Blog
TRALA Urging YES Votes on IRP Ballots
- By: Shannon Davison
- On: 10/24/2013 11:12:05
- In: Legislative Bulletins
TRALA is again urging member jurisdictions of the International Registration Plan (IRP) to pass ballot initiatives that will improve the flow of interstate commerce by making it easier for rented and leased trucks to operate under the IRP. TRALA previously submitted comments to the IRP stating its support for two important ballots, but with only a few days before the voting deadline, TRALA is again highlighting the importance of these amendments to the industry.
The Base Jurisdiction for Rental Fleets proposal would eliminate a requirement that vehicles leased for periods of 60 days or more must be registered where the lessee has a place of business. If the ballot is approved, lessors would be able to select a base jurisdiction for their fleet, just as other non-leasing and rental fleets do currently. Current requirements for leased vehicles registered under the IRP subject such vehicles to different requirements than all other IRP-registered vehicles because of the "place of business" requirement. TRALA's comments in support of the ballot note that "This puts an unfair and unnecessary administrative burden on lessors to which other registrants are not subject."
The second ballot which TRALA is supporting is the Full Reciprocity Plan (FRP), which would grant full reciprocity for all apportioned vehicles in all member jurisdictions, as well as remove from the IRP provisions relating to estimating distance. If the FRP is adopted, a motor carrier would not need to declare the jurisdictions it expects to travel in during the coming year nor would it need to estimate mileage for vehicles traveling into a jurisdiction for the first time. All jurisdictions would appear on IRP cab cards, meaning the motor carrier would have the ability to enter any jurisdiction without having to worry about adding jurisdictions to the cab card or purchase trip permits.
The Full Reciprocity Plan ballot can be seen here, and the Base Jurisdiction for Rental Fleet ballot can be seen here. TRALA's letter in support of the FRP can be seen here, while comments supporting the Base Jurisdiction for Rental Fleet can be seen here.
TRALA sincerely appreciates the many state trucking association allies who have pledged to publicly state their support for the ballots, particularly the Base Jurisdiction for Rental Fleet ballot, which should benefit lessors, their motor carrier customers, and state governments.
The deadline for IRP member jurisdictions to vote on the ballots is October 28, 2013 so it should soon become clear whether or not the IRP will be amended to incorporate them. TRALA will keep its membership updated on these two initiatives. For questions, contact TRALA's Joe Sculley at jsculley@trala.org or by calling (703) 299-9120.