T.R.P.M.
Towing and Recovery Professionals of Maryland
|
T.R.P.M. Towing and Recovery Professionals of Maryland
|
Contact Us!TRPM Officers:
President:
Mark Bowie
|
|
TRPM's Office: |
|
Betty Cornwell, Executive Director P.O. Box 905 |
Additional Links:
Archived News
Harford County...
Towers are upset over proposed changes in the towing regulations and they feel these changes could cause great harm to the legitimate tower. They have tried, to no avail, to schedule a meeting with the Deputy Director of Harford County Department of Inspections, Licenses, and Pernits, Richard Truitt, to discuss these issues. A hearing was supposed to be scheduled for public comments, but as of this date nothing has been scheduled. TRPM will monitor this regulation.
Anne Arundel County...
Councilmen Jones and Middlebrooks Introduced Bill #5-09 on Feb. 17, 2009. This was a bill concerning: Licenses--Towing from Private Property. There was to be a hearing on this bill on Mar. 16, 2009, but the bill was pulled at the last minute. Another Bill #18-09 was introduced on Mar. 16, 2009, this one is entitled: An Ordinance concerning: Licenses and Traffic--Towing. There will be a public hearing on April 6, 2009. Some towers have been in contact with Mr. Jones and he was interested in working with the industry. The bill is too lengthy to print it in this publication, but you can go to AACOUNTY.ORG and check it out. TRPM will watch this bill.
Employment Law Quarterly Newsletter...
Franklin & Prokopik’s quarterly labor and employment newsletter, the Winter 2009 Edition of
F&P Employment Law Quarterly, is available by using the following link: http://www.fandpnet.com/
data/files/3/253.pdf. If you would like to receive a hard copy of the newsletter instead of by e-mail, or
in addition to e-mail; if you know someone else who might like to receive the newsletter; or if you
would like to be removed from the mailing list, please e-mail jhartman@fandpnet.com.
Franklin & Prokopik represents businesses throughout Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia,
and Florida. For more information about the Firm, and our labor and employment practice, visit our website: http://www.fandpnet.com/.
Run Hard magazine...
Is now available in a digital online format — and it’s FREE! Following are instructions on how to view the latest issue of Run Hard magazine, our custom towing magazine published by Jerr-Dan Corporation since 1992. Use this link to view the digital version: www.runhard.epubxpress.com. To sign up for a free online subscription and view archived issues, visit us at: www.jerrdan.com/life/run-hard. Please feel free to contact us at any time at (800) 926-9666 or send us an e-mail at RunHard@cygnusb2b.com.
With Sympathy:
We received this info. after we had gone to the printer for the last newsletter. We would like to remember
this lovely lady. Those of you who have attended the Bull & Oyster Roast for many years have met Ruth
Irvin when she came by your table to sell you a 50/50 raffle ticket or some other kind of ticket. She was one of
the so lovingly called: “Pocomoke Hurricanes” or you may have heard of them as the “Pocomoke Five.”
Ruth went home to be with our Lord on July 30, 2008.
She was the wife of Chief J.D. Irvin. She and J.D. were close friends of Mary & Sheridan Hensler. The
four of them traveled extensively throughout the years, and it was through the Henslers that we became
acquainted with Ruth & J.D. We will truly miss her lovely smiling face at our Bull & Oyster Roast. We send
our deepest sympathy to J.D. and their four children and to Mary & “ Hens”.
Thanks…TRPMs Light Duty Seminar was held Oct. 10 and 11 at SHA in Hanover.
We had 24 students. Joe Sroga was the instructor. West End Service provided four trucks and sponsored the food for both days.Twenty-five people took the Level 1 National Driver Certification Test.
Thanks to Board Members: Jim Beatty, Will Cain, Larry Green and Fred Scheler for spending the day Saturday to assist with the hands-on training. Also, we appreciate the vehicles that were used for the recovery scenarios. Stup’s Garage from Frederick and Ted’s Towing and Auto Service from Accokeek prepared the vehicles, had them delivered, and removed them.
We very much appreciate the generous contribution of the use of the trucks and money donated for the catering, for both days, from West End Services. Without the support of our associate members, these seminars would not be possible.
Of course, we can’t forget to thank those of you who sent employees or maybe you decided to brush up on new techniques yourself. Thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success.
If you see TRPM member George Feilinger, give him a pat on the back!
