A sign points to a truck parking facility in Ohio. (Lauren Borell/Ohio Department of Transportation)
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a transportation bill allocating a two-year, $11 billion budget, including funds championed by the state trucking association, for new truck parking spaces.
“Transportation is vital to our state’s economy. It connects Ohioans to jobs, education, health care and entertainment. This budget reaffirms our commitment to providing our great state with a transportation system that is safe, reliable and prepared for the future,” DeWine noted recently while signing House Bill 54.
The budget takes effect July 1. More than 90% of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s new budget will go toward maintaining and improving the state’s roadway system, such as bridges, culverts, street signals, road signs, traffic lights, and snow and ice operations.
DeWine and Tressel
“Ohio makes things and moves things,” Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel said. “The transportation budget that the governor signed today will ensure that we can deliver on the projects that get people and products where they need to go safely.”
The Ohio Trucking Association successfully advanced several key legislative initiatives in ODOT’s budget in a victory for Ohio’s truckers, including the allocation of $200 million to create about 1,500 truck parking spaces in the next two years.
Sewell
“We appreciate the Ohio Legislature’s work passing this biennium’s ODOT budget. Every member’s willingness to listen to and understand our positions on key issues is a testament to their professionalism and statesmanship. We are also deeply grateful for the efforts of the OTA staff in advocating for the trucking industry throughout this process,” said Jay Sewell, chair of the OTA’s board of trustees. He also is chairman and CEO of Sewell Motor Express in Wilmington, Ohio.
In another win for the state’s trucking industry, the new law introduces market-based pricing in commercial driver license testing by removing outdated pricing restrictions. The result will be more access to CDL testing.
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“The state recently transitioned to third-party testing sites to meet industry demand,” OTA explained. “However, Ohio law did not keep pace with this transition. State regulations restricted the amount that could be charged for CDL testing to the break-even pricing model used when the state conducted all testing. This pricing cap prevented third-party testers from making a profit, restricting the number of providers and limiting available testing appointments.”
Timken
State Sen. Jane Timken (R) successfully advocated removing the fee restriction within the Senate’s omnibus amendment to HB 54.
OTA also was able to preserve autonomous technology development. OTA and other business groups fought to remove a provision from the bill that would have required a driver to be behind the wheel of all commercial motor vehicles.
State Lawmakers Form Ohio Trucking Caucus
In a related development, a bipartisan group of 19 legislators in Ohio on April 2 announced the formation of the Ohio Trucking Caucus to promote policies helpful to the trucking and logistics industries.
Balzer
“Bringing together like-minded lawmakers from both sides is how real progress happens,” OTA President and CEO Tom Balzer told Transport Topics. “The Ohio Trucking Caucus is a powerful tool to elevate trucking issues in legislative discussions, and we appreciate the leaders who have stepped up to be part of it.”
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The 11 members of the House of Representatives who joined the pro-trucking caucus are Republican Reps. Tim Barhorst, Gary Click, Jack Daniels, Jim Hoops, Angie King, Matt Kishman, Roy Klopfenstein and Bernie Willis as well as Democratic Reps. Sean Brennan, Karen Brownlee and Elgin Rogers Jr.
The eight state Senate caucus co-founders are Republican Sens. Andy Brenner, Susan Manchester, Tom Patton, Jane Timken and Shane Wilkin and Democratic Sens. Nickie Antonio, Bill DeMora and Paula Hicks-Hudson.
“The trucking industry is vital to our stability as it provides jobs and ensures the flow of goods that keep our businesses and communities running throughout the state,” Wilkin said. “The purpose of the caucus will be to provide a bipartisan forum for legislators to bring ideas that will bolster our truckers directly to their industry leaders — such as the Ohio Trucking Association, and its over 770 members. I look forward to working with members of the Ohio Legislature to continue the important work of supporting Ohio’s truck drivers.”
Daniels said he was honored to be able to create and chair the first Ohio Trucking Caucus, especially since the trucking industry affects people in the state.
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“This coalition’s goal is to propose and champion policy that not only supports truckers but industries across the state that utilize logistical services,” he said. “Manufacturing, retail, e-commerce, construction and agricultural industries all count on truckers to transport and deliver their products to consumers.”
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Noting a significant truck driver shortage in Ohio, Rogers described the caucus as a way to “advance not only just the trucking industry, but the lives of Ohioans and giving people access to opportunity.”
DeMora also expressed his support, saying, “Every item we use, from the food we eat, to the clothes we wear, to the electronics we rely on, was transported by a truck at one time or another.”
