STAR Awards Applications Available On-Line

The 2013 CVSS is scheduled to be held in Ontario, California on September 26, 2013. This unique one-of-a-kind event is a free educational seminar, sponsored by the CHP. The summit will continue to focus on current safety issues, regulatory requirements and provide a forum for open and candid discussions with state and federal representatives on commercial vehicle safety and security issues.

Check Out CCTA’s Safety Library

The California Compensation Insurance Fund (State Fund) has produced new online safety materials library.

The materials are available to all California employers to download or print. They have also launched a YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/StateFundSafetyvideo), making a small selection of State Fund-produced safety videos available for streaming online.

LOUISVILLE – Based on a comparison of federal vehicle out-of-service (OOS) safety records, motor carriers active in the PrePass system have vehicle safety scores 26 percent better than the national average.

The results beg the question—why—and the research prepared by safety analyst Brenda Lantz, PhD, performed the research at the request of HELP Inc., helped provide an answer.

We’ve carried a series of articles under the heading of “Billings and Collections” for haulers to get their hard-earned money. This story, from Capitol Connection, talks about the latest meeting of the California Contractor’s State License Board and what they learned about how contractors can get paid.

By Shauna Krause, President, Capitol Services, Inc.

Over the years we’ve received many questions regarding the state’s Mechanics Lien laws. As discussed at the Contractor Board’s recent meeting in Sacramento, a number of legal revisions took place on July 1, 2012, which mainly changed the wording and format of the Mechanics Lien notices. Because of these changes, the CSLB has updated release forms to reflect the new language and made them available on their website (www.cslb.ca.gov).

From OTA Weekly Express

Last week we ran an article that covered a recent report from the City Club of Portland on air toxics. Part of that report stated that, “Diesel equipment owners shift lower-performing units to Oregon because of our less stringent standards, compared to California and Washington.”

The national construction industry added 48,000 jobs in February, the ninth consecutive month of job growth for the sector, as more people are working in construction than at any point in the last three and a half years, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. 

Construction firms employed 5.78 million people in February, a gain of 48,000 from January and 140,000 or 2.5 percent from a year ago, Simonson noted. The industry unemployment rate, which is not seasonally adjusted and thus is typically high in February, fell from 17.1 percent in February 2012 to 15.7 percent last month. Both residential and nonresidential construction added jobs for the month and year.

There were words of wisdom and impassioned speeches made during Chico based Assemblyman Dan Logue Town Hall Meeting, March 28. The meeting featured five management representatives of the California Air Resources Board (CARB). 

Applause and cheers rang out from the 350 in attendance as key points about the problems CARB regulations are making for many businesses that utilize diesel powered vehicles. Vehicles that were all approved by EPA. Truckers, growers, contractors and many others were there to tell CARB representatives what’s wrong with those rules.

Non-bonded Brokers

If you are a construction truck broker and tired of competing with non-bonded brokers who refuse to play on an even playing field, it is time to do something about it. If you work for a non-bonded broker who is not paying you, you need to take action and report these bad brokers. I have included the information you need to report below.

The California Construction Trucking Association just put the CCTA Mobile on the road. This vehicle promises to make a stronger presence on the streets of California. 

This vehicle is something each and every member of the CCTA can be proud of.

National construction fuel consumption numbers are showing an increasing level of construction activity according WEX Inc., formerly Wright Express Corporation, a leading provider of corporate fleet fuel card payment solutions.

By Doug Nichols, 2nd Southern Vice Chairman

At the last Executive Committee Meeting in February, the subject of medical certification became the topic of discussion.

CCTA has a proven track record of promoting and protecting the interests and best practices of construction truck company owners, large and small, as well as interstate carriers (recently) through our Legislative and Government Affairs program. 

The first year of the two-year 2013-14 Legislative Session reconvened on January 7th. This year will prove particularly complicated beause in addition to a 2/3’s supermajority of Democrats in each house, the Legislature now has 39 new legislators who have never before served in statewide office. February 22nd was the deadline for all bills to be formally introduced in 2013 and so far approximately 2,400 new bills were introduced prior to the deadline.