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58237F315D3D54A78725872700570015 Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For COLORADO MOTOR CARRIERS ASSOCIATION

INTERIM COMMITTEE  TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE
Date Aug 4, 2021      
Location Old State Library



Colorado Motor Carriers Association - Committee Discussion Only


09:50:18 AM  
Greg Fulton, president
representing the Colorado Motor Carriers Association (CMCA), provided a
PowerPoint presentation (Attachment E) about the association.  Mr.
Fulton indicated that the trucking industry provides 122,680 jobs in Colorado.
 He stated that there are 15,000 trucking companies in the state,
with the averge base salary per year for a trucking job in Colorado at
$72,622.  Mr. Fulton presented that the trucking industry pays 37
percent of fees and makes up only 6 percent of traffic on the road. He
indicated that the industry in Colorado paid $502 million in federal and
state roadway taxes in 2019.  





Mr. Fulton provided information on clean diesel progross, including a 98
reduction in nitrous oxides and particulate matter.  He stated that
new technology has reduced diesel truck carbon dioxide emissiosn by 126
milllion tons since 2007 and that the industry is working on replacing
trucks older than 2007 with newer models, since older trucks make up 75
percent of diesel emissions.
09:57:49 AM  
Mr. Fulton taked
about the impacts of the  I-70 closure of through Glenwood Canyon.
 He stated that a typical trip of four to four and half hours now
takes six and a half to eight hours, driving through Rifle.  He went
on to indicate that hours of service for truckers can be problematic with
the alternate route, since the driver must rest in the middle of the trip
according to federal regulations about hours truckers may work.  He
talked about the US-50 project being placed on hold due to the I-70 closure,
providing another route option.  Mr. Fulton indicated that delays
are creating supply chain issues, leading to higher costs for consumers
and shippers and more traffic on the alternate routes.

10:02:53 AM  
Mr. Fulton touched
on a nationwide driver shortage.  He talked about the legalization
of marijuana in Colorado and federal requirements related to drug testing.
  Mr. Fulton shared statistics about the median age of truck dirvers,
55, with more drivers retiring, and few female drivers.  He discussed
the nature of driving, being on the road regularly, as a challenge to hiring,
as well as additional pressures during the pandemic, such as an increase
in e-commerce, and the closure of driving schools.  Mr. Fulton outlined
possible solutions to hiring challenges, including paying drivers more;
providing more time at home for drivers; improving the driver image; expanding
days and times for delivery to allow for flexibility in schedules; and
recruiting and retaining drivers agressively.

10:16:55 AM  
Mr. Fulton talked
about longer term solutions to the driver shortage.  He mentioned
a tax credit to companies to extend training for new CDL drivers, perhaps
$10,000 for employing individuals with criminal records.  Mr. Fulton
talked about low or no cost training for soldiers ending their tour.  He
mentioned that there may be support for a pilot including drives 18 to
20 years old.  He suggested that greater outreach be made to women
and minorities and enhanced productivity through an incrcrease in gross
weight to 85,000 pounds on the interstate to match other state highways.
 Mr. Fulton mentioned an industry letter available for review on the
committee's web page (Attachment F).

10:22:07 AM  
Mr. Fulton talked
about proposed legislation that would define milk products as a non-divisible
load, consistent with other states.  He indicated that CMCA is also
interested in modifications to oversight of the passenger traction law,
including modifications to the type of tire noted in current law.

10:25:36 AM  
There was a discussion
about the fuel shortage.  Greer Bailey, representing the Colorado
Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association, mentioned that communities are
experiencing fuel shortages, primarily diesel and higher premium gas; and
consumers are experiencing price spikes.  Mr. Bailey agreed that use
of US-50 is critical.  He mentioned that drivers are running out of
hours when driving longer distances, especially with fuel coming from areas
that are further away.  He suggested that intervention may be needed
to allocate fuel to emergency services and schools.

10:32:03 AM  
There was a discussion
about the US 50 closure and pressure to complete the project.  The
discussion included the possibility that ranchers and farmers, as well
as builders, may be having issues getting equipment.

10:36:28 AM  
There was a suggestion
to desginate key corridors and alternate corridors and apply resources
to those corridors to address shipping and highway closures.  There
was a discussion about additional fuel storage, especially in local airports.

10:43:53 AM  
There was a discussion
about driver pay, including some drivers requesting to work for cash.  Double
fuel tankers as a way to address the fuel shortage were discussed.  
A committee member suggested that disaster declaration for I-70 may provide
some latitude; however a permanent change must be approved by the federal
government and the distribution network may not be sufficient to carry
the weight of an additional tanker.