Posts by MTAC Staff

Connecticut DMV has sent a friendly reminder to MTAC and its members that Connecticut’s online medical certification system is the only way to submit medical certifications to CT DMV. The online medical certification system can be accessed at this link. This is a reminder to NOT email or fax your med cards to CT DMV, they…

From Transport Topics. The persistent truck driver shortage is a complicated issue that is tied in part to quality-of-life considerations, according to American Trucking Associations Chief Economist Bob Costello. Costello reported the trucking industry needed an additional 60,800 truckers in 2018, a shortfall that is expected to grow to 105,000 drivers by 2023 unless recruitment…

Legal Alert from MG+M The Law Firm. In most circumstances the Motor Carrier Act (MCA) exempts drivers from overtime wages as mandated by the Fair Labor and Standards Act (FLSA). The MCA provides that employees whose qualifications and hours of service are dictated by the Secretary of Transportation are exempt from the overtime rates set…

MTAC will host our first Inspector Certification class of 2021 on Sept. 21. Below you will find a course description and a link to sign up for the class. Under federal law, commercial motor vehicle inspectors are required to be certified to be able to conduct federal annual inspections. Inspectors must be capable of performing…

From CT News Junkie. Under a bill signed Monday by Gov. Ned Lamont, the state will impose a new mileage-based fee on tractor-trailer trucks using Connecticut highways beginning in January 2023. In an effort to support the state’s struggling Special Transportation Fund, the new law will assess a per-mile tax on big rig trucks which…

From Transport Topics. A new bill from U.S. House lawmakers meant to fund the Department of Transportation through fiscal 2022 would back an operational budget increase for federal trucking safety programs and ensure the distribution of infrastructure grants around the country. As part of an appropriations bill approved by a House panel July 12, federal…

Legal Alert from MG+M The Law Firm. For many people the first thing they do when they get into a car is buckle-up. After all, in 49 states, the lone exception being New Hampshire, it is against the law to not do so. But, what is the impact of the defense of a motor vehicle…

From Commercial Carrier Journal. As part of the Biden administration’s ongoing work addressing supply chain disruption, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, and Deputy Administrator Meera Joshi of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hosted a roundtable Thursday to discuss truck driver recruitment and retention. “Our economy is getting back on its feet,…

From Transport Topics. A multiyear highway policy bill recently approved in the U.S. House of Representatives would fund a comprehensive truck parking initiative, and pave the way for the adoption of other freight-centric programs. Responding to industry concerns about a lack of available parking for truck drivers, the legislation would seek to expand facilities for…

Legal Alert from MG+M The Law Firm. States have taken it upon themselves to advance the legalization of marijuana, both recreationally and medically. As such, a regulatory tension developed between state and federal policies as the federal government continues to classify marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug. In an effort to alleviate that tension the…