-7000 mattm@kurtz-bros.com Great Lakes Truck Expo Vertical Alliance Group Gregory Shipman, Partner 1730 Galleria Oaks Texarkana, TX 75503 317/430-1837 gksinfiniti@live.com Jeremy Reymer, Driving Ambition

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA 2011

For nearly 20 years, the Wreaths Across America organization has been honoring fallen soldiers at Christmas by placing evergreen wreaths on their graves, and other tributes. This years official ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery will be December 0th and organizers hope to decorate all 220,000 headstones at Arlington as well as 700 locations across the country.
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