Caltrans’ has been updating members of CTA’s Heavy Specialized Carriers Conference members at the Caltrans Transportation Permit Advisory Council (CTPAC) meetings on the placement of roundabouts throughout the state on certain State Routes. During the most recent CTPAC meeting, a request was made to share the inventory list of the Roundabout projects that have been completed and others that are being planned. CTA and some its members have been providing Caltrans with input on the location of the planned roundabouts. To view a list of the Roundabout Inventory list click here. For more information contact Eric Sauer at esauer@caltrux.org. 

The federal Internal Revenue Service has announced that the amount allowed as the standard per diem for meals and incidental expenses incurred by truck drivers and other transportation workers when they travel away from home will remain at the level of $63 for travel within the continental United States, and at $68 for travel outside it.  IRS made the announcement in IR Notice 2017-54. The general rules governing this complex area of the tax law are in IRS Rev. Proc. 2011-47.

Pursuant to legislation that passed this spring, California’s tax rate on diesel fuel will rise from 37 cents a gallon to 57 cents on November 1 this fall.  At least the state’s diesel fuel rate for purposes of the International Fuel Tax Agreement will do so.  (California doesn’t impose fuel use tax reporting on gasoline.)  For that reason, IFTA filers will have to manage a split rate in California on their fourth quarter IFTA tax reports.  

Yesterday, California’s governor signed into law a bill prohibiting employers from seeking salary history information from applicants for employment. The prohibition, aimed at helping prevent wage inequality based on sex, applies to all employers. Along with the prohibition on compensation and benefit history, the new law also requires employers to provide a pay scale to applicants for employment upon request by the applicant.

Attend a live Hours of Service (HOS) Question and Answer session with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) subject matter expert Tom Yager, Chief of the Driver and Carrier Operations Division, and Peter Chandler, Lead Transportation Specialist in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Passenger Carrier Division.

During Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement agencies across North America engage in heightened traffic safety enforcement and education aimed at combating unsafe driving behaviors by both commercial motor vehicle and passenger-vehicle drivers.

During the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) safe driving enforcement week, officers will be issuing citations for unsafe and distracted driving behaviors. The CVSA is focusing on driver behavior because it is blamed for more than 88% of heavy truck crashes according to the latest Large Truck Causation Study by the Federal Motor Carrier Administration.

This year's President Night will be on Thursday, October 26 at the Old City Hall Restaurant in Gilroy. 2017 CTA President Doug Britton will give an update on the year, plus future plans. Shawn Yadon, CEO, will give an update on legislative items. Register to attend. 

Register now! The event will be on November 1 at Win-River Resort & Casino in Redding. Join your fellow unit members for an event to honor Doug Britton, CTA's 2017 President. Register to attend.

Read your unit section to find information and dates for events from October - December.

Sign up now for CTA's final seminar classes of the year: Drug and Alcohol Supervisor Reasonable Suspicion, Sailing through Your BIT, and HAZMAT. Commercial Truck Consulting will be presenting the seminars in Northern California and Ric Kidder, longtime trucking safety professional, will present them in Southern California.

CTA recently selected about 100 award winning drivers from 15 member companies who need your support! These drivers were selected as Drivers of the Month for the 2017 year. These drivers were selected as Drivers of the Month for the 2017 year.

On November 6 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm all commercial vehicle drivers are invited to bring their commercial vehicles to the CHP Northbound Gilroy Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility to be inspected. On this day between the hours listed above there will be NO citations issued to the drivers or carriers. During the hours listed above the California Trucking Association will be providing a healthy snack for the drivers.

View the CTA calendar of events. The CTA calendar showcases all events provided by the California Trucking Association.

Friday, October 13, was the 2017 CHP Commercial Vehicle Safety Summit. The summit was a full day of educational presentations provided by the CHP and the 2017 STAR Awards were presented. The STAR Awards formally recognize California motor carriers and drivers in the truck and bus industry for their efforts in making safety a priority in their day-to-day operations.