Dear Member,

A New York Assembly committee needs to hear from you and your family about a bill that is intended to make travel for you and other truck drivers safer in the state.

Known as “Jason’s Law,” a bill in the Assembly Transportation Committee would create the motor carrier safety and security revolving loan program fund to help upgrade options for truck parking throughout the state.

Many of you are familiar with the story of Jason Rivenburg. The Schoharie County, NY, truck driver was murdered 15 months ago at an abandoned gas station in South Carolina. He was forced to park there because he arrived too early to deliver his load. His receiver didn’t allow overnight truck parking until his appointment time the next morning.

His story has spurred lawmakers at the state and federal levels of government to pursue better parking options for truckers.

The New York bill – A11095 – would offer interest free loans and a 50 percent tax credit to owners or operators of private rest areas, truck stops, travel plazas and any other facilities that provide truck drivers with a safe place to park.

The bill would also make available a 20 percent tax credit for shipping and receiving facilities that agree to provide truck drivers with a secure area to rest while waiting for pending appointments or to comply with federal hours-of-service regulations.

In addition, a “bull pen” demonstration program would be created along the New York State Thruway. The program would test the affordability and effectiveness of developing dedicated parking facilities to provide a safe place for truckers to rest. Facilities would be required to include fencing, security cameras, gated entrances and limited lavatory accommodations.

The members of the Assembly Transportation Committee need to know how important A11095 is to truck drivers and their families. Their contact information is available here.

You can also call the OOIDA Membership Department at 800-444-5791 and they will look up the contact information for you.