Inside This Issue
M a y 2 0 1 8 P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e M i n n e s o t a P r o f e s s i o n a l T o w i n g A s s o c i a t i o n
Attention MPTA Members!
June 12th and 13th the Spirit Ride will be coming through
Minnesota. Currently the MPTA is Coordinating a me-
dia event promoting the “Slow down/ Move Over” cam-
paign. MPTA is looking for members to help support
the efforts of this great campaign by engaging in the
event itself.
Currently MPTA is working on Logistics of the event
including a “Move Over Day” proclamation from Gover-
nor Dayton as well as mass coverage of the event. This
campaign will include as many MPTA members as possi-
ble, law enforcement, fire, MNDOT and others. This will
be a special day! Mark your calendars for June 13th and
please check out the MPTA website, Facebook and
emails as additional details become available.
Newsbreak
Presidents Letter
Drivers Operating a CMV Without an
ELD Will Be Placed Out of Order
Best Practices in Permitting of Oversize
and Overweight Vehicles
FYI– B-20 Mandate Began May 1st
MPTA Scholarship Application
Light Duty Tow School Registration
Form
Highlights from the recent TRAA
Spring Board Meeting and TRAA
Events
2018 MPTA Legislative Update
Save The Date– “The Eve of Destruc-
tion”
Upcoming Events
MPTA Board of Directors
MPTA contact information:
2886 Middle Street
Little Canada, MN 55117
Phone: 651-487-2231
800-627-6782
Fax: 651-487-2447
Email: [email protected]
If you would like to make a
contribution to help with the legislative
efforts, please send your donations to:
MPTA
2886 Middle Street
Little Canada, MN 55117
PRESIDENT
Brett Letourneau
Citywide Service Corp.
9309 83rd Ave. N.
Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
763-424-4900
‘16-’18
Lance Burda
Burdas Towing
PO Box 249
Rogers, MN 55374
763-428-9911
‘17-’19
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Ron Feist
Feist Automotive
1875 N. Lilac Dr.
Golden Valley, MN 55422
763-544-5512
‘15-’17
Joe Lomsdal
Aggressive Towing
2636 16th Ave So
Moorhead, MN 56560
218-287-2344
‘15-’17
Lonnie Krackow
Borkowski Towing & Salvage
PO Box 868
Winona, MN 55987
507-452-9073
‘17-’19
Kyle Siewert
Siewert’s Towing
3424 North Service Dr
Red Wing, MN 55066
651-388-9163
‘16-’18
DIRECTORS:
Jenn Pearson
Twin Cities Wrecker Sales
1301 Jackson St
St. Paul, MN 55117
651-488-4210
‘17-’19
LOBBYIST
Rob Leighton
Nolan, Thompson, & Leighton
952-405-7171
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Lance Klatt
2886 Middle Street
Little Canada, MN 55117
651-487-2231
LEGAL COUNSEL
Randy Thompson
Nolan, Thompson, & Leighton
952-405-7171
OFFICE STAFF
Norie Hennen
Nikki Wakefield
2886 Middle Street
Little Canada, MN 55117
651-487-2231
MPTA Newsbreak ~ May 2018 2
VICE - PRESIDENT
Phil Collins
Collins Brothers Towing, Inc.
PO Box 405
Elk River, MN 55330
763-241-9177
‘15-’17
Ron Gardas Jr
Twin Cities Transport & Recovery
3760 Flowerfield Rd
Blaine, MN 55014
763-784-7501
‘16-’18
MPTA Newsbreak ~ July 2017 3
Greetings everyone,
Can’t believe summer is here and most of us are digging out from the long winter and irritation of late April
snow. A lot is happening in our industry and within the MPTA. The MPTA is hosting a one-day light duty
tow school on Wednesday May 16th. This class is for beginners or others who would like to learn more about
basic hook-ups and basic -fundamentals of our industry.
The MPTA and lobbyist Rob Leighton have been extremely busy at the Capitol this session. Please see the
MPTA Legislative Recap inside the Newsbreak for an update.
The Spirit Ride is coming to Minnesota June 12th and June 13th. Great opportunity to show the public the im-
portance of moving over for us tow truck operators. Working on an event with Noah Rouen from Rouen
Group to execute a Move Over Day in Minnesota while attracting media in assisting us to get our word out.
Need as many towers to attend our event as possible. More information coming in the next month.
MPTA Picnic is back for 4th year at Elko Motor Speedway July 28th. This has been an annual tradition for
our membership and friends in gathering celebrating our profession while having some fun. Registration,
along with other important information will be mailed out in June and early July. Please be sure to mark
your calendar for this annual fun event.
Hope all of you are enjoying the warmer weather and be safe out there!
