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Volume II, Issue 9—December 2009 |
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Industry Headlines |
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TRALA Pushes Insurance Primacy Reversal Implementation in Alberta Vicarious liability reform in Alberta, Canada is one step closer to full implementation. On October 28, 2009 TRALA submitted comments to the Alberta Ministry of Finance in response to draft regulations the ministry released to TRALA and other stakeholders in the ongoing vicarious liability reform efforts. The regulations provided to TRALA for review would reverse insurance primacy in Alberta so that operators of rented and leased vehicles become the primary insured in the case of a claim, rather than the vehicle lessor. TRALA’s Government Relations Committee and general counsel reviewed the regulations and were supportive of the intent to reverse insurance primacy and agreed that the language provided would accomplish that goal. The letter to assistant deputy minister Dennis Gartner stated TRALA’s support for the regulations in their current form and appreciation for the opportunity to review. A copy of TRALA’s letter to the Alberta Ministry of Finance in response to those regulations can be seen here.
Extensions Fund Federal Highway Program The U.S. Congress has approved a series of Continuing Resolutions (CR) to extend funding under the current highway authorization program that was due to expire on September 30, 2009. The first CR was passed on September 30, the end of the 2009 fiscal year and the expiration date of the current highway authorization known as the SAFETEA-LU (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users) program. On October 29, Congress passed a second CR that continued funding at FY 2009 levels for most federal programs including the programs under SAFETY-LU until December 18, 2009. On Wednesday, December 16, a five day CR was passed by the U.S. House to extend SAFETEA-LU and Department of Defense Appropriations until December 23, 2009, in order to give the Senate more time to consider HR 3326, the Defense Appropriations bill. Following passage of the 5 day CR, Congress passed HR 3326, the Defense Appropriations bill that includes a two month extension of SAFETEA-LU, on Saturday, December 19. Passage of HR 3326 means that SAFETEA-LU will continue to be funded at FY 2009 levels until February 28, 2010.
TRALA Hosts Web Conference on CMV Advanced Safety Technology Systems On Tuesday, December 15, 2009, TRALA’s Equipment and Technology Advisory Council (ETAC) hosted a web conference on commercial motor vehicle advanced safety systems that would be eligible for tax credits under identical legislation currently in the U.S. House and Senate. TRALA was pleased to see participants from both its associate and regular membership participating in the conference. The conference featured presentations from safety system manufacturers Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, MGM Brakes, and Iteris. Commercial motor vehicle manufacturers Volvo Trucks North America and Daimler Trucks North America also presented about integration of those systems into commercial motor vehicles. Please visit TRALA’s website to download copies of all the presentations and listen to an audio recording of the conference.
Our Special Thanks to TRALA’s Legal Action Fund Contributors TRALA would like to recognize those who have contributed to the 2009/2010 Legal Action Fund. Legal Action Fund contributions allow TRALA to continue to uphold the highest standards our industry has come to expect from us. Please help support TRALA’s legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts and join your colleagues listed below in making a contribution to TRALA’s 2009/2010 Legal Action Fund campaign today.
Carco Idealease • Dodge City International • Enterprise Commercial Trucks • Fox Idealease • Harco National Insurance Company • Idealease of Atlanta • Idealease of Richmond • Kenworth Ontario PacLease •Mack Lease of Omaha • Moritt, Hock, Hamroff & Horowitz LLP • Navistar • PACCAR Leasing Company • Palmer Leasing Group • Rush Enterprises • Ryder System, Inc. • SANTEX International • Stepco Leasing LTD • Sun State International Trucks, LLC • Supreme Corporation • U-Haul International, Inc. • UHL Idealease • White’s Idealease • Wieland Idelease • Worldwide Equipment Leasing. |
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Truck Renting and Leasing Association |
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TRALA Industry Wire |
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Legislative Update |
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Industry Leaders to Gather for TRALA 2010 Annual Meeting |
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Join us April 6-8 at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, Florida for the year’s only industry-wide gathering of vehicle renting and leasing companies from throughout North America. We’ve planned high quality business content from well regarded speakers and industry leaders.
Registration can be done online through TRALA’s website. Once you have registered for the meeting, please make sure to contact the Doral Golf Resort & Spa at (760) 603-6888 or through this link to secure your room reservation at the specially negotiated rate of $139 per night. If you have any questions, please contact TRALA’s Shannon Murray at (703) 299-9120 or smurray@trala.org. |
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TRALA’s 2009-2010 Scholarship Program |
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What family can’t use some help with paying for the costs of today’s higher education? Don’t miss the opportunity for your son or daughter to apply for a $5,000 college scholarship that is renewable for up to four years for a total of $20,000. TRALA’s Scholarship Program is heading into its 15th year and has awarded 49 students with scholarships since that first year. To be eligible to apply, applicants must be dependent children (high school seniors only) of full-time employees of TRALA member companies. Employees must have been working full-time for the company a minimum of one year as the application deadline. Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale and plan to enroll in a full-time course of study at an accredited four year college or university. Just click here to apply for this valuable scholarship. The application deadline is January 15, 2010. Please contact TRALA’s Tonya Gibbs at tgibbs@trala.org or by phone at (703) 299-9120 with any questions. |
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Truck Renting and Leasing Association ■ 675 N. Washington Street ■ Suite 410 ■ Alexandria, VA 22314 ■ 703.299.9120 |
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Heavy Truck Equipment Demand Likely to Fall After Order Surge in October In the latest issue of the North American Commercial Truck and Trailer Outlook published by FTR Associates, heavy truck demand for 2010 is likely to slow after EPA 2007 engine inventory is exhausted. Source: FTR Associates British Columbia Working with CARB to Reduce Vehicle Emissions The memorandum of understanding commits the Ministry of Environment and the California Air Resources Board to move forward in partnership in the implementation of greenhouse gas emissions standards for light-duty trucks, SUVs and new cars. Source: Commercial Carrier Journal Obama Nominates Strickland as NHTSA Administrator President Barack Obama has selected David Strickland as his nomination for administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Strickland serves as the senior counsel on the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has jurisdiction over NHTSA. In his role as senior counsel, Strickland provides his expertise on fuel economy and vehicle safety. Source: truckinginfo.com Audit Shows DOT’s Financial Statements Meet Standards Class 8 orders for North American OEMs have been slowly showing signs of improvement, the numbers for 2009 still do not look good in comparison to previous years. Despite the bleak outlook for equipment sales in North America, things are looking better in the Chinese commercial vehicle market. Truck makers and suppliers should consider going global if they are trying to stay afloat during the tough economy. Source: Commercial Carrier Journal DHS Extends REAL ID Deadline to 2011 The Department of Homeland Security said it will extend until 2011 the Jan. 1 deadline for implementing toughened drivers’ licenses and identification card security standards mandated by the REAL ID Act of 2005. The Jan. 1 deadline would have required the more secure drivers’ licenses to board airplanes and gain entrance to federal buildings. Source: Transport Topics |