OOIDA Call to Action - Pennsylvania members
April 9, 2008

Heads up: Pennsylvania truckers! The state’s House Transportation Committee has scheduled a hearing on Thursday, April 10, to discuss a bill that would impose idling restrictions on large trucks throughout the state. If you are unable to attend the hearing, please take time now to contact the committee members to share your views on this important topic.

Idling rules already are in place in Allegheny County and the city of Philadelphia. A Senate-approved bill – SB295 – would create a statewide law limiting large trucks to idling for no more than five minutes per hour.

Exceptions would be made to the time limit rule when temperatures are lower than 40 degrees or higher than 75 degrees. The exception would apply only at locations where trucks are legally permitted to park, including truck terminals, truck stops and rest areas – as long as idle reduction technology is unavailable.

The temperature exemption would expire May 1, 2010. The sunset date is intended to correspond with greater availability of idle reduction technology.

Operators of vehicles found in violation would face $50 fines. Repeat offenders would face up to $150 fines.

Exceptions to the rule also would include situations when idling is necessary “to operate defrosters, heaters, air conditioners or cargo refrigeration equipment.” Installation of equipment to prevent a safety or health emergency that is not part of a rest period also would be exempted.

The Transportation Committee is scheduled to discuss the bill at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 10, in Room G-50 of the Irvis Office Building (formerly the South Office Building). If you are unable to attend, contact information for each committee member is available below.