Sponsor Statement for HB 404

Regulation of Commercial Motor Vehicles

The purpose of HB 404 is to improve efficiency at D.M.V. and to improve efficiency and safety of freight movement into, out of, and within Alaska. Also, adoption of HB 404 will allow the State to participate in the International Registration Plan.

Our current state commercial vehicle inspection law is unworkable. The bill proposes to conform our inspection program with inspection criteria found in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

Also, HB 404 will increase temporary fees for out-of-state trucks that wish to operate in Alaska from $50 dollars to $350. This will bring Alaska fees closer to what is charged by other states and provinces issuing temporary permits. Revenue generated from this fee may be appropriated to operate weigh stations and commercial vehicle safety programs.

Further, HB 404 would eliminate the requirement for annual registration of commercial trailers. The fees collected from the registration of commercial trailers would be transferred to the cost of registration of commercial vehicles, or 'power units'. Hence the bill is revenue neutral. The change is required if Alaska wants to become part of the International Registration Plan, which allows for a simplified method of prorating fees to other jurisdictions in which Alaska commercial vehicles operate, and vice versa. The state and industry will gain substantial efficiencies by not having to issue and physically tag 20,000 commercial trailers annually.

In short , House Bill 404 will create efficiencies in government and the private sector and will create a safer transportation environment. The safer our commercial vehicles are on our highways, the safer all of us will be.