Allied Bull Riding Event Scheduled
Bull Riding is considered "the most desperate 8 seconds in sports" and has been called the original extreme sport.
Get your tickets now, for the ever popular Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Evening, hosted by the CMCA Allied Conference.
Join CMCA at the Forney Transportation Museum for dinner and free parking, and then walk to the Denver Coliseum to watch the final round of action for the PBR.
This event has limited tickets, and always sells out quickly. For tickets or more information, contact Tracy at 303-433-3375, ext. 103 or tracy@cmca.com.
BULL RIDING 101 -- View the video below for a quick course in how its done and how it is scored.
You Have Chains, But Are You in Compliance with the Chain Law?
Based on reports from some of our carriers and some law enforcement personnel, it appears that some trucks, while they do have chains on their tires, are not in compliance with the law. One common misconception for drivers of single drive axle tractors is that they must only chain up the outside tires on the drive axle. State law requires that all four tires on the single drive axle must be chained. This is important not only for traction but also safety. We also have seen where some drivers of twin drive axle tractors have only chained up the outside tires of one axle. In the case of twin drive axle tractors, drivers must either chain all four tires of one axle or the outside tire on both axles. Also, a number of our companies are now using super singles on their twin drive axle tractors. Based on state law all four super single tires on the twin axles must be chained.
Finally, alternate traction devices, such as AutoSock and cables, are permissible for use on twin drive axle tractors but single drive axle tractors must use steel chains. Failing to have the proper traction equipment can result in a $500 fine. We ask that our companies make sure that their drivers have the proper equipment and that their drivers use it.
Improving I-70 Traffic Flow is Goal of CMCA, CSP, and CDOT
CMCA is working with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Colorado State Patrol on a “Got Chains” campaign with the goal of reducing truck incidents on I-70 and increasing compliance with the chain law. The campaign will feature several public service announcements that may be aired this winter both on a local basis and hopefully a national basis. In addition the campaign will also include various other materials for distribution to trucking companies, drivers and truckstops.
The placemat below has been printed and distributed to various truckstops that cater to drivers approaching the I-70 mountain corridor. The placemat describes the Colorado chain requirements, the locations where chains are required, and peak travel times to avoid.
CDOT and Congressional Delegation Seek Fire Suppression System for I-70 Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnel
The Colorado DOT is working with Senator Mark Udall and others in Colorado’s Congressional delegation to try to obtain funds to install a $20 million fire-suppression system inside the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnels on I-70 west of Denver.
It would be an advanced foam-spraying system capable of putting out fires automatically before they can spread, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
A major consideration in this request appeared to be to potentially allow for travel by hazardous material transporters through the Tunnel in the future. Currently hazardous material transporters are barred from traveling through the Tunnel and must travel on US 6 over Loveland Pass. This route not only doubles the travel distance and time but has hazardous material trucks traveling over one of the most difficult and treacherous routes in the country. This highway has one lane in each direction and has 5% to 6% grades with numerous switchbacks, hairpin turns and little or no shoulders. Add to the problem is amount of snow that this high altitude pass receives, which creates a slippery and icy roadway during much of the winter. Unfortunately, the difficult conditions on this route have led to numerous accidents over the years involving hazardous material trucks with some resulting in the death or serious injury of the driver.
CMCA has been advocating for access through the Tunnel for a number of years. While CDOT understood our concerns, the State was worried about the impact and implications of a hazmat fire in the Tunnel which could damage and possibly close the Tunnel for an extended period of time. Over the last two years CDOT examined other tunnels throughout the country and world for possible solutions to quickly extinguish a fire within the Tunnel even if it involved a hazardous material truck. The result of this analysis was a recommendation from CDOT staff that the state install a fire-suppression system that is designed to automatically douse flames before they can spread and claim lives in the tunnel.
CMCA is very supportive of CDOT’s request and looks to work with CDOT and our congressional delegation to obtain funding. CDOT is seeking funds from the Department of Homeland Security or US DOT for this important project.
Greg Fulton with CMCA commented that “this project has value not only for those of us in Colorado but throughout the country due to the importance of I-70 for the traveling public and freight operations. If hazardous material transporters were allowed to travel through the Eisenhower Tunnel, it would be much safer for those drivers and would be much more efficient for the movement of this critical freight.”
CMCA commends CDOT and our Congressional delegation for moving forward on this important project.
Diesel Prices Falling - But Compare 2011 to 2010 Prices
The U.S. Energy Information Administration is projecting steady fuel prices into 2012 with diesel (highway retail prices) remaining around $3.85 per gallon and gasoline seeing a slight drop to $3.45 per gallon (National retail price). The agency is projecting slight increases in the average U.S. refiner acquisition cost of crude oil with the oil price around $102 per barrel for 2012.
Current regular-grade gasoline retail prices in November 2011 averaged $3.38 per gallon, 52 cents per gallon below their 2011 peak monthly average in May. EIA expects that gasoline pump prices will remain at or below current levels until early spring 2012, when prices begin their normal seasonal rise. Projected 2912 regular gasoline retail prices will average $3.45 per gallon according to EIA forecasts.
