Route 8 / I-84 Mixmaster Rehab update

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is working to inform motorists and residents of current and upcoming construction activities through press notices, travel alerts, social media, and the Mixmaster Rehabilitation project website.

Update for the week of March 27.

Long Term Closures

The following closures are in effect daily until further notice:

  • Highland Avenue On-Ramp to I-84 Eastbound: Closed
  • Bank Street On-Ramp (Local to Route 8 Southbound)
  • Exit 21 Off-Ramp (I-84 Eastbound): Closed
  • Exit 30 On-Ramp (Route 8 Northbound)
  • Exit 32 Off-Ramp (Route 8 Northbound)
  • Exit 19 Off-Ramp (I-84 Westbound)

For the week of March 27, 2023

Monday, March 27 through Friday, March 31

Daytime

  • No short-term closures

Nighttime

  • I-84 Westbound: Left/Right Lane (alternately): Closed from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
  • I-84 Westbound: Center Lane Closed from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
  • I-84 Eastbound: Right/Center Lane (alternately): Closed from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
  • I-84 Eastbound (West End) Closure: Closed from 10:30 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
  • Riverside Street: Closed from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
trucks parked in lot

Is the New England grid ready for electric trucks?

From CT News Junkie.

While the Northeast is ramping up efforts to electrify the diesel-powered truck fleets that rumble through its major freight corridors, the region lacks a vision for what the increased electricity demand will mean for the grid and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

A new study headed up by National Grid, the utility company, aims to lay out a clear path forward.

Brian Wilkie, National Grid’s director of transportation electrification in New York, said the two-year study will pinpoint future critical charging locations along highways in nine Northeast states, and advise as to where major transmission upgrades will be needed.

Read the full article online at CT News Junkie.

Tristate Truck Driving Championships

Tristate Truck Driving Championships June 10

The Trucking Associations of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are excited to announce the 2023 Tristate Truck Driving Championships. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, June 10, at the FedEx Freight facility at 130 Old County Circle in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

We encourage you to bring family and friends to this event. This year’s field competition starts at 10 a.m., with the awards program scheduled to start around 4 p.m. (The driver roll call is set for 7:30 a.m. sharp.)

The registration fee is $125 per driver.

Those drivers who win their class at the state level will have the chance to compete nationally. This year’s ATA Nationals will be held August 16 – 19, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio.

 

East Haddam swing bridge weight restrcitions

Weight restrictions during East Haddam swing bridge overhaul

The CTDOT is rehabilitating the East Haddam Swing Bridge (a 2-year project). Last November, the Department announced that the vehicular weight restriction was being lowered to 16 tons during reconstruction.

Over the last couple of months, the CSP and DMV have been performing spot enforcement, revealing numerous instances of truckers attempting to cross the bridge while violating this reduced weight restriction.

Ensure your company and drivers who travel the route are familiar with the restrictions. Any truck that exceeds 16 tons is restricted from using the East Haddam Swing Bridge, which carries Route 82 over the Connecticut River in Haddam and East Haddam, until further notice.

East Haddam swing bridge weight restrcitions

MTAC Buyers Guide

The Motor Transport Association of Connecticut (“MTAC”) has announced its designation of the exclusive publisher and advertising sales agent of the Motor Transport Association of Connecticut Buyers’ Guide, the premier resource of relevant products and services for trucking industry professionals.

MTAC has partnered with Overland, Kansas-based Strategic Value Media (SVM), a leading nationwide provider of print and digital media solutions to the national, state and local trade and membership associations, to produce the Guide. MTAC proudly provides its members with this useful and easily accessible year-round resource.

A representative from Strategic Value Media may contact you by email or phone to inquire if you want to enhance your listing in the Buyer’s Guide. Please know this is a legitimate call and that SVM is partnering with MTAC to provide you with this resource for advertising your products and services.

The guide will feature updated and expanded company and product listings and other valuable information relating to the trucking industry. The guide provides MTAC members and other industry professionals with an efficient way to browse for goods and services. The guide also offers industry suppliers and companies exceptional visibility by showcasing their products and services to a targeted, industry-specific buyer group.

The guide will be accessible through the MTAC website. We encourage you to take advantage of this exceptional opportunity to highlight your products and services in the Guide.

Please email the SVM team to learn more about advertising your product or services within this exclusive guide.

