Download Your 2012 Pocket Guide to Transportation

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration produces the Pocket Guide to Transportation as a compact resource that provides snapshots of the U.S. transportation system and highlights major transportation trends. The Pocket Guide contains a wealth of information divided into five sections:

• Safety
• State of Good Repair
• System Use and Livable Communities
• Economic Competitiveness
• Environmental Sustainability

The Pocket Guide to Transportation supports the BTS mission to create, manage, and share transportation statistical knowledge. This contributes to data driven and evidence based decision making.

Click here to download the entire document.

Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding

All Accredited Schools must Sign Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding to Participate in Tuition Assistance Programs

CVTA was told that all schools that participate in veterans benefits and military tuition assistance programs must sign (on-line) a Memorandum of Understanding in order to continue their participation. The Association held two webinars under the direction of Lou Spoonhour, in which many members participated, to explain the new requirement.

Following the webinars, there was a great deal of confusion as to which schools needed to sign the Memorandum in order to continue participation. As a result, Lou, Mike and Cindy had a conference call with a senior person at the National Guard that is responsible for educational benefit programs.

As it turned out, the original information was incorrect. While tuition assistance programs are administered by the Department of Defense, programs involving the Montgomery GI Bill and Post 9/11 GI Bill are administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Therefore, the only schools that need to sign the MoU are schools that participate in federal tuition assistance programs (which means only schools that hold accreditation).

CVTA will set up another webinar to explain the process and walk those schools through the sign up procedure. If your school would like to participate, please contact Cindy Atwood. When we have determined the level of participation, we will set a date and time for the call.

Call For Nominations - Board Election 2012

WE ARE LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MEMBERS

CVTA will be holding elections at the 2012 Spring Conference. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your alents with the industry. We strive to be considerate of your time and appreciate any and all efforts.  If you feel you would like to join the leadership of your organization please take a moment to review:

• The Notice of Election
• Process for the Elections
• Board Applicant Statement

The following seats are up for election

• Three Member Schools Seats, (Will Bowker, Jamie Sather, Chuck Wirth)
  (Current Board Members may run for re-election)
  
  
• Two Associate Member Seats (Vinnie Picciarelli)
  (Current Board Members may run for re-election)
  
  
• Two Motor Carrier Member Seats (John Frey)
  (Current Board Members may run for re-election)

The due date for the Board Applicant Statements is January 16, 2012. We know that seems a long time away and with the Holiday Season upon please take a moment to consider joining the few, the proud the CVTA Board of Directors!  

If you have any questions please call Cindy at the office 703-6423-9444 or email Cindy.

FMCSA Misses Deadline, HOS Rule Delayed

On Friday, October 28, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released the following statement regarding the publication of the Hours of Service regulations: “The petitioners have agreed to extend the October 28, 2011, deadline for publication of a final Hours of Service rule. FMCSA will continue to work toward publishing a final rule as quickly as possible. The parties to the settlement agreement will file their next status report with the Court on November 28, 2011.”

In a statement American Trucking Associations said it hopes the agency will “use the extra time to consider the overwhelming input it has received from thousands of drivers and law enforcement officers that the current rule is working. There’s no need to break something that’s not broken.”

For more information on the proposed hours-of-service change, visit SafeDriverHours.com.