Minnesota Repeals Uniform State Hazardous Materials Transportation and Registration Program

I spoke with Michael Richie, MN DOT HazMat guru last week and he indicated that Minnesota will drop its requirement that Minnesota based hazardous material carriers be registered with the State. If you are hauling HazMat, make certain you are registered with PHMSA! Read further to see what MTA has to say on this subject and determine whether or not you need to elect a new "base" state:

Minnesota has been a participating state in the Uniform State Hazardous Materials Transportation and Registration Program (HMP) since July 1, 1994. The program's purpose was to establish uniform forms and procedures for States that register persons who transport, cause to be transported, or ship hazardous materials by motor vehicle on the public highways in interstate or intrastate commerce. A carrier filing an application in Minnesota met the regulations in Minnesota, as well as meeting the requirements for other states participating in the HMP. Minnesota collected fees for Minnesota, plus fees for other member HMP states in which the carrier operated. Minnesota issued one cab listing Minnesota and other member HMP states in which the carrier operated.

Effective August 1, 2010, the statutory authority for Minnesota to participate in this program has been repealed by the 2010 State Legislature.

Effective June 1, 2010, the Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations will no longer accept new or renewal applications, collect fees under this program, or issue credentials for the HMP.

Minnesota enforcement agencies as well as the state administrators in the remaining HMP states of Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma and West Virginia have been notified of this change.

THIS MEANS if you are a carrier that met the requirements to file an application and pay fees to the State of Minnesota as your base state under the Hazardous Materials Program; and you transport, cause to be transported, or ship hazardous materials by motor vehicle on the public highways in interstate or intrastate commerce through any of the six states listed above, you must now choose the state in which you generate the greatest percent of fleet mileage as your NEW BASE STATE.

The Minnesota Portion of all Hazardous Material Program Credentials issued by the State of Minnesota Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations with an expiration date after July 31, 2010 will expire July 31, 2010 regardless of the date issued or the expiration date listed on the credential. Authority in any states listed on the credential (except Minnesota) will expire on the date shown on the credentials. If your HMP credentials have expired or expire between now and July 31, 2010, the Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations will not process a renewal or new application. You must make arrangements with your new base state and file immediately with them.

If your Minnesota-issued HMP credentials are expired or expire on or before June 1, 2010, you will need to identify your new base state, make application, calculate and pay fees to your new base state and receive new credentials before July 31, 2010 to operate legally in Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma or West Virginia.

If you have questions, you may contact the Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations at (651) 215-6330.

Launch of Pre-employment Screening Program

Below is text from an FMCSA Division Manager’s email about the Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP).

Included are several links that will help you better understand this critically important new service that will become available to help you when selecting drivers.

Please use this information to help you be informed and better prepared for utilization of PSP.

"I am very pleased to announce the official launch of the Pre-employment Screening Program (PSP), which allows commercial motor carrier companies to electronically access driver inspection and crash records as a part of the hiring process. PSP is another way that we are raising the safety bar for the motor carrier industry and helps to make our roads safer for everyone.

The Pre-Employment Screening Program offers access to up to five years of driver crash data and three years of inspection data regardless of the state or jurisdiction. By using driver safety information during pre-employment screening, commercial carriers will be able to better assess the potential safety risks of prospective driver-employees. PSP also gives drivers additional opportunities to verify the data in their driving history and correct any discrepancies. A driver’s records will be protected in accordance with federal privacy laws.

If you have any questions or receive questions about PSP, there are many references that can assist:"

• Visit the PSP Web site

• View the PSP Frequently Asked Questions

• Contact the contractor’s customer service center by emailing
PSPenrollment@nicusa.com or toll free at 1-877-684-6832.

• Or contact FMCSA’s PSP operations manager, Arlene Thompson,
Arlene.thompson@dot.gov

UCR Fees to Nearly Double

Source: Transport Topics

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released the 2010 fees for the Unified Carrier Registration program Monday, more than doubling the levy across the board but setting it slightly lower than the agency had proposed last year.

The fees, which are used by states to fund various commercial vehicle enforcement activities, will range from $76 for freight forwarders, brokers, leasing companies and fleets with less than two trucks all the way up to $73,346 for fleets with more than a 1,000 trucks.

The increase is the result of a change in the law that changes how FMCSA determines fleet size for purposes of collecting the fees.

Industry executives said the fees were too high, but law enforcement officers said the fees were not high enough to generate the roughly $113 million required under federal law.

Click here

Industry Recommends Changes to CSA 2010

Click here to read MTA CSA 2010 Task Force comments to FMCSA

Click here to read ATA's comments on CSA 2010

Click here to read FMCSA Administrator, Anne Ferro's comments to ATA's recommendations