August 27, 2010

Colorado Convention Building Steam

The CMCA Convention at the Steamboat Springs Sheraton is only weeks away (September 23rd through the 25th) and we have already seen a number of individuals and companies sign up for the event.  The convention offers a wide range of seminars, entertainment, and networking opportunities for you that you won’t want to miss.  If you have not signed up as of yet, we encourage you to go to our web site and register for the convention and also register for the hotel as soon as possible. Call Tracy at 303-433-3375 Ext. 103.

ATA Joins Washington Tax Case on Qualcomm Transmissions

ATA joined the Washington Trucking Associations (WTA) last week in an amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court of the State of Washington. The brief supports the view that fleet management systems that provide motor carriers truck and driver operating information via satellite or other communication modes are not merely a telecommunication transmission service (which is subject to retail sales tax), but rather are data processing, storage, and information systems used by carriers in many ways to promote operational efficiencies and safety. As a data processing and information service, they are expressly exempted from the retail sales tax. The trucking industry has an obvious financial stake in whether these commonly-used services are subject to sales tax. Qualcomm, Inc. v. State of Washington, No. 83673-6 (Wash. S. Ct. Aug. 20, 2010). Courtesy of ATA TAEC Update

Changes in Part 40

The U.S. Department of Transportation has published a final rule revising certain drug testing procedures to conform its testing rules to new rules being implemented by the Department of Health and Human Services.  Click here for to see the final rule.    The rule changes will become effective on October 1, 2010.

Highlights of the changes:
1)    Primary laboratory requirements in this final rule include:
         - Testing for MDMA (aka. Ecstasy);
         - Lowering cutoff levels for cocaine and
           amphetamines;
         - Conducting mandatory initial testing for
           6 mono-acetyl morphin
            (aka heroin)

2)   The DOT brought several testing definitions in-line with those of DHHS.

3)   Each Medical Review Officer (MRO) will be re-qualified every five years.  The Final Rule eliminated the requirement for each MRO to take 12 hours of continuing education every three years.

4)   An MRO will not need to be trained by an HHS-approved MRO training organization as long as the MRO meets DOT’s qualification and requalification training requirements.

5)   MRO recordkeeping requirements did not change from the five years for non-negatives and one year for negatives.

Heavy Vehicle Use Tax – Due August 31st

J. J. Keller inn conjunction with CMCA now offers an online service that allows you to electronically file Form 2290, Heavy Vehicle Use Tax.  This is a fast and convenient way to get this tax filing completed.   A Heavy Vehicle Use Tax Form must be filed for any vehicle that's 55,000 pounds or more. With this service, carriers can have an electronic, stamped Schedule 1 often within hours of filing.
Annual tax filings for Form 2290 must be completed by August 31.  Anyone with heavy vehicles can file electronically.  However, if a carrier has 25 or more vehicles that are 55,000 pounds or more, they MUST file electronically.  This is a new IRS mandate. 

The fee for the service starts at $34.99 for 1-24 vehicles.  Our pricing is competitive to others and the feedback to JJ Keller from users over the past year (when e-filing started) has been very positive. To access the link, please click here.

 

HM Routing - Stakeholder Meetings in NW Colorado

The next round of hazardous materials routing stakeholder meetings are scheduled for September. The focus is on the northwest region of the state covering the following counties: Grand and Jackson / Routt / Moffat.

September 14, 2010 10:00 am - Grand and Jackson County
Grand Fire Protection District No. 1
60500 US Highway 40
Granby, Colorado 80446
           
September 15, 2010 10:00 am - Routt County
Routt County Courthouse
135 6th Street
Steamboat Springs, CO 804878

September 16, 2010 10:00 am
Craig Fire/Rescue
419 Yampa Avenue
Craig, CO 81625-2609

IFTA Proposal to Lower Interest Rate

There is a proposal this year to amend the International Fuel Tax Agreement to make IFTA a fairer arrangement for the industry. The proposal would reduce the rate of interest the states charge a motor carrier when the carrier has been found on audit to have underpaid fuel use tax to one or more jurisdictions. The rate of interest is set by IFTA at 1 percent of the underpayment per month, or 12 percent per year. That rate was set some 25 years ago, when IFTA was put together, and was somewhat more reasonable at that time. Now, such a high rate is not only highly punitive for the industry, it is also imposed in such a way that it can hit carriers very hard. At the completion of an IFTA audit, a carrier may be found to have underpaid some jurisdictions and overpaid others. The actual liabilities are offset, and the carrier only pays the net amount. This is not the case with the 12 percent interest, however; interest charges are applied to each underpayment to a jurisdiction, for however long that liability may be found to have existed – up to four years for most IFTA audits. This can amount to an assessment of thousands of dollars even when a carrier has no net tax liability. And is there no automatic offset for interest payable to a carrier on any overpayments it’s found to have made. Most jurisdictions don’t even offer interest in this situation, and carriers must apply separately to each of those that do – this isn’t handled through IFTA. Note that this year’s proposed amendment would only reduce the interest rate (to that imposed by the U.S. Treasury on tax underpayments), it would not require jurisdictions to pay interest on carrier overpayments. Still, the current proposal deserves the strongest industry support – and despite the hard times for states as well as industry, it looks like it may well pass. You might have a word about this proposal with your IFTA administrator if you have not done so already. Note:  the Canadian provinces already charge a lower rate of interest under IFTA.) Courtesy of ATA TAEC Update

2nd Annual Poker Run a Success!

Saturday, August 21st CMCA’s Allied Conference hosted its 2ndt Annual Charity Ride and Poker Run.  50 riders joined us at Navajo for an outstanding breakfast, where they started their ride over and across the great Rocky Mountains. Each rider made their way through mountain towns like Conifer, Fairplay and Frisco and the final stop was in Idaho Spring where the riders where able to stretch their legs and enjoyed friends and  music after the 155 mile ride. 

Thank you to for the all the riders, sponsor and volunteers who helped.  All proceeds were donated to Craig Hospital and Food Bank of the Rockies.

World's Largest Truck Convoy 2010.

A benefit for Specical Olympics, the World's Largest Truck Convoy raised $606,000 last year with 1,500 trucks participating in 29 convoys across the U.S. and Canada.

Convoy
September 18, 2010
Laramie, Wyoming

Colorado is not a convoy site this year, but there will be a convoy in Wyoming on September 18, starting at the Laramie county Community College in Cheyenne.  Click here for their website.

For a list of all Convoys in 2010, click here.

 

 

Consider CMCA's Cooperative Health Insurance Program

• Has your insurance premium risen by over 15% in the past year?
• Is your insurance program costing you more while providing you less in benefits?
• Are you finding that your employees can no longer afford to participate in your health insurance plan?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, now is the time to consider CMCA's Health Insurance Program.

For more information, contact Stan Linnertz at 303 33-3375, ext 107 or stan@cmca.com.