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September
14, 2004
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Headline
News
Look for the PTDI Advantage Biweekly
Last
Tuesday PTDI faxed a questionnaire to gauge the importance of the weekly
distribution of the PTDI Advantage e-newsletter. This was the second
attempt to get feedback on the newsletter and the response to the survey
showed that most recipients would not be opposed to receiving the newsletter
biweekly rather than weekly. Effective today the newsletter will be
delivered to you every other week rather than every week.
Of concern to the
PTDI staff was the fact that many survey respondents requested that
the PTDI Advantage cover federal regulations and rules concerning driver
training. Federal regulations are always a large part of the PTDI Advantage
newsletter and any rules involving driver training are featured as the
lead story. If you have any additional feedback or newsletter ideas
please contact Aimee Cirucci at acirucci@truckload.org.
Top
Voluntary Ergonomics Guidelines Released for Poultry Industry, Trucking
Still Unaffected
The Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Administrator John Henshaw announced
on September 2 that employers and workers in the poultry processing
industry now have a set of voluntary guidelines to draw on to help reduce
ergonomic-related injuries. The agency announced that Guidelines
for Poultry Processing offers practical recommendations for employers
to reduce the number and severity of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
throughout that industry. With the development of these voluntary guidelines
for the poultry processing industry, they have now joined the nursing
home and retail grocery store industries that have developed industry-specific
ergonomic guidelines – as one part of OSHA’s comprehensive
strategy to reduce ergonomic-related injuries. “These are voluntary
guidelines intended to build upon progress made in the poultry processing
industry,” Henshaw emphasized. “We will continue working
with those who’ve helped us deliver this important product –
individual firms in the industry, trade and professional associations,
labor organizations, and the medical community – to reduce ergonomic-related
injuries, which is always our principal goal.”
It is worth noting,
that while OSHA has developed voluntary guidelines for these respective
industries, the trucking industry, however, has of yet been unaffected
with any proposed or draft ergonomic guidelines resulting from recommendations
by OSHA or its National Advisory Committee on Ergonomics (NACE) or other
OSHA initiatives on this issue. However, we feel it is important to
inform you that the NACE has established a working group to identify
additional industries for guidelines based on injury data collected
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The NACE held its fifth public meeting
on May 11-12, 2004 in Washington, DC, and a final meeting of this group
is currently scheduled for November 2004. NACE was chartered for a two-year
term back in late 2002, to provide advice and recommendations on ergonomic
guidelines, research, and outreach and assistance.
All three sets of
the aforementioned voluntary ergonomic industry guidelines are available
on OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.
TCA will keep you informed if our industry is affected in any way by
these on-going NACE meetings and discussions.
Top
RSPA
Clarifies Hazardous Materials Regulations
The Research and
Special Programs Administration (RSPA) issued a Final Rule in the September
7, Federal Register that corrects editorial errors, makes minor
regulatory changes and, in response to requests for clarification, improves
the clarity of certain provisions in the Hazardous Materials Regulations
(HMR). RSPA notes that the intended effect of this Final Rule is to
enhance the accuracy and reduce misunderstandings of the HMR.
The RSPA periodically
reviews the HMR (49 CFR Parts 171-180) to identify errors that may confuse
readers.
Therefore, inaccuracies
corrected in this Final Rule include:
1. typographical
and printing errors
2. incorrect references to regulations in the CFR
3. inconsistent use of terminology, and
4. misstatements of certain regulatory requirements.
RSPA noted, in addition,
that because these amendments do no impose new requirements, notice
and public comment on the revisions was not necessary. In the Final
Rule, RSPA makes amendments to the following sections of the HMR: 49
CFR Parts 106, 107, 171-173, and 178-180.
The effective date
of this Final Rule is October 1, 2004, and a copy of the September 7
RSPA Federal Register notice is available by clicking
here for a PDF and here
for an HTML. For further questions or comments, please contact TCA’s
Rich Clemente, at (703) 838-8847 or by email: rclemente@truckload.org.
Top
Importers and Brokers May Participate in National Customs Automation Program Test
The Department of
Homeland Security (DHS), Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
issued a notice in the September 8, Federal Register, which
clarifies that importers and their designated brokers may still apply
to establish accounts to participate in the National Customs Automation
Program Test for the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Secure Data
Portal. In the notice, CBP also invites customs brokers to participate
in the ACE Portal test. In order to become an ACE broker account, a
customs broker will no longer need to be designated specifically as
the broker by an ACE importer account participating in the Periodic
Monthly Statement Test. CBP states in the September 8th notice that
the test application period remains open until further notice.
By way of background,
the DHS, CBP had announced in a February 4, 2004 Register notice
that they were now accepting applications to establish Truck Carrier
Accounts for a National Customs Automation Program test for the ACE.
Those carriers who open accounts will eventually have the ability to
file truck manifest information electronically via the ACE Secure Portal
Data and/or via electronic data interchange (EDI) messaging. These account
holders will also have access to operational data, receive status messages
on ACE Accounts, have access to integrated account data from multiple
system sources, manage and disseminate information in an efficient and
secure manner, and obtain release of their cargo, crew, conveyances,
and equipment via the ACE Portal or EDI messaging. The ACE Secure Data
Portal, is essentially a customized computer screen similar to a website
home page, which provides a single, centralized on-line access point
to connect CBP and the trade community.
The September 8
Register notice provides a list of information that must be
included on an ACE Importer Account Application, and an ACE Broker Account
Application as well. Additionally, all participants (brokers) requesting
to participate in the Periodic Monthly Statement are required to provide
a bond rider covering the periodic payment of estimated duties. For
questions regarding ACE Importer or Broker Accounts contact Ms. Sherri
Braxton via e-mail at acenow@dhs.gov
or by telephone at (703) 440-3000. A copy of the September 8 Federal
Register notice can be accessed by clicking
here for a PDF and here
for an HTML.
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