OTA Dispatch Issue1, 2021

7 www.ortrucking.org Issue 1 | 2021 been reluctant to engage in the political process, to become involved in the OTA Key Contact program. One of the greatest things we can do as an association is to affect and monitor our legislators and our regulators. Constituents/members of industry have a great deal of influence on elected officials and it’s time that we leverage it. We will be reaching out to you directly in the coming weeks, but if you are inspired to get involved, contact us now. We are looking for industry leaders who are ready to be proactive in protecting trucking’s interests. If that’s you, then let us know. Contact me at [email protected] or Jana at [email protected] . Dispatch readers may notice a new contributor this issue, but not a new face to OTA. Mark Gibson is a longtime OTA member, serving on the board of directors for many years and as chair in 2008/2009. OTA has once again called on Mark, this time as both a policy advisor and to lead member outreach and engagement around our advocacy activities. He’ ll be actively recruiting participants for, and guiding the progress of, OTA’s Key Contact program. Mark is also working closely with Jana and OTA’s government affairs team during this legislative session. Mark has over 35 years in the trucking industry. He graduated from college with an Associate degree in Diesel Technology and then a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Mark went straight into the family business working with his dad as a log truck driver, then, ultimately became the principal owner of the company. In addition to trucking, Mark has extensive experience in aviation. He is the current president of a helicopter company providing utility services to the western United States. Mark also managed a helicopter company providing helicopter emergency services in southern Oregon and Northern California for over 22 years. Mark has served on the Board of Directors and ultimately as two-time Chairman of the Board for the Helicopter Association International, a worldwide trade association with members in over 80 countries. Mark has been very involved in both trucking as well as helicopter legislative/governmental issues for many years and has spent a great deal of time in both Washington, D.C. and Salem, working on various issues that affect these industries as well as small business in general. Mark also serves on the board of several charitable foundations. He is a native Southern Oregonian and still resides there today. You can reach Mark at [email protected] . 2021 Legislative Session Bills to Watch It may be early days in a long legislative session, but we are already seeing a number worrisome bills. OTA’s government affairs team is keeping busy in the first few weeks of the 2021 session. Bills are being introduced at a rapid rate, with climate change/emissions, labor, and COVID-related issues topping the list. Previously passed bills are now being revisited to change the agreed upon outcomes. (Disclaimer: The information below reflects the status of these bills at the time the Dispatch went to print. Keep an eye out for emailed updates including the OTA Legislative Logbook email and the OTA Weekly Express .) The -1 Amendment to HB 2674 In 2019, legislators on both sides of the aisle passed legislation to phase out older diesel engines in the Portland metropolitan area and make smart investments in newer technologies. Now that agreement is falling apart with an amendment to HB 2674, imposing a suite of new taxes on Oregon’s trucking industry. We asked our members to submit comments to the committee members, encouraging them to vote “NO” on the amendment. Thanks to everyone who responded to our call-to-action! OR-OSHA COVID-19 Proposed Permanent Rules & Protecting Employers from COVID-19 Related Lawsuits Throughout the pandemic, Oregon’s business community prioritized public health and created a safe environment for their customers and employees. Now OR-OSHA is working to create permanent COVID-19 rules that may impose additional safety and operational requirements on your business. On the liability protection side, one of the few positive bills, HB 2638, would—in a modest way—protect employers from COVID-19 related lawsuits. OTA will be joining a broad coalition of businesses and health care stakeholders in support of this bill. Workers’ Rights, Compensation, & Safety A focus on workers’ rights, compensation, and safety is evident this session with the introduction of two bills related to classification of independent contractors and workers’ compensation. HB 2489 is the opening shot to reclassify thousands of independent contractors as employees, meaning the end to trucking’s owner-operator model. Other bills establish the prevailing wage rate based on a collective bargaining agreement in the area. OTA is actively engaged in discussions around these bills, which involve many from the business community.