Connecticut capitol and lawn

Bill Tracker – as of Jan. 26, 2023

The following is an updated list of bills MTAC is currently tracking. All previous bills mentioned in the Jan. 12 post are included below.

Over the coming weeks, thousands of proposals will be presented to the general assembly. As bills are introduced, we identify those proposals that have a direct impact on our industry. We will be closely tracking and sharing legislation of interest with you.

We will testify and lobby many of these issues for the industry. Please bring to our attention any legislation you think we should be tracking. See the bills below that we are already tracking.

Education

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 766 AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS to alleviate the school bus driver shortage by assisting municipalities and school districts in the recruitment and retention of school bus drivers. REF. ENVIRONMENT

Energy & Environment

Proposed  H.B. No. 5068 AN ACT SEPARATING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION – Decouples the department of Energy and Environment Protection from the Public Utility’s Regulatory Authority. This would create a separation of powers between the two entities that many argue would allow for more impartial decision-making. REF. ENVIRONMENT

Proposed H.B. No. 5072 AN ACT SEPARATING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION – Decouples the Department of Energy and Environment Protection from the Public Utility’s Regulatory Authority. This would create a separation of powers between the two entities that many argue would allow for more impartial decision-making. REF. ENVIRONMENT

Proposed H.B. No. 5124 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND TRANSFERRING ENERGY FUNCTIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO THE NEW DEPARTMENT, to create a Department of Energy and transfer energy-related functions from the current Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to the new Department of Energy. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Proposed H.B. No. 5161 AN ACT REQUIRING THE ADOPTION OF EPA AIR REGULATIONS AND THE REPEAL OF CALIFORNIA AIR STANDARDS, to remove Connecticut’ reliance on the California emissions standards and base Connecticut’s Clean Air regulations on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. REF. ENVIRONMENT

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5277 AN ACT REQUIRING THE ADOPTION OF EMISSION STANDARDS BASED ON THE REGULATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RATHER THAN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, to remove the state’s reliance on California emissions standards and base the state’s emissions regulations on federal standards. REF. ENVIRONMENT

Added – Proposed H.B No. 6234 AN ACT CONCERNING THE ELECTRIFICATION OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE STATE, to (1) require state vehicle procurement to be fully electric, (2) streamline the permitting and opening of new electric vehicle charging sites, (3) create state offices to provide technical assistance to local governments concerning the Inflation Reduction Act, (4) require utilities to plan for the increased use of electric vehicles in the state and fund related grid improvements, and (5) accelerate electrification of the state’s school bus fleet. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6338 AN ACT CONCERNING SEPARATING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, to provide for an independent energy regulatory authority. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6397 AN ACT CONCERNING ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS, to create accountability for reaching the state’s carbon reduction goals. REF. ENVIRONMENT

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6493 AN ACT CONCERNING THE DECOUPLING OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, to restructure the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority as a fully independent regulatory agency. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 792 AN ACT CONCERNING RENEWABLE ENERGY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, STATE CONTRACTS, PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND REDUCING ENERGY COSTS, to promote renewable energy, increase the energy efficiency of buildings, increase accountability in state contracting, provide consumer protection and lower costs for the state’s energy consumers. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Finance

Proposed H.B. No. 5083 AN ACT EXCLUDING BUSINESS TRAINING PROGRAMS AND BUSINESS TRAINING SERVICES FROM THE SALES AND USE TAXES Allows for business training programs and services to be exempt from the sales and use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5080 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX. Repeals the tractor trailer highway use fee that went into effect on January 1, 2023. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5110 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX.  Repeals the tractor trailer highway use fee that went into effect on January 1, 2023. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5127 AN ACT REPEALING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to repeal the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5128 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX AND THE TAX ON FUELS AND GASOHOL, to eliminate the highway use tax and the tax on fuels and gasohol. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5131 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5164 AN ACT CONCERNING THE FILING OF HIGHWAY USE TAX RETURNS, to reduce the frequency of filing highway use tax returns for affected carriers. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5167 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5226AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5290AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5303AN ACT COMBINING THE PETROLEUM PRODUCTS GROSS EARNINGS TAX AND THE MOTOR VEHICLE FUELS TAX to combine the petroleum products gross earnings tax and the motor vehicle fuels tax and impose one tax on a per-gallon basis. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5304AN ACT EXEMPTING FARM VEHICLES FROM THE HIGHWAY USE TAX to exempt farm vehicles from the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5307AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5410AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX,to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5650 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5680 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE TAX ON DIESEL FUEL, to eliminate the tax on diesel fuel sold or used by a distributor in this state. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6069 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX AND CONCERNING THE TAX ON FUELS AND GASOHOL, to eliminate the highway use tax and suspend the phase-in of the tax on fuels and gasohol. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 64 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 126 AN ACT CONCERNING THE RATE OF TAX ON DIESEL FUEL, to reduce the rate of tax for diesel fuel to forty and one-tenth cents per gallon and establish a task force to recommend changes to the statutory formula that sets the applicable tax rate for diesel fuel. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 127 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PHASE-IN AND RATE OF THE TAX ON FUELS AND GASOHOL, to delay the phase-in of the tax on fuels and gasohol by six months and require the Department of Revenue Services and the Office of Policy and Management make a joint recommendation as to the appropriate rate of such tax to ensure the state maintains its surface transportation infrastructure in good repair. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 350 AN ACT EXEMPTING CERTAIN AGRICULTURAL VEHICLES FROM THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to exempt all vehicles transporting agricultural commodities, machinery or supplies to or from a farm from the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 358 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 709 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Judiciary

