48
ACT
OCTOBER2014
NEWS
arena allows for better representation.
“Aswe’vediscussed at themeetings,
the issues facing the crane industry are
the sameoneswe facewhen addressing
harmonization in the states,”he said.
“So I thought itwas very important that
the committee continues to represent all
parties.”
Folladori is also encouragedby the
committee’s ongoing efforts to increase
membership.
‘Getting out in front’
“We’re gainingmore attention through
membership, and that’s definitely a
positive,”he said. “Gettingout in front
of these issueswith the states has been
a serious priority, and the states are
listening–bringing their leadership
to themeetings – so it shows that
our determination is creating a real
opportunity for change.”
ThePermit PolicyCommittee also
recentlyunderwent aname change–
formallyknown as theTruckPermit
PolicyCommittee.ALLErection&Crane
Rental PermitsManager JohnMummert
believes thename changewas a smart
move.
“I think changing thename creates a
broader definition towhat our committee
actuallydoes,”he said. “Describing
ourselves as the ‘TruckPermit Policy
Committee’maymakeonebelieve that
theonlyvehiclewe are concernedwith are
trucks. In fact, the committee’s focus deals
with anything thatmay require apermit.”
And that focus extends itself intopermit
challenges for self-propelled equipment,
according toRoss.
“When it comes to the committee’s
decision toprioritize significant permit
challenges, it’s paramount that the
committee remain careful not to sidestep
anyvaluable state contacts, and in fact,
involve them in theprocess.”
He said it’s in the committee’s best
interest to establish a strategy first.
“Thenwe give the state the courtesyof
telling themwe areworkingwith them,
but also in conjunctionwithour industry
partners based in their state, tohelp
support our agenda and effect change,”
he said.
“What happenswhenyou’redealing
with the states – it’s not like you’redealing
with the same entity in each state. You’ve
got different personalities; you could
beworkingwith individuals from all
different areas,”he added. “Often, what
you’ll find is that youwon’t necessarily
beworkingwith thepolicymakers – the
folkswho canmake things happen, so to
speak. You’reworkingwithpeople, rather,
who areon the front lines everyday–
who certainlyhave their own typeof
influence and skill set, but not necessarily
the typeof influenceweneed from them
inorder to address these topics at the level
that best supports ourmembership.”
Folladori recognizes the financial sideof
this issue.
“If you think about it, whatwe’re trying
todoon theharmonization is reduce
cost,”he said. “Those costs are typically
passed toour customers and related folks.
Talking to them about reduction is a great
path to take.”
Hebelieves that openpathways of
communicationmake it simpler on
everyone, and reiterates that smoother
lines of communicationhavenever been
more important – as the industry, and its
membership, gets younger.
“Aswe growmembership, these
folkswill get younger, and as thenext
generation comes in andgets involved,
they’re going toneed toworkwithin these
relationships,”Folladori continued. “If
those communication lines are already
established andopen, the SC&RA, and
the industry, will continue tomove
forward.”
Mummert echoedbothFolladori and
Ross.
“I amhappywith the committee’s
decision toprioritize thepermit
challenges to self-propelled equipment,”
he said. “Over the years,muchof the
focus has beenon rule changes and
uniformity for tractors/trailers. I’m
hoping thedecision the committeehas
takenwill help achieve the sameprogress
for self-propelled equipment.”
■
■
NewMexico approved$1millionplan
to improvepermit efficiencies.
■
Missouri/Illinois opened I-70bridge
connectingSt. Louis to Illinois for
permits, effective September 1, 2014.
Permit PolicyCommitteeChairman
Paul Ross, who is vicepresident ofKeen
Transport, saidhe is encouragedby the
direction inwhich the committee is
headed, andhe sees a strong, productive
futurebecauseof the attention to
priorities.
“Because there are somany issues in
our countrywhen you talkpermit policy,
if youdon’t followpriorities andhave a
strategy for howyou’re going togo about
working through these issues, thenyou
just flounder,”he said. “Youdon’t get a
whole lot accomplished.”
Ross thinks that in thepast year, the
committeehas improved at prioritizing its
missions andgoals.
“We’vedone abetter jobof saying
‘…here’swhatwehave, andnow let’s
prioritizewhichoneof these issues are
going tobe themost beneficial toour
members,’”he said. “Andwe’vedone this
in away that doesn’t let theneeds of our
individual companies overshadow the
needs of SC&RAmembers.We look at
what issues are going togiveourmembers
themost bang for their buck–which
doesn’tmeanweonly look at thebig
issues. There aremany subtopics thatwe
also try to address. Soyes, this strategy is
veryproductivenow, andwill be for years
to come.”
SC&RATransportationGoverning
GroupChairman JayFolladori, who is
vicepresident of LandstarTransportation
Logistics, agreedwithRoss, noting that
a solid commitment to strategy in this
Permit Policy Committee
Chairman Paul Ross sees a
strong future for the committee.
