MTAC visits Nutmeg International

This week, MTAC President Joe Sculley visited MTAC Board Member Alan Baumert at Nutmeg International Trucks’ Hartford location. Nutmeg International opened in September 1978. Their leasing arm, J.T.& S. Idealease was established in May 1983, for leasing and renting trucks across the region. Nutmeg/JT&S has since grown to five locations; three full service dealerships and…

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DOT proposes increases in rail, bus fares

From the Connecticut Post, with emphasis added. The state Department of Transportation is proposing to increase rail and bus fares to deal with $37 million in cuts from the new state budget that began on July 1. It’s proposing a 5 percent fare increase on the Metro-North New Haven commuter rail line, including the New…

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Industry asked to rank top concerns

atri annual survey

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research organization, today launched the 2016 Top Industry Issues Survey. The annual survey, commissioned by the American Trucking Associations (ATA), asks trucking industry stakeholders to rank the top issues of concern for the industry along with appropriate strategies for addressing each issue. The survey is…

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Call on Washington Sept. 27 & 28

US Capital

MTAC’s “Call on Washington” is scheduled for the last week of September. This annual event provides a great opportunity for MTAC members to meet with the Connecticut Congressional delegation to talk about issues that are important to the industry. Our message needs to be delivered by MTAC members directly to our elected officials and their…

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MTAC annual meeting set for Oct. 27

Mark your calendars for the 96th MTAC Annual Meeting, which will be held on Thursday, Oct. 27 at Maneeley’s in South Windsor, Conn. This will be a worthwhile meeting featuring educational sessions on FMCSA compliance (including ELDs), International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) changes and compliance, a roadside and pre-trip inspection demonstration, a trade show, and…

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Connecticut readies for modified “ban-the-box” law

Connecticut Capital

Excerpt from Hartford Business Journal. Connecticut recently enacted the Fair Chance Employment Act that is a modified “ban-the-box” law. It applies to all employers in both the public and private sectors and is effective Jan. 1, 2017. The law prohibits employers from inquiring about a prospective employee’s prior arrests, criminal charges or convictions on an…

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Senate confirms Scott Darling as FMCSA administrator

Excerpt from Transport Topics. Before adjourning for seven weeks, the Senate on July 14 confirmed Scott Darling to lead the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Darling had been the agency’s acting administrator. He was confirmed by unanimous consent. Darling had waited about half a year for the chamber to take up his nomination. “I am…

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Extension of Unified Registration System effective date

FMCSA logo

FMCSA is delaying the implementation of the final stage of the Unified Registration System (URS) until Jan. 14, 2017, with a new full compliance date of April 14, 2017. This is a three month extension. The agency is currently updating its information technology systems and undertaking a complex migration of millions of records to remote…

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FMCSA announces plans for Crash-Accountability Demonstration Program

FMCSA logo

Excerpt from Transport Topics article: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on July 11 outlined plans for a two-year demonstration program that would allow certain non-preventable crashes to be removed from motor carriers’ public and private safety scores. The policy shift is being proposed after long-standing industry concerns that all crashes currently are being recorded…

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Notes on filing IRS Form 2290

From Bob Pitcher, State Laws Newsletter. The annual filing for the federal heavy vehicle use tax, which is reported on Internal Revenue Form 2290, is due at the end of August. Most larger fleets probably file electronically, and that seems most efficient. E-filing of the 2290 is not free however, carriers will need to use a…

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