OADA/OMDA Testifies at First PUCO Listening Session

As dealers are aware, the Public Utilities Commission (PUCO) revised its rules relative to motor carrier transportation safety. These revised rules extend PUCO’s jurisdiction to regulate vehicle safety for private commercial motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating between 10,001 and 26,000 pounds.   Due to the public response to these rules the PUCO scheduled five opportunities around the state for the PUCO Commissioners to hear from the public.

The first session was held Wednesday, February 9, in Grove City, Ohio before a capacity crowd.  Several affected industries were represented and made comments.  In our testimony we emphasized several points:

• Our members do not hire “drivers”
• Our members must be able to provide necessary customer service and that the flexibility of utilizing staff is critical
• The regulations are confusing and burdensome.  
• In effect, the rules regulate commercial pickup trucks when a trailer is attached.  Similar vehicles operated by consumers and government entities are exempt.
• To date no Ohio data has been provided that accidents within this class of commercial vehicles are due to the safety of the vehicle.

To download a copy of the testimony, please click here.

The enforcement of these rules was postponed to allow the PUCO to receive public input on these rules. There are four more locations around the state for public comment.  Please see the “Events” section at our website, www.oada.com for these locations, dates and times.

We will continue to keep you informed as new information becomes available.