State Law Update: Items from IRS
The federal Internal Revenue Service has issued a couple of reminders pertaining to the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017. Filing W-2s. Under federal legislation enacted late last year as part of the PATH Act, which extended many expiring tax provisions, employers are now required to file their copies of Forms W-2 and […]
American Trucking Associations Hails Creation of National Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
Long-Awaited Rule Will Help Industry Keep Drug and Alcohol Users Off the Road Arlington, Va. – Today, American Trucking Associations (ATA) welcomed an announcement by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that the agency has created a national clearinghouse for commercial drivers’ drug and alcohol test results. “ATA and its members are committed to safety,” […]
FMCSA Establishes National Drug and Alcohol Testing Clearinghouse for Commercial Truck and Bus Drivers
Friday, December 2, 2016 WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today announced a final rule that establishes a national drug and alcohol clearinghouse for commercial truck and bus drivers. The clearinghouse database will serve as a central repository containing records of violations of FMCSA’s drug and alcohol […]
FMCSA Proposes Alternative Certified Medical Examiner Training Requirements for VA Doctors
Today, Dec. 1, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published a proposed rule intended to ease the process by which physicians employed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can become certified medical examiners and perform driver physicals. Currently, to be listed on FMCSA’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, applicants must attend an accredited […]
OSHA’s Enforcement of Employee Rights Provisions Go Into Effect
On Dec.1, after two delays and a court challenge, OSHA’s employee rights provisions within the new electronic reporting final rule go into effect. The section now being enforced (§1904.35) requires that employers: (1) inform each employee of how he or she is to report a work-related injury and illness; (2) provide access to their injury […]
Speaker-elect Mesnard Announces House Committees and Republican Members
STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – House Speaker-elect J.D. Mesnard announced House Committees chairs and member assignments for Republican Members. Democratic Leader Rebecca Rios is expected to announce committee assignments for the Democratic Members in the near future. MONDAY PM Committee on Rules Rep. Lovas, Chair Rep. Boyer, Vice Chair Rep. Allen Rep. Farnsworth Rep. Shope Rep. […]
FMCSA Issues Notice on Lease and Interchange of Vehicles by Mexico-Domiciled Motor Carriers
FMCSA issued a notice on Nov. 22 informing the public and law enforcement authorities that, “in accordance with NAFTA and MCSIA, Mexican-domiciled motor carriers (lessors) are allowed to lease their equipment to U.S. motor carriers (lessees) regardless of the destination of the cargo, as long as the carriers meet the requirements of 49 CFR part […]
BREAKING: Federal Judge Blocks Overtime Rule
Earlier today, Judge Amos Mazzant of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a nationwide preliminary injunction against the changes to the so-called “white collar” overtime exemption that were set to go into effect on December 1. Judge Mazzant held that the states that filed suit against the new rule were […]
Arizona Senate Republicans Announce 2016 Committee Assignments
This afternoon, Senate President Steve Yarbrough (R-Chandler) announced chairmen and the Republican members of Senate committees. Senate Minority Leader Hobbs (D-Phoenix) indicated the announcement of Democratic committee members will occur next week. The number of committees has been reduced from 15 standing committees to 10 standing committees. Senate members tapped to lead a committee include […]
Court rejects trucking group challenge to electronic log rule
POLITICO By Lauren Gardner A federal appeals court has denied a trucking group’s challenge to a revamped DOT rule mandating electronic logging devices on tractor-trailers. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association sued DOT in December 2015, arguing that FMCSA didn’t adequately comply with a requirement for the devices to automatically record any changes in a driver’s […]