MMTA Member NewsView Archived News

Advance Clean Trucks Needs Assessment Released. December 30, 2025

When Maryland passed the Advance Clean Trucks Rule (ACT) in 2023, MMTA had language inserted that required the state to complete a needs assessment that evaluated grid capacity, product availability, funding, infrastructure, etc. prior to implementation. The ACT requires manufacturers to sell an increasing percentage of zero emission medium and heavy-duty trucks. Congress revoked the ability for any states to move forward with the ACT last Spring; however, those actions are being challenged in court. While Maryland has not joined in the litigation, the state did complete the required needs assessment on December 1. It presents a pragmatic evaluation of what is… Read More

Trump Signs Order to Reclassify Marijuana as Schedule III Drug. December 30, 2025

On December 18, President Trump signed an executive order directing the Attorney General to complete a rulemaking that will reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III substance. Motor carriers that employ CDL drivers and other safety sensitive workers who are subject to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s drug testing rules should make NO CHANGES to their existing drug testing policies. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said that while marijuana is being federally rescheduled to a Schedule III drug, “safety-sensitive positions will still be barred from ingesting the drug.” Until the rulemaking is complete, marijuana remains a Schdule I drug.  An… Read More

Key Bridge Reopen Now Set for 2030. November 25, 2025

On November 17, the Maryland Transportation Authority announced a new projected timeline and cost for rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Costs are now expected to be $4.3 to $5.2 billion, with an open date in late 2030. The agency indicated preliminary estimates of the rebuild had to be made less than two weeks after the collapse to request federal emergency relief funding for immediate clean up and recovery. Pre-construction activities and updated information – not available in the immediate days following the incident – now reflect a more accurate estimated cost and schedule for the project. Read More

Does Your Business Have Unclaimed Property? November 25, 2025

The Maryland Comptroller’s office has launched a new website to help Marylanders recover unclaimed property (e.g., money). A search of the site showed that MMTA did have unclaimed property. To see if you or your business has unclaimed property, go to www.unclaimed-property.marylandcomptroller.gov/. Read More

Thank You Annual Meeting Sponsors! October 3, 2025

140 members joined MMTA for its annual meeting on October 2, 2025 at the Overlook at Baltimore Peninsula.  Many thanks go out to our sponsors.  Without them we could not hold this annual event.   Read More

FMCSA Eliminates Paper Payments. September 26, 2025

Effective Sept. 30, FMSCA will no longer accept paper payments, such as checks and money orders, for any agency transactions. This includes fees for initial application of operating authority registration, reinstatement or legal name changes, civil penalty payments and other transactions. Stakeholders must provide debit or credit card information to make payment. Assistance is available through the FMCSA Contact Center: 1-800-832-5660. Read More

Truck Parking Enforcement & Expansion. July 29, 2025

Last month MMTA pushed out notification that the Maryland State Highway Administration has advised the Association that, due to a large increase in the number of complaints from local jurisdictions and communities, the agency will be expanding installation of “No Truck Parking” signs and working with law enforcement to increase enforcement of trucks illegally parked on state roads. While truck parking continues to be an ongoing challenge, recent announcements of expansion are encouraging.    The Prince George’s County Revenue Authority has identified two potential sites to transform up to five acres of a portion of an existing commuter parking lot… Read More

MMTA Launches New Retirement Plan for Members! April 21, 2025

As a business owner, you want to do right by your employees—but navigating retirement plan options can be time-consuming, expensive, and complex. That’s why MMTA is excited to offer members exclusive access to the MMTA Members Retirement Plan! This is a Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) and is available through our trusted partner Scott Taylor. What’s a PEP? A pooled employer plan (PEP) is a 401(k) retirement plan that allows unrelated businesses to participate in one plan managed by a provider. These plans became legal under Federal law in 2021 as part of an effort to increase retirement plan access for… Read More

Governor Moore Signs Executive Order Delaying Advance Clean Trucks Rule. April 7, 2025

Passed in 2023, the Advance Clean Trucks Rule (ACT) is a mandate on truck manufacturers that they sell increasing percentages of zero emission trucks or face potential fines and penalties.  Maryland was slated to kickoff the ACT with Model Year 2027 vehicles; however, thanks to a robust effort from MMTA and the MD Auto Dealers Association, that mandate is now delayed until at least Model Year 2028 and potentially Model Year 2029.  Since January, MMTA and MADA have repeatedly met with House and Senate leadership and the Governor’s office to express concerns about both Advance Clean Trucks and Advance Clean… Read More

CDL Downgrades Under the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse Now Started. November 27, 2024

Under the final FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse rule, as of November 15, 2024 state driver licensing agencies must automatically downgrade the CDL license of any driver with a violation in the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse to a non-commercial status if the driver has not completed the return-to-duty (RTD) process. Since September 19, 2024, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration has been monitoring and notifying drivers currently listed as prohibited. If the MVA receives notification from the Clearinghouse system that a driver has completed the RTD process before the deadline, the downgrade will be discontinued. On November 18, 2024, the MVA… Read More