The warm start to this year's heating season has lowered household heating oil expenditures by about 3% in the last month, but heating oil and propane expenditures are expected to rise for the remaining of the season. Despite that increase, diesel prices are projected to remain steady for the coming months. Political changes in oil producing regions could drastically affect these projections. Source: U.S. EIA.
Highway Tolls More Popular Than Higher Fuel Taxes
A recent Reason-Rupe Public Opinion Survey has found that respondents would rather pay highway tolls than higher fuel taxes. Some 58% favored that strategy in a sample of 1,200 adults. The poll found that 77% overall are against raising the federal fuel tax to help pay for roads and transit with 58% of those strongly opposed. 55% percent favored private-public partnerships to build and expand highway infrastructure that the government might not do otherwise.
The poll also found that 59% would be willing to pay on a per-trip basis to save significant driving time. But only 12% said they would be willing to pay over $2 per trip, while 33% would go for a dollar or less. Congestion pricing (tolls during rush hour) was not so popular with only 39% in favor and 50% against the concept.
the Reason-Rupe poll respondents did not favor mass transit funding with fuel tax revenues; 62% of the respondents said that roads and highway funding should be prioritized over transit. Considering that 51% of the respondents drive to work alone, this is not surprising. Only 5% used bus, subway, light rail or trolley.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 2 | CMCA Closed for Holiday |
| January 5 | Board of Directors Meeting |
| January 10 | Maintenance Council Meeting |
| January 11 | Professional Bull Riders Event |
| January 18 | Executive Board Meeting |
| January 18 | Board of Directors Meeting |
| Last Week | 2 wks past | 3 wks past | 4 wks past |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 23 | December 16 | December 9 | December 2 |
CMCA Services
Training Opportunities
CMCA Offers a rich variety of training opportunities for both members and non-members. The modern CMCA training center in Denver is the location of most seminars. As demand warrants, CMCA also conducts seminars at other locations around the state. Take a look at this year's seminars on the training page.
2012 CMCA Convention
A highlight of the CMCA year is the annual CMCA convention. It is a chance for members to network and renew their knowledge of CMCA programs and successes.
The 2012 annual meeting will be held September 20-22 at the Ritz-Carton Bachelor Gulch, Avon, Colorado at peak fall foliage.
CMCA staff is working to line up speakers for the event. Online registration will open in June 2012. There is a dedicated page on this website to provide details of the convention.
National
FUEL UPDATE:
(Retail Pricing)
Diesel Price
$3.86 
Gasoline Price
$3.08
Update: 12/26/11
Source: eia.doe.gov
January Forms Special
To Be Announced
What would you like to see as a January forms special?
Call Jessica at
303-433-3375 x 101.
Colorado Chain Law in Force
State law requires that all trucks traveling on I-70 through the mountains between Dotsero (MP 133) and Morrison (MP 259) to carry chains or approved ATDs between September 1st and May 31st.
Please remember to get your trucks equipped with the required equipment before you travel this corridor! For more information go to www.cotrip.org
Reauthorization Progress Noted
The latest draft of the Transportation Reauthorization Bill contains several key highway safety initiatives, according to American Trucking Assocations.
Among the ATA-backed proposals in the bill are: a mandate for electronic onboard recorders; establishment of a drug and alcohol clearinghouse; crashworthiness research and possible standards; improved new entrant standards and the creation of an employer notification system for employers.
“As a leading advocate for highway safety and for the trucking industry, ATA has endorsed all of these measures as ways of continuing the progress that’s been made on making our roads safer for trucks, as well as cars,” ATA CEO Bill Graves said.
Graves also said there were some areas of the bill that were of concern to ATA. “As with any piece of legislation this comprehensive, " he added, "there are pieces we look forward to working with Senate and House leaders on,”
“Notably, we’re disappointed that the committee’s bill does not address improving truck productivity nor does it address crash accountability in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s CSA safety monitoring program. “In addition, we have serious concerns about the proposed new freight program included in the committee’s bill and we hope those concerns can be addressed as the bill moves forward,” Graves said.
Prior to the markup, Graves wrote to the committee thanking them and expressing some of ATA’s concerns. That letter can be found here.
IRP Webinar for Industry in January
On January 18, 2012, the repository of the International Registration Plan will present a webinar on the concept of a new bilateral state and provincial agreement for free registration reciprocity for commercial motor vehicles other than those covered by the Plan – mostly, that is, vehicles under 26,000 pounds and those bearing special plates. The presenters of the webinar will be Rob Termuende of British Columbia and Bob Pitcher of ATA. The show is free and will last an hour, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., eastern time. We particularly want feedback from industry concerning what reciprocity problems currently exist outside of IRP, and whether the concept we propose is the right one to fix those problems. To register for the webinar,visit the website. Courtesy of Truckline