NWLTC June 2005 Newsletter

Saturday, June 4, 2005 trucks will roll from across Washington State in a show of solidarity and support as the Northwest Log Truckers Co-Op addresses issues impacting today’s log hauling industry. Gathering at the old Smith Tractor/John Deere facility hundreds of families will meet to discuss skyrocketing fuel prices, operating cost surcharges, safety issues and the future of a profession that is more than a vocation and truly a part of the Pacific Northwest custom and culture.

Team leaders will gather participants at staging areas up and down the Interstate 5 corridor to convoy into this traditional timber community. Drivers are instructed to use CB Channel 1, travel at safe and courteous speeds obeying traffic laws and reflecting a professional and positive image to the general public. Volunteers will be on hand by 8 a.m. to coordinate parking. Drivers will proceed to the registration area in order to be eligible for door-prize drawings.

At 10 a.m. Gray’s Harbor Chapter President, Rick Smith will offer his Welcome, give a brief overview of the day’s events and activities and provide an introduction of the Board of Trustees to the crowd. Executive Board Members will address the crowd and guest speakers will follow. There will be a special guest presentation by Kirby Wilbur, talk show host from Seattle radio station KVI detailing repeal efforts of the recent legislative-imposed gas tax.

Major television networks have been invited to join in the activities and provide information to their viewing audience of issues facing the independent owner/operator in today’s trucking industry. We ask that their questions be answered thoughtfully and courteously giving insight to the fuel surcharge issue and the rising operating costs that log haulers face as we provide the Nation’s wood products.

Co-Op members are strongly encouraged to spread the word of the upcoming Rally to your vendors, family and friends. Remember, you need not be a member of the Co-Op to attend the rally.

This is a family event with activities for everyone to enjoy. Lunch will be provided, free of charge.

For information call:

Rick Smith 360-581-2451

Tracey Lutton: 360-580-5400

Scott Jerles: 360-520-5586

Josh Sananski: 360-590-1252

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Log Truckers on the Olympic Peninsula have formed the newest chapter in NWLTC’s growing organization and we welcome them to the fold.

On May 21st the Executive Board met with a contingent of log truckers who voiced strong concerns over rising fuel costs, surcharge and safety issues.

Executive Directors stressed the importance of knowing your bottom line operating costs and individual profit and loss figures when calculating surcharges.

Members were encouraged to work with their logging contractors to reach a viable solution.

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Your calls are still needed! Congress has named the conferees that will work on the final version of the Highway Bill recently approved by the House but carved up by the Senate.

The extremely vital component of the Bill that addresses a national fuel surcharge was omitted from the Senate version!

There’s still time to call or speak to your legislators in person and urge them to include the surcharge in the final version of the Bill before it goes to the President for signature.

Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202– 224-3121. Operators will connect you with your Senator’s office.

Encourage your Senator to include Section 4139 (mandatory fuel surcharge) in HB 3.

The Fuel Surcharge Section 4139 of HB 3 is currently teetering on razor’s edge awaiting return of Congress from its summer recess on June 6, 2005.

Both the House and Senate passed their versions of the Highway Bill but the differences between the two versions must be resolved before the Bill goes before President Bush for final approval.

The Senate version left out Section 4139—the Fuel Surcharge issue.

What would the surcharge do?

· Help truckers survive spikes in pricing at the fuel pump

· Level the playing field for small trucking

Trucking firms.

· Use the stand– ard industry benchmark price ($1.10 per gallon). The surcharge would kick in when fuel exceeds the benchmark price by a nickel and would kick back off when the price of fuel falls back to less than 5 cents above the benchmark.

· Cost the government no money to implement or enforce.

Both chambers of Congress have authorized a 30 day extension of the existing spending authority for transportation programs from the Highway Trust Fund/

President Bush is expected to sign the extension by May 31st. This means that Congress has until the end of June to hammer out their differences, which could still include a fuel surcharge provision.

Specifically, Section 4139 says, “...all motor carriers, brokers and freight forwarders running truckload freight MUST implement fuel surcharges and they MUST pass 00 percent of those surcharges through to the person who actually pays for the fuel.

This language was present in the House version but not in that of the Senate.

It is CRITICAL that truckers take advantage of the extended time period to contact their Representatives and Senators urging them to support the Fuel Surcharge Section.

A list of committee members can be found on the OOIDA

(Owner Operator Independent Driver Association) website at OOIDA.COM. Even if your State Senator isn’t on the list, call anyway! Every voice counts!

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$50 a truck or $300 maximum will keep you in the driver’s seat and up-to-date on issues that impact log trucking today.

Not only will you receive a comprehensive, monthly newsletter of head’s-up issues, but you will join force with the fastest growing professional organization in the State.

Don’t stop at signing up just your business, get your supplies enrolled too.

If you haven’t renewed for 2005, do it today ! It’s money well spent.

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Initiatives are being prepared to repeal the Washington State Gas Tax passed during the last legislative session!

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Be prepared to circulate and sign the Petitions!!

250,000 signatures are needed to place the initiative on the ballot in November !

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Together, we CAN

make a difference !

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Welcome Olympic Peninsula Chapter

Action Alert ! Federal Highway Bill . . .

The Scoop on Highway Bill 3 Section 4139

Fuel Surcharge Bill (cont.)