Co-chaired by Scott Franzen and Carl Svendsen
Our May meeting at UW Superior was attended by approximately 33 members and guests. Our guest speaker was Matthew Marrin. Matt is the Minnesota Division Administrator for the FMCSA. Matt updated us on FMCSA’s recent changes and what’s in the works. Matt wanted everyone to know what to expect from the FMCSA which included open communication with all carriers regardless of size, technical competency, and problem-solving skills to help carriers understand how to comply with federal regulations, and to assure excellent service during carrier interactions free of harassment and discrimination. Matt mentioned that FMCSA’s mission and highest priority is safety by reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities. FMCSA’s strategic plan to accomplish this includes three core principals: 1) raising the safety bar to enter the motor carrier industry. 2) Requiring motor carriers and drives to comply with rigorous safety standards and 3) Removing high-risk motor carriers and unsafe companies, drivers, and vehicles from the road. Matt also updated us on regulatory updates including entry-level driver training, drug and alcohol clearinghouses, national registry II, compliance investigations, diabetic waivers, and host of other updates. All these updates triggered many questions from the audience. Matt could have talked for another couple hours, time permitting. It was discussed afterward that we should try to have an annual FMCSA update.