Special Edition V.7 (March 2020)
CORONAVIRUS NEWS
MMTA Asks Governor Mills for Clarity… Again
March 23, 2020

Since the start of the COVID-19 emergency, MMTA has been proactive in asking the Secretary of State and the Governor to add predictability and clarity for important issues that directly impact the trucking industry. With the legislature granting her emergency powers to address COVID-19 response, we have since followed up with the Governor’s office asking for the following issues to be addressed:

  • Personal protective equipment availability for truck drivers and supply chain workers.
  • Extending the expiration of all credentials, permits, and licenses related to the trucking industry for 30 days after the expiration of the emergency. This would include CDL’s, CDL-P’s, commercial registrations, IRP registrations, IFTA, OS/OW permits, and Maine fuel decals.
  • Delaying the downgrade of a CDL credential for any CDL driver unable to self-certify due to the expiration of their medical card for the period of the civil emergency and 30 days afterward.
  • Authorizing 14-day temporary registrations to be utilized in commerce while loaded with passengers or property and extend their expiration until 30 days after the expiration of the emergency.
  • Authorizing the Secretary of State’s Office to issue temporary registrations via email for commercial vehicles sold in private sales for the duration of the emergency and an additional 30 days thereafter. These temporary registrations would have the same status as 14-day plates issued by dealers.
  • If they consider shutting down non-essential businesses, be clear that trucking and associated supply chain service providers are considered essential.

To date, we have not received any confirmation from the Governor’s office that any of these issues are going to be addressed. While we understand there is much to be done to secure the health and safety of Mainers, these issues are important to the industry that is on the front lines delivering relief supplies. Due to that lack of response, MMTA has sent a formal letter to the Governor with specifics on what we think she needs to do to keep the supply chain moving.

For a copy of the full letter, click HERE.

We anticipate a response and will ratchet up pressure if we do not hear back.
MMTA Offers Page for Supply Chain Vendors
March 23, 2020

We have received multiple calls from vendor members asking us to notify the trucking industry about their businesses offerings during the COVID-19 emergency. To this end, we have set up a page that will link to vendor messages as a way to widely distribute information and to keep our members delivering relief supplies and to minimize economic impacts to the greatest extent possible.

There are a few ground rules for this feature:
  1. To be listed, the vendor must be a MMTA member.
  2. We will list members by name and link to a specific message about the company’s offerings during the emergency, any precautions being taken, where to direct questions, etc. We will not link to a company’s home page as this is meant to be a communications tool, not a marketing tool.
  3. We will rely on members to submit their request to participate and we will only include their link if it is already prepared and provided to us. We will not do any formatting.
  4. Vendor members agree to update the linked information and notify us of the change frequently.  
  5. This will not cost members anything to participate, but MMTA reserves the right to discontinue this feature at any time.

Please submit your request to be included to bparke@mmta.com. The information needed will be your company’s name (to go on the site) and the hyperlink to the information discussed above.

Once complete, we will populate the page at https://www.mmta.com/coronavirus-trucking-vendors-open/ and will include a link to this resource in subsequent MaineLine E-Newsletters.
Ohio and Delaware Enact Stay At Home Order
March 23, 2020

Ohio - The Director of the Ohio Department of Health enacted a stay at home order for the state to take effect at 11:59 PM on Monday, March 23rd and ends on April 6th. This is not quarantine or a lock down. Under this order the state identified a number of essential businesses that are allowed to still operate:
  • Trucking
  • Moving and relocation services
  • Warehousing
  • Fulfillment centers
  • Storage facilities
  • Distribution centers
  • Highways, railroads, and public transportation
  • Ports
  • Truck stops and fueling stations
  • Repair facilities
  • Mail, post, shipping, logistics, delivery, and pick up services
  • Taxis and transportation network providers
  • Commercial transportation and logistics providers necessary for Essential Activities and other purposes
  • Supply chain for critical products and industries
  • Waste Pickup and Disposal 

A full copy of the order is here. FAQ’s can be found here.

Delaware - Delaware Gov. John Carney issued a modification to the State of Emergency ordering residents to stay at home whenever possible and closing all non-essential businesses. The order goes into effect Tuesday, March 24, at 8:00 am and remains in effect until May 15 or until the public health threat is eliminated.

Trucking and related businesses are considered essential. A list of essential and non-essential businesses can be found HERE.
Bangor Closes Non-Essential Businesses
March 23, 2020

The City of Bangor has enacted emergency prohibitions on businesses with a specific list of exemptions. Unfortunately, the exemption list lacked clarity from MMTA’s perspective, even though there was likely no intent to exclude trucking and transportation on that list given the relief our industry is providing all over the country.  

To get into the weeds, Bangor’s List of essential businesses in Exhibit A only includes home deliveries and a vague reference to “other transportation providers” in #16. We provided the City with the list from the Department of Homeland Security for Transportation and Logistics and they have acknowledged they believe our industry is exempted in the current language. If we hear back from them that this is not the case, we will let members know.

Trucking Companies Increase Hiring to Bolster Supply Chain
Transport Topics

While fears are growing that the spread of the coronavirus is pushing the U.S. economy into a recession, and jobs will be lost as thousands of businesses such as restaurants, hotels and the tourism industry lay off workers, some transportation-related companies are hiring. And by all indications, those companies are looking to ramp up as quickly as possible. Read More...
CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES
We will keep MMTA members posted as new information comes in. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to email Tim, Randy or Brian if you have questions.
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Maine Motor Transport Association
P.O. Box 857
Augusta, ME 04332-0857
ph: (207)623-4128
fax: (207)623-4096