Relentless Hurricane Season Continues, FMCSA Issues Multi-State Hours of Service Waiver in Response to Hurricane Delta
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) granted an Hours of Service (HOS) waiver Wednesday night in response to Hurricane Delta for Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas effective immediately and shall remain in effect for the duration of the emergency or until November 6, 2020, whichever is less.
Click here to read the notice. The waiver applies to all CDL drivers nationwide who deliver designated emergency supplies including fuel into the emergency areas covered by the declaration. FMCSA Regulations Exempted: Parts 390 through 399 of FMCSA regulations as limited by the waiver.
With 25 named storms so far, this is the second most active Atlantic hurricane season on record. PMAA will continue to work closely with the FMCSA and other federal agencies to ensure regulatory waivers important to petroleum marketers are in place throughout the duration of the storm related emergency.
PMAA Staff Contact: Mark. S. Morgan, Regulatory Counsel markmorgan@verizon.net.
Reminder: Short-Haul Driver Hours of Service Amendments Now Effective
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) long awaited CDL hours of service (HOS) amendments for short-haul drivers are effective as of last Tuesday. The FMCSA issued an HOS final rule earlier this year that adopted several provisions requested by PMAA that provides regulatory relief for short haul drivers. The final rule adopted the following PMAA reforms:
- Expands the short haul driver exception from recording driver hours of service from 100 air-miles to 150 air-miles.
- Increases the maximum daily on duty time for short haul drivers from 12 hours to 14 hours.
- Extends the maximum daily 11 hour driving window by two hours during adverse weather conditions and allows drivers (in addition to dispatchers) to determine if the weather conditions exist to trigger the extension.
These reforms are important for motor fuels and heating fuels marketers because the majority of drivers they employ are short-haul drivers. The reforms provide short haul drivers additional on duty time and expanded operating range without losing their current exception from having to record daily hours of service. In addition, many long-haul drivers may now be reclassified as short-haul drivers so long as they stay within the newly expanded 150-mile air radius limitation. As a result, these former long-haul drivers are no longer required to use electronic on-board HOS recorders mandated by the FMCSA several years ago. Instead, their HOS can now be demonstrated the same way as all short-haul drivers - by timecards and/or other business records if requested by the DOT during an audit. This will reduce the recordkeeping burden on both motor and heating fuels marketers and provide them with more flexibility to schedule drivers while adding a significant number of on-duty hours per company across all drivers.
USDA to Make Significant Investments in Biofuels
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced this week that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $22 million out of the up to $100 million in grants available to increase American ethanol and biodiesel sales. The grants are made available through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) and will provide the grants to gas stations, convenience stores and fuel distribution sites in 14 states. The states that will receive grant funding are California, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Utah and Wisconsin. The USDA projects that the $22 million in HBIIP investments will increase ethanol demand by nearly 150 million gallons annually.
Earlier this year, PMAA submitted comments to the USDA on the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. Click hereto view the comments.
Biden Wants Quick Deal on Infrastructure Bill if Elected
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) announced this week that he had spoken with Presidential candidate Joe Biden’s team about their interest in working on an infrastructure deal by February if Biden is elected. Chairman DeFazio, while speaking at ITS America conference on Wednesday, stated that the Biden team supports the $494 billion infrastructure deal that the House passed in July. The bill, dubbed the “Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST) Act,” was authored by DeFazio and includes several provisions that would affect energy marketers. Click here to view the details.
Due to political differences in the House and Senate infrastructure bills, along with the upcoming election, lawmakers recently agreed to a one-year extension of current transportation and infrastructure law. Regardless of who wins the election, there will be a battle over what the next infrastructure deal will look like.
President Trump Wants an Agreement on a Stimulus Package
As President Trump recovers from COVID-19, he has made it clear that he wants all sides to reach an agreement on a fourth and final economic relief bill. However, after the White House and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have spent weeks discussing a possible deal, there has been little progress and it is unknown if, and when, a deal will be reached.
Click here to view the story.
PMAA Urges State and Local Governments to Help Resolve IRS UV Claim Backlogs
PMAA sent a letter recently asking the National Governors Association, National Association of Counties, National League of Cities and the National Association of Towns and Townships, to express their concern to the IRS Commissioner over the lengthy delays in processing ultimate vendor refund claims for the tax free sale of motor fuel to state and local government entities.
“Many small business petroleum marketers have not received payment from the IRS on ultimate vendor claims since April. Consequently, these marketers are in grave financial peril due to loss of essential operating capital which places severe cash flow problems on their businesses. If the IRS delays continue much longer, state and local governments may be required to pay the FET, thus placing on them the burden of making reimbursement claims and suffering the resultant financial and budgetary consequences,” said PMAA President Rob Underwood.
Click here to read the letter.
PMAA Corporate Platinum Partner Spotlight Featuring: Federated Insurance
Federated Insurance Encourages Businesses to Stay Vigilant During Fire Prevention Awareness Week, October 4-10
Fire never stops searching for a source of ignition. And according to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2018, fire found its way inside businesses 56,000 times – causing billions of dollars in property damage and numerous injuries and deaths. During 2020 Fire Prevention Week in October, Federated Insurance is encouraging businesses to stay vigilant and be on the lookout for fire hazards.
During the week of October 5, Federated connected policyholders to a variety of information and tools to help them “Find Fire Before Fire Finds You.” These resources include:
- Industry-specific fire hazard checklists
- An interactive employee training poster and presenter’s guide
- A fire hazard identification challenge
- An informative video
- Access to a variety of additional risk management resources focused on fire prevention
Federated clients are also encouraged to receive personal consultation on fire prevention topics from the knowledgeable risk consultants in the Federated Risk Management Resource Center.