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5848 AN ACT CONCERNING THE ADMISSION OF EVIDENCE RELATING TO SEAT BELT USE IN CIVIL MATTERS, to allow evidence of whether a person was wearing a seat belt to be admissible at the time of trial. REF. JUDICIARY

Labor & Public Employment

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 92 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF WAREHOUSE WORKERS, to protect warehouse workers. REF. LABOR AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES

Transportation

Proposed H.B. No. 5080 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX. Repeals the tractor trailer highway use fee that went into effect on January 1, 2023. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed H.B. No. 5110 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX.  Repeals the tractor trailer highway use fee that went into effect on January 1, 2023. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed H.B. No. 5127 AN ACT REPEALING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to repeal the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed H.B. No. 5128 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX AND THE TAX ON FUELS AND GASOHOL, to eliminate the highway use tax and the tax on fuels and gasohol. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed H.B. No. 5131 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed H.B. No. 5164 AN ACT CONCERNING THE FILING OF HIGHWAY USE TAX RETURNS, to reduce the frequency of filing highway use tax returns for affected carriers. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed H.B. No. 5167 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5045 AN ACT PERMITTING SMALL MUNICIPALITIES TO REDUCE SPEED LIMITS ON CERTAIN STATE ROADS to permit small municipalities to reduce the speed limit on certain state roads to improve traffic and pedestrian safety. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5255 AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE USE OF AUTOMATED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT SAFETY DEVICES to authorize the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices to enforce speed limits and stopping at red lights. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5371 AN ACT CONCERNING SAME-DAY CAR DEALER REGISTRATIONS to provide expedited same-day car registration for car dealers. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5966 AN ACT CONCERNING GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS AND OTHER NAVIGATION APPLICATIONS to prevent drivers from mistakenly driving the wrong way or accessing prohibited highways while using global positioning systems or other navigation applications. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5967 AN ACT CONCERNING THE TEMPORARY REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAILERS to allow an individual to purchase a motor vehicle or trailer and transport the motor vehicle or trailer home on the same day. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5968 AN ACT IMPLEMENTING WRONG-WAY DRIVING COUNTERMEASURES to prevent wrong-way driver-related fatalities. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5990 AN ACT STUDYING ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING STRATEGIES, to study alternative transportation funding strategies, including a mileage-based user fee, so that the Special Transportation Fund remains fiscally solvent in the future. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5977 AN ACT CONCERNING THE VISIBILITY OF PRIVATE DELIVERY SERVICE EMPLOYEES, to require employees of a private delivery service company to wear high-visibility apparel when delivering items. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5988 AN ACT CONCERNING TRAINING FOR LOCAL TRAFFIC AUTHORITIES to require that local traffic authorities receive training in order to increase knowledge and make decisions that increase traffic and pedestrian safety. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5990 AN ACT STUDYING ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING STRATEGIES. To study alternative transportation funding strategies, including a mileage-based user fee, so that the Special Transportation Fund remains fiscally solvent in the future. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5993 AN ACT CONCERNING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MEASURES to improve traffic and pedestrian safety.REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5995 AN ACT CONCERNING INFORMATION COLLECTED BY AN AUTOMATED NUMBER PLATE RECOGNITION SYSTEM to restrict the use of information collected by automated number plate recognition systems. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 5998 AN ACT CONCERNING THE NONEMERGENCY AND NONCONSENSUAL TOWING OF MOTOR VEHICLES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY to reduce conflict between towing companies and motor vehicle owners. