Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/685770
34 PalletCentral • May-June 2016 palletcentral.com of federal work and rest rules over state regulations. In last year's omnibus funding bill, Congress demanded FMCSA show the restrictions the agency imposed in 2013 that actually improved driver health and highway safety. However, due to – choose your term – a drafting error, a glitch, a mistake, a minor wording error, the law could have the effect of eliminating not just the restart restrictions, but the entire restart. This would be devastating for the industry and to safety, forcing drivers and law enforcement back into a pre-2003 world of rolling recaps and preventing drivers from taking a longer rest break to reset their weeks. ATA is actively engaged with Congress to get this glitch fixed in a way that retains the restart and continues the suspension of the restrictions placed upon its use. On federal preemption, in 1994 Congress wrote as part of a Federal Aviation Administration authorization that the federal government – not states – shall be the sole entity to regulate interstate trucking, including work and rest rules. Unfortunately, more than 20 states, including California, have begun imposing new meal and rest break requirements, requirements that have been upheld by federal courts. ATA is urging Congress to clarify its intent and the principle to re-establish federal preemption for interstate trucking rules. Beyond these two momentous issues, ATA is engaged on a number of issues including emerging technologies, establishment an employer notification system for violations, creation of a drug and alcohol testing clearinghouse, improving truck parking, the second round of federal greenhouse gas emissions rules, possible safety fitness determinations for carriers using CSA, the ongoing driver and technician shortages and many, many more. Just as trucking is essential to our economy, ATA's efforts – and the efforts of partners like the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association – are essential to helping trucking move America forward. PC BUSINESS BLOG Pat Thomas is senior vice president of state government affairs with UPS, and is also the current chairman of the American Trucking Association (ATA). He may be reached through the ATA at www.trucking.org or phone: 703-838- 1700. SAVE THE DATE Pallets & Recycling: NWPCA Fall Plant Tours October 11-13, 2016 – Monterey, California A b o u t t h e T o u r s Join industry colleagues from around the country to tour manufacturing and pro- cessing plants. Tour Valley Pallet, Inc. (VPI), a leader in pallet manufacturing and recy- cling. With the newest technology in pallet design, Valley Pallet provides efficient shipping solutions for its customers. Operating in California and Arizona, VPI serves many industries such as agri- culture, food and beverage, textiles, and raw mate- rials as well as offering logistic programs. Tours are also planned for a farm and processing plant to see how pallets are used in the transport of fresh food and produce. Look for tentative schedule, hotel information and registration details later in June at PalletCentral.com. Unfor tunately, more than 20 states, including California, have begun imposing new meal and rest break requirements, requirements that have been upheld by federal cour ts. ATA is urging Congress to clarify its intent and the principle to re-establish federal preemption for interstate trucking rules.