For additional information or to discuss further, please contact your Federated regional representative or PMAA’s National Account Executive Jon Medo at 800.533.0472. Federated is a PMAA Corporate Platinum Partner.
Risk Management Corner: Find Fire Before Fire Finds You
A pile of oily rags; an old power strip; a cigarette discarded in the wrong spot — fire risks can be anywhere. That’s why it’s important to be on the lookout for the hazards that can injure your employees and make your business go up in smoke. During 2020 Fire Prevention Week, October 4–10, review and revamp your business’s fire-safety measures to help increase the chances that you’ll find fire before fire finds you.
To read about Federated’s recommended tips, please click here. For additional information or to discuss further, please contact your Federated regional representative or PMAA’s National Account Executive Jon Medo at 800.533.0472. Federated is a PMAA Corporate Platinum Partner.
September 2020 PMAA Small Business Committee (SBC) PAC Contributions
PAC Co-Chairs Brad Bell and Tim Keigher are grateful for the PMAA Small Business Committee (SBC) PAC contributions from the following individuals during the September 1-30, 2020 time frame:
California: Michael Downs
Idaho: Michael Davis
Kentucky: John Clark, Barry Eveland, Alexander Fassas, Elizabeth McCarty, John Newcomb, William Newcomb, Bob Riley
Michigan: Bradley Morrill
Minnesota: Jay Cattoor
New Jersey: Eric DeGesero, Edward Duffy, Steven Foulk, Mark Fredericks, Shelley Fredericks, Gary Hough, Scott Majka, Jennifer Pierson, Norman Thompson, Michael Van Doren
Utah: Larry Hansen, John Hill
Virginia: James Addington, Nancy Allen, Mark Anderson, B. Lash Barksdale, James Candler, Danny Cockerham, J. Chris Kimbler, Richard Koontz, Lloyd Little, Elizabeth McCormick, William Murphy, Cary Nelson, John Phillips, Jennifer Pierson, Stratford Ward Jr., John Watts Jr., Charles Weaver
NACS Crack the Code Experience: November 2 - December 4, 2020
It’s hard to believe it was just seven weeks ago when NACS had to make the cancellation announcement for the NACS Show. And here they are with an entirely new offer and marketplace known as the NACS Crack the Code Experience. It’s something worth celebrating and I’m pleased to announce that we’re ready to help promote the event. The official reg launch announcement went out last Tuesday in the NACS Daily, touting Tier 1 Early Bird pricing at $295 per person (now through September 28). There is no additional charge for our PMAA members who are not NACS members…it’s one price for all!
Over a five-week timeframe—November 2 through December 4—NACS will bring to life a robust digital experience and curated marketplace, connecting convenience retail buyers and sellers from around the globe. All attendees will have 24/7 access to forward-looking ideas and insights, innovative new-to-channel products and strategic connections.
As part of our push for this new Experience, we are also building excitement with two elements:
- “Sizzle reel”: Here’s a short (under one minute), high-energy video to communicate the new offer (you can watch it and share it across your network using this link and is also posted to the official Experience site).
 Social media: We have a hashtag (#CTCexperience) and graphics. Help us share the word across your networks by crafting your own post or using one from the Word document for inspiration.
Our industry is about to do something great together. And there is a lot more to come.
September 2020 Contributors to PMAA MDF
PMAA’s Marketer Defense Fund wants to thank the following individuals for their contributions during the September 1- 30 timeframe:
California: Ken Dewar
Colorado: Brian Haldorson
Florida: Florida Petroleum Marketers Association, Inc., Bill McKnight
Minnesota: Jay Cattoor
Missouri: James Maurer
New Jersey: Gary Hough
North Carolina: Louis Holt
Pennsylvania: Donald Fegley Jr., John J. Reilly
Corporate donations are acceptable. MDF funds have been used for various studies, litigation and disaster relief dedicated to strengthening our lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill. Click here to donate to the PMAA MDF.
PMAA Journal Fall Issue Online Now!
You can now take PMAA Journal with you wherever you go. Click here to view the Fall Issue (latest issue always online), optimized for any device. You can find our Annual Directory beginning on page 36. Scroll to select the articles that matter to you, then read, learn and share with the icons at the top of your screen. Looking for a past issue? Scroll through past covers on the left side of your browser or use our convenient search feature to find a particular topic. Miss flipping pages? Select "page view" from the menu bar or click the handy magazine icon for a classic page-turner.
For information on advertising in this valuable format, please call 844.423.7272 or email Innovative Publishing.
PMAA Member Services Spotlight Featuring: National Purchasing Partners (NPP)
Members Save on Verizon
 Eligible PMAA members who sign up for free with NPP can save 22 PERCENT OFF Verizonmonthly access fees* and up to 35 PERCENT OFF cool accessories. Simply visit here to sign up.
Once you enroll your business with NPP and activate the Verizon business discount, there is a similar offer for your employees. Employees can save up to 18 PERCENT OFF Verizon monthly access fees.
NPP has a diverse catalog of business offers and deals for employees.
Membership is free and there is no obligation to purchase.
Restrictions may apply.
*Unlimited plans are not eligible for corporate and employee line discounts. All Verizon Wireless offers are for a limited time only and are subject to equipment availability. Verizon Wireless reserves the right to change or modify all offers at any time without notice. All terms and conditions are subject to and governed by Verizon Wireless' Agreement with Customer, including, but not limited to, Customer eligibility requirements. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the Verizon Wireless offers; however, Verizon Wireless is not responsible for any errors or omissions. Restrictions may apply. Visit mynpp.com for details. |
