2/6/03-The Senate is considering a bill that changes registration rules for trucks in the state.
Kansas law now requires an owner-operator leased to a carrier for 30 days or more to register his vehicle in the carrier's name. SB130, originally proposed by the Kansas Motor Carriers Association, would change the language of that law to allow trucks to be registered by "the lessee or the lessor."
OOIDA officials had traveled to the state capitol in Topeka, KS, to ask for changes in the bill. The bill's new language would allow carriers and owner-operators to negotiate to determine where and under whom a truck would be registered, according to Todd Spencer, executive vice president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.
"There should be no carrier involvement," Spencer said. "Any agreement should be between the owner-operator and the carrier, not a matter to be legislated."
The law as it stands now is an exception to the rules of the International Registration Plan concerning vehicle registration, and the IRP governing board is currently examining its wording. Some sources have indicated sanctions are expected if the current law isn't changed.
Initially, the Kansas Motor Carriers Association asked the state for a bill that would allow the registration to be determined by the motor carrier's preference, sparking opposition by OOIDA.
SB130 is in the Senate Transportation Committee. For bill status, call (785) 296-2149.

1-30-03- Kansas lawmakers will soon be considering legislation that will adopt the provisions of the International Registration Plan (IRP) that allow owner-operators to register in their own name without having operating authority.

6/12/02-On May 29, as part of its transportation funding program, Kansas Gov. Bill Graves signed legislation into law raising the tax on gas and diesel. Gasoline went from 21 to 23 cents per gallon and diesel rose 2 cents, from 23 to 25 cents.

HB3011 also cut out transfers to the highway fund of $145 million annually in sales tax collections and increased the statewide sales tax to 5.3 percent from 4.9 percent. Truck and semitrailer (except those owned by the state) registration fees also were hiked by the legislation from $2 to $10 per vehicle effective July 1.