Reminder of Size Limits and Hazmat Restrictions in Baltimore Tunnels. July 26, 2024

With the closure of a portion of I-695, motorists are being encouraged to use the I-95 or I-895 tunnels as alternates; however, trucks should be aware of the following restrictions. Vehicles in excess of 13’6” in height, or 96” (8 feet) in width are prohibited from using the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895). The I-95 Ft. McHenry Tunnel restrictions are 14’6” height and 11’0” in width. Most hazardous materials are prohibited in the tunnels and should use the western section of I-695. A list of the specific prohibitions on various commodities is laid out in COMAR 11.07.01.04, which is available at… Read More

2024 Emergency Response Guidebooks Now Available! April 29, 2024

For the first time since 2020, new Emergency Response Guidebooks (ERGs) are available. These satisfy 49 CFR 172.602, the Dept. of Transportation’s rule that hazmat shipments be accompanied by emergency response information to aid in preparedness, planning, and training. This manual helps quickly identify emergency response procedures in the event of a hazmat transportation incident. Electronic display of emergency response information does not satisfy the law. You must have a physical document such as the ERG on hand. Place your order online at https://www.mdtrucking.org/shop, or fill out our form at https://www.mdtrucking.org/files/ERGFlyer.pdf to reserve your special MMTA member pricing! Read More

New Maximum Tow Rates Set by Maryland State Police. February 27, 2024

In accordance with legislation that MMTA worked to pass in 2022 and 2023, the Maryland State Police has established a maximum rate schedule that may be charged on police-initiated towing of medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. The new rate schedule is at www.mdtrucking.org/files/MSPMaxTowRates022124.pdf. As a reminder, if your truck is involved in an accident that requires a tow company, the State Police must allow you to use your tower of choice if the company can arrive in 30 minutes or less (with some safety exclusions). If the State Police calls the tow company from its rotation, the tower cannot exceed… Read More

New Research Shows State Association Membership Improves Safety. September 5, 2023

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) recently released a new study that validates that motor carriers who are active in their state trucking associations, such as Maryland Motor Truck Association, are safer than both former association members and carriers who have never been members. It has always been assumed that membership supports safety, but the necessary industry data had never before been assessed. This new empirical research processed public data from the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) to confirm the relationship between association membership and safety performance by comparing crash and violation data for motor carriers that are current… Read More

New Resource Outlines Return-to-Duty Process for CDL Drivers. June 14, 2023

A driver with a drug and alcohol program violation is prohibited from performing safety-sensitive functions, including operating a commercial motor vehicle, for any DOT-regulated employer until the return-to-duty process is complete. Beginning November 18, 2024, drivers with a “prohibited” status in FMCSA’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse will also lose or be denied their state-issued commercial driving privileges. FMCSA recently added a new resource to the Clearinghouse Learning Center that outlines the return-to-duty process that drivers with a “prohibited” status must complete so they can get their status back to “not prohibited.” For more information about the return-to-duty process, visit the… Read More

MMTA Online Supply Ordering Now Available May 31, 2023

MMTA sells a wide array of trucking supplies, mandated forms, and compliance products from J. J. Keller. Member prices are lower than buying from Keller directly.  Members can now order our most popular products directly from our website!  Order supplies online at https://www.mdtrucking.org/shop or call MMTA at 410-644-4600 to place an order or to get pricing on an item not listed. Read More

MMTA’s Consortium can help with Your Drug Testing Needs! November 10, 2022

Your CDL drivers are required under federal law to be in a random drug & alcohol testing pool.  MMTA’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Consortium, in partnership with ARCpoint Labs of Southern Maryland, can help members comply with the federally mandated drug and alcohol testing rules.  The rules are often misunderstood and a frequent cause of violations.  Do you have problems with: Spending too much for tests? Employees waiting forever for a test? Chasing drug testing paperwork? Dialing 1-800 numbers and getting voice mail? Poor customer service? MMTA's program is here to help.  Benefits include: Inputting, updating, and maintaining your participant… Read More

A Compliance Checklist for You December 15, 2021

As a benefit of MMTA membership, the Association has created a checklist of the major compliance items your company must follow when running trucks.  Although not intended to be “all inclusive”, MMTA’s new flyer at www.mdtrucking.org/files/Usingtruck.pdf can help you do a quick scan of the many areas where we see members with compliance questions and concerns.  Take a look, then contact Brenda Tharp at MMTA with any questions at 410-644-4600. Read More

Take Advantage of MMTA Fuel Prices With Carroll! June 16, 2021

MMTA members can $ave BIG on fuel with member discount pricing! No contracts or minimums! No more fuel cards – Use your phone! No more paper receipts! Complete on-line fuel management system for immediate access to driver information, reports, vehicles, and transactions! Customer intro video  Carroll Information Flyer Carroll Form Questions? Email armand@mdtrucking.org or call 410-644-4600 Read More