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6000 AN ACT CONCERNING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY to protect pedestrian safety. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6162 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A RED-LIGHT CAMERA PILOT PROGRAM IN THE CITY OF WATERBURY to authorize the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices to enforce stopping at red lights and reduce dangerous and reckless driving in the city of Waterbury. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6165 AN ACT CONCERNING “JAKE-BRAKING”, to alleviate excessive noises on roadways caused by the use of engine compression brake devices in densely populated residential areas. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – ProposedH.B. No. 6166AN ACT CONCERNING LOUD AND EXCESSIVE MOTOR VEHICLE NOISE to reduce loud and excessive noise from motor vehicles. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6234  AN ACT CONCERNING THE ELECTRIFICATION OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE STATE to (1) require state vehicle procurement to be fully electric, (2) streamline the permitting and opening of new electric vehicle charging sites, (3) create state offices to provide technical assistance to local governments concerning the Inflation Reduction Act, (4) require utilities to plan for the increased use of electric vehicles in the state and fund related grid improvements, and (5) accelerate electrification of the state’s school bus fleet. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6292 AN ACT CONCERNING THE REVIEW OF MOTOR VEHICLE DEALERSHIP AND REPAIR LICENSE APPLICATIONS to require planning and zoning commissions to review and approve applications for dealing in or repairing motor vehicles pursuant to current zoning regulations, prior to the approval of such licenses by zoning boards of appeals. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6309 AN ACT CONCERNING FLASHING WRONG WAY SIGNS ON ALL HIGHWAY EXIT RAMPS to stop wrong way driving. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed H.B. No. 6546 AN ACT IMPLEMENTING WRONG-WAY DRIVING COUNTERMEASURES, to reduce wrong-way driving. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Proposed S.B. No. 15 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PENALTY FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES ON STATE PARKWAYS, to promote public safety and compliance with the ban of certain motor vehicles on parkways in this state. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 178 AN ACT CONCERNING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF CERTAIN FEDERAL FUNDS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION to provide transparency, oversight and accountability for the expenditure of certain federal funds by the Department of Transportation. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 586 AN ACT PROHIBITING MODIFICATIONS TO THE BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD AND FRONT SIDE WINDOWS OF A MOTOR VEHICLE to prohibit modifications to brake lights, turn signal lights, windshield and front side windows on a motor vehicle. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 590 AN ACT CONCERNING EXPENDITURES FROM THE SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION FUND, to ensure the resources of the Special Transportation Fund are expended on transportation. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 608 AN ACT CONCERNING THE RATES AND CHARGES FOR NONCONSENSUAL TOWING to ensure appropriate rates and charges for nonconsensual towing that accounts for the costs and overhead expenses incurred by the towing company. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 619 AN ACT EQUIPPING COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES WITH GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS to increase public safety and reduce traffic by requiring commercial motor vehicles to be equipped with global positioning systems. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Added – Proposed S.B. No. 631 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PENALTIES FOR DISTRACTED DRIVING to increase the fines and penalties for distracted driving so that such fines and penalties are similar with the fines and penalties for driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs. REF. TRANSPORTATION

Connecticut capitol and lawn

Bill Tracker – as of Jan. 1, 2023

Over the coming weeks, thousands of proposals will be presented to the general assembly. As bills are introduced, we identify those proposals that have a direct impact on our industry. We will be closely tracking and sharing legislation of interest with you.

We will testify and lobby many of these issues for the industry. Please bring to our attention any legislation you think we should be tracking. See the bills below that we are already tracking.

