The Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association joined business and industry leaders from across the state to discuss reforms designed to cut unnecessary regulations and barriers to growth.
Part of U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick’s (R-PA) Pennsylvania Red Tape Dialogues held at Temple University in Philadelphia, PMTA advocated three priorities – eliminating the state’s additional inspection requirements for interstate trucks; creating a pathway for qualified 18- to 20-year-old drivers to operate in interstate commerce; strengthening FMCSA’s ability to oversee the trucking industry and combat fraud.
“Trucking companies understand the importance of regulations that protect highway safety, but unnecessary or outdated requirements can make it harder and more expensive to operate,” said PMTA President & CEO Rebecca Oyler. “We appreciate the opportunity to bring practical, real-world solutions to the table and help identify changes that would allow Pennsylvania’s trucking businesses to operate more efficiently and grow.”
The organization said many of the requirements create unnecessary costs, administrative burdens and operational challenges for small businesses that make up the majority of the state’s more than 72,000 trucking companies.
Prior to the event, PMTA joined other participants in the Transportation & Logistics workgroup to make 36 recommendations addressing regulatory burdens, government processes, and legal and policy barriers affecting the trucking industry. The proposals covered a wide range of issues including federal safety oversight, electronic logging devices, fuel tax administration and independent contractor relationships. The three main priorities floated to the top of the group’s list.
Additionally, workgroup participants felt that lawsuit abuse represented one of the most significant challenges facing the trucking industry. Litigation costs, large verdicts, and concerns about venue shopping contribute to increasing insurance expenses and financial uncertainty for motor carriers, the workgroup participants said. PMTA has said lawsuit abuse reform is a major advocacy priority and that rising litigation and insurance expenses affect not only trucking companies but consumers and businesses as well.
PMTA said the event was an opportunity to work with member companies and other transportation and logistics leaders to identify reforms that could improve the operating environment for Pennsylvania’s trucking industry.
“Reducing unnecessary red tape doesn’t mean compromising safety,” Oyler said. “It means taking a hard look at requirements that no longer make sense, eliminating unnecessary costs, and removing barriers that make it harder for businesses to operate and grow. That’s good for trucking businesses, especially small businesses, and it’s good for Pennsylvania’s economy.”
McCormick said he will publish a report within 60 days identifying what steps and reforms emerging from the Red Tape Dialogues. The Senator said he plans to publicly track progress on the recommendations.
PMTA said it looks forward to reviewing the recommendations and continuing to advocate for reforms that support a safe, competitive, and economically strong trucking industry.