George, who is also a volunteer firefighter and medic, was off duty when he came upon a jeep
that had overturned and tumbled into a ravine in York County, Pa. this fall. The driver, 22-year-old
Roseanne Rice, had been trapped in her vehicle for two days before being discovered. Her family had
been searching for her while the weather remained cold, rainy and foggy. Rice was injured and semiconscious. George scrambled down the ravine and reached the vehicle, where he worked his way
through the wreckage to the driver, who was soon rescued and transported to the hospital.
Congratulations to George for his heroic effort which helped save the life of this young woman.
What is your BMI (Body Mass Index)
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Medical Review Board has called for all CDL holders with a body mass index of 30 or greater to be required to take a sleep disorder test. The recommendations could have sweeping implications on the trucking/towing industry. For example, did you know that a 5'10" tall man weighing 210 pounds registers 30.1 on the BMI scale and is considered obese, according to the Mayo Clinic's BMI calculator?
An agency spokesman for FMCSA said officials can choose to ignore, alter, or adopt this recommendation. FMCSA has no timetable for considering whether to adopt the BMI/apnea suggestion. This is strictly an advisory board. Still, perhaps this is a great time to start that diet!!!
Minimum Wage; Deductible Mileage Increases
As part of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, annual increases in Federal Minimum Wage were phased in over a three year period. On July 24th, 2008, the Federal Minimum Wage increased from $5.85 to $6.55 an hour. Maryland's previous minimum wage was higher than the former federal rate at $6.15 an hour. As of July 24th however, Maryland's minimum wage will comply with the new federal rate and will be set at $6.55 an hour.
Even Uncle Sam know about the high cost of fuel. As a result, the IRS has increased the standard rate for deductible mileage to 58.5 cents per mile, as of July 1, 2008. This welcomed 8 cent increase comes at an unusual time of year and may create special consideration regarding dates of fuel consumption at tax time next year.
A Visitor May be on the
Way!
Have you had your visit scheduled yet? Or maybe they will just drop by. Either
way, are your records in order? Several of TRPM's members have had audits and
have not had very good experiences.
One of the main issues is HOURS OF SERVICE. How many times have you heard this? One fine last week was $1000.00 for just one violation and they will be coming back.
Folks, this is no joking matter. This is just not the good old boy world anymore. They are not accepting any excuses for anything. They are looking for company policies, DQ files, time cards or some method that you record your employee's hours at work and driving.
Some of you may require Log books, some may not. DO YOU KNOW IF YOU DO? Are you doing pre-employment testing? Why?? Because the "FEDS" say so. I know you say it is too expensive and drivers don't stay around that long. Believe me, for what it cost to pay fines, you can afford to do testing. This is part of doing business.
TRPM will be having another Compliance Seminar before summer and I would advise you to sign up and attend. If you have gotten a call, give me a call here at the TRPM office and maybe I can help you survive it or at least give you some advice. If you need DQ FILES, call me.
Note: I just saw an article in Heavy Duty Trucking that FMCSA has proposed to make it mandatory for fleets that chronically violate driver hours of service rules, to have Electronic Onboard Recorders. The agency would require a carrier to use recorders in all it's trucks if the carrier violates the HOS rules 10 percent or more of the time, as determined in two compliance reviews within a two-year period.
After one violation, the carrier would be fined, but if they do it again, they would be required to get a little bit more strict about how they monitor their compliance. If ordered to install recorders, a carrier would have to keep them for at least two years. Stay tuned and i will keep you informed in another up-coming issue.
Are you in need of Driver
Qualification files?
Don't be caught without your DQ Files. Call Betty at the
TRPM office. We have these available, call the TRPM office.
Are you a member of the Highway Watch program?
The highway Watch program has topped a half million since last year. More than 32,000 trucking companies nationwide have stepped up to the plate. The ultimate Goal: Preventing terrorists from using large vehicles or Hazmat loads as weapons.
This is not something to be taken lightly. Generally Barry McCaffrey has said: "Global animosity toward US foreign policy is universal, intense and growing. The threat of a terrorist attack has morphed and remains a huge danger." TRPM held a Highway Watch seminar about a year ago and we had 83 people in attendance. If you are interested in joining Highway Watch, you can do this at your own location. Give Betty a call and she will be glad to furnish this info. to you. There can never be enough eyes watching out for our security.
Now available..
We will have the DVD that TRA has just released entitled "Roadside Safety:
Everyone Goes Home". This was filmed in Chattanooga with financial and technical
support from Miller Industries. Mark Nixon, Family Service Center, Inc., your
meal's on us! The DVD provides detailed instructions on how to safely remove
disabled vehicles from the side of the road.
This has been reviewed by several associations and we would like your comments
as well. We can share your thoughts with TRAA.
|
Send mail to
webmaster@trpm-assn.org with questions or comments about this web site. |