Energy & Environment

Proposed  H.B. No. 5068 AN ACT SEPARATING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION – Decouples the department of Energy and Environment Protection from the Public Utility’s Regulatory Authority. This would create a separation of powers between the two entities that many argue would allow for more impartial decision-making. REF. ENVIRONMENT

Proposed H.B. No. 5072 AN ACT SEPARATING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION – Decouples the Department of Energy and Environment Protection from the Public Utility’s Regulatory Authority. This would create a separation of powers between the two entities that many argue would allow for more impartial decision-making. REF. ENVIRONMENT

Proposed H.B. No. 5124 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND TRANSFERRING ENERGY FUNCTIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO THE NEW DEPARTMENT, to create a Department of Energy and transfer energy-related functions from the current Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to the new Department of Energy. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Proposed H.B. No. 5161 AN ACT REQUIRING THE ADOPTION OF EPA AIR REGULATIONS AND THE REPEAL OF CALIFORNIA AIR STANDARDS, to remove Connecticut’ reliance on the California emissions standards and base Connecticut’s Clean Air regulations on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. REF. ENVIRONMENT

Finance

Proposed H.B. No. 5083 AN ACT EXCLUDING BUSINESS TRAINING PROGRAMS AND BUSINESS TRAINING SERVICES FROM THE SALES AND USE TAXES Allows for business training programs and services to be exempt from the sales and use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Transportation

Proposed H.B. No. 5080 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX. Repeals the tractor trailer highway use fee that went into effect on January 1, 2023. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed H.B. No. 5110 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX.  Repeals the tractor trailer highway use fee that went into effect on January 1, 2023. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed H.B. No. 5127 AN ACT REPEALING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to repeal the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed H.B. No. 5128 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX AND THE TAX ON FUELS AND GASOHOL, to eliminate the highway use tax and the tax on fuels and gasohol. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed H.B. No. 5131 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed H.B. No. 5164 AN ACT CONCERNING THE FILING OF HIGHWAY USE TAX RETURNS, to reduce the frequency of filing highway use tax returns for affected carriers. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed H.B. No. 5167 AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX, to eliminate the highway use tax. REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

Proposed S.B. No. 15 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PENALTY FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES ON STATE PARKWAYS, to promote public safety and compliance with the ban of certain motor vehicles on parkways in this state. REF. TRANSPORTATION

truck with flatbed on highway

FMCSA fine rate increases for 2023

From Front Range Compliance Services (FRCS).

In response to the inflation impacting our country, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has increased the fine amount for trucking violations in 2023.

On January 6, the FMCSA published a Final Rule increasing the civil penalty amounts to be imposed for violations of certain DOT regulations.

The changes are part of an annual adjustment to account for inflation, which are required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 2015. Adjustments were also made to other agencies in the U.S. Department of Transportation. This act applies to all federal agencies, not just the DOT.

For additional information and to view a comparison table of former and new penalty values, read the full article on the FRCS website.

Happy New Year from MTAC

We at MTAC want to wish you and your families a happy and healthy new year. Cheers to a successful and thriving 2023!

As the new year approaches, we are poised to represent the many interests that affect your ability to successfully operate businesses here in the state of Connecticut. We will continue to push back on the highway use tax (HUT) and defend any other costly measures the legislature or regulatory bodies may consider in the coming year.

As a reminder, if you are communicating with the Department of Revenue Services over the HUT, please provide us with any unclear feedback you may receive. We will continue bringing your concerns to DRS, hoping that DRS will soften some of the overly burdensome compliance measures.

And, of course, if an opportunity arises during the 2023 legislative session to repeal the HUT, we will fully support such a measure.

Last, I thank you all for your ongoing support. In just three months of being in this position, I have gained a tremendous amount of industry expertise, most, if not all, derived from interactions with our diverse membership. We are much more successful in numbers, and your engagement will be critical to our overall success as we move into 2023.

Please be safe on the roads and enjoy the rest of the holiday season.

New mileage tax for truckers in Connecticut

Effective Jan. 1, trucking companies will start paying a mileage fee for their tractor-trailers traveling Connecticut roads. The Highway Use Fee is calculated per mile and the rate increases based on the carrier’s gross weight. Fees range from 2.5 cents per mile for vehicles weighing 26,000 to 28,000 pounds, to 17.5 cents per mile for vehicles weighing more than 80,000 lbs.

Any person that operates or causes to be operated on any highway in this state any eligible motor vehicle. An eligible motor vehicle has a gross weight of twenty-six thousand pounds or more and carries a classification between Class 8 and Class 13, inclusive, under the Federal Highway Administration vehicle classification system must register for a Highway Use Fee Permit.

From WFSB.

As of January first, tractor trailers traveling on Connecticut’s highways will be required to start paying a new mileage tax.

“Any tax obviously is difficult for any industry to have to comply with,” said John Blair, President, Motor Transport Association of Connecticut.

Back in June of 2021 the legislation was passed in the general assembly.

The new provision impacts truck drivers by requiring them to be registered.