Truck drivers traveling through Oregon may notice some changes in the Beaver State next year, including higher fines and the elimination of a program.
One of those changes affects truck drivers who haul household goods. Those who fail to comply with the Oregon Department of Transportation Commerce and Compliance Division’s regulations will be forking over more cash.
Oregon law requires household goods movers to acquire a certificate. The fine for operating without a certificate is currently $1,000. Effective Jan. 1, fines will increase threefold to $3,000.
The new law also makes it easier for ODOT to penalize bad actors. ODOT’s Commerce and Compliance Division has not always been successful in proving that an uncertified carrier was operating to haul household goods. SB839 took care of that by expanding the scope of who can be fined to anyone who offers or advertises the transport of household goods. It also includes moving companies that transport via for-hire truck drivers.
“ODOT’s certification process involves background checks and adherence to approved rates and procedures to protect Oregonians from deceitful and unsafe practices, like charging too much, damaging items or stealing belongings,” ODOT Commerce and Compliance Division Investigation and Compliance Manager Leah Cisneros said in a statement. “We strongly recommend checking our website before hiring a moving company to make sure the company is ODOT certified.”
While the first change is bad news for bad actors, the second change is bad news for the good truck drivers.
Also going into effect on Jan. 1 is the discontinuation of ODOT’s Trusted Partner Program. The program rewards carriers that display “commitment to excellence” based on operational history. Certain carriers that use Oregon’s Preclearance Weigh Station Bypass Program and have a clean record are eligible.
Truck drivers who qualify for the Trusted Partner Program receive a special plate and benefits. Those benefits include:
- Weigh station preclearance privileges
- Waiver of bond requirement
- Only subject to probable cause safety inspections
- Only subject to probable cause safety compliance reviews
- Inclusion on ODOT’s Trusted Carrier Partner Roster
The program is being discontinued due to budget reductions. LL
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