Brett Letourneau- MPTA President
Presidents Letter
Written by President, Brett Letourneau
MPTA Newsbreak ~ May 2018 4
Greenbelt, Maryland (April 1, 2018) – Starting today, April 1, 2018, property-carrying commercial motor vehicle
(CMV) drivers operating their vehicle without a required registered electronic logging device (ELD) or a grandfa-
thered automatic on-board recording device (AOBRD) will be placed out of service for 10 hours; passenger-
carrying CMV drivers will be placed out of service for 8 hours.
Violations will be recorded on a roadside inspection report and the driver may be cited (e.g., issued a violation tick-
et or a civil penalty) for failing to have a required electronic record of duty status.
After 8 or 10 hours out of service, the driver may continue to their final destination, provided the driver has accu-
rately documented their hours-of-service requirements using a paper record of duty status (e.g., log book, daily log
or log) and has a copy of the inspection report and/or citation.
If the driver is stopped again before reaching his/her final destination, the driver must provide the safety official
with a copy of the inspection report and evidence (e.g., bill of lading) proving that he/she is still on the continuation
of the original trip.
After reaching their final destination, if the driver is re-dispatched again without obtaining a compliant ELD, he/she
will again be subject to the out-of-service process outlined above, unless the driver is traveling back to the principle
place of business or terminal empty to obtain an ELD.
All ELD violations will be counted against a motor carrier's Safety Measurement System (SMS) score, which will
drive selection for investigation within the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Compliance,
Safety, Accountability (CSA) program. FMCSA will determine appropriate action against non-compliant motor
carriers.
Please note that motor carriers that installed and used an AOBRD prior to Dec. 18, 2017, may install and use addi-
tional ELD-capable devices with complaint AOBRD software after Dec. 18, 2017. These AOBRDs may be used
until Dec.16, 2019 and must meet the requirements of 49 CFR 395.15.
The ELD footnotes 11-14 in Part I of the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria are now in effect,
which means that drivers operating CMVs with violations related to ELD compliance in those footnotes will be
placed out of service for 8 or 10 hours, then permitted to continue, as outlined above.
Remember, the ELD mandate does not change the underlying hours-of-service requirements.
For more information, visit FMCSA's ELD implementation website
Drivers Operating a CMV Without an ELD Will Be
Placed Out of Service
MPTA Newsbreak ~ May 2018 5
Informational: FHWA - Best Practices in Permitting of Oversize and
Overweight Vehicles
This e-mail is being sent to announce the availability of a report on “Best Practices in Permitting of Oversize and
Overweight Vehicles,” which may be accessed on FHWA’s website at https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/sw/
index.htm.
As States implement and enhance automated permitting systems at an increasing rate nationwide, a consensus re-
garding the safety and efficiency benefits has also grown. These benefits, as described by both government offi-
cials and industry leaders, include:
• The average permit turnaround time (PTA) decreased from several days and hours to just minutes for most
routine and some OS/OW permits.
• Nearly all States (30+) that have implemented automated systems report a moderate increase in total
• permits applications and issuance.
• Increased automated permit volume has proportionally increased revenues.
• Accuracy of permits has dramatically improved.
• A higher percentage of carriers have ordered, obtained, and traveled on State-issued permits following
implementation of automated permit systems.
• Roadway safety for all motorists has improved.
• The infrastructure integrity, including the maintaining of bridges and overhead structures, has improved.
• As a result of moving to automated permitting, States are able to achieve staff efficiencies and reduce costs.
Fewer people are required or less time is needed to review and process OS/OW permits, freeing up
employees to handle customer service inquiries.
• States have more flexibility with internal headcount issues.
FYI- B-20 Mandate Began May 1st
Mandate requirements
• May 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018, all #2 diesel fuel sold for use in combustion engines must contain a minimum of 10% biodiesel by volume.
• #1 diesel is exempt from the biodiesel requirement all year.
• The amount of biodiesel required in a #1/#2 blend will depend upon the blend ration of the two products.
• From October - April, #2 diesel must contain at least 5% biodiesel. The amount of biodiesel required in a #1/#2
blend will depend upon the blend ratio of the two products.
MPTA Newsbreak ~ May 2018 9
Highlights from the recent TRAA Spring Board Meeting and TRAA Events!
TRAA Awards
Congratulations to the recipients of the annual TRAA awards presented during the TRAA Annual General Mem-
bership Meeting!
Michael Wildman - Presidential Award
Kim Lowell - Distinguished Service Award
David Greenfeld - National Citizenship Award
Ken Weber - Appreciation Award
Ray Drumheller - Appreciation Award
WTRAA Awards Congratulations to the recipients of the annual WTRAA awards presented during the TRAA Annual General
Membership Meeting!
Michelle Topel - 2018 Presidential Commitment to Excellence Award
Wendy Wallace - 2018 Tow Woman of the Year
TRAA Affiliate State Association Forum Breakfast This year's new forum style format was a success! The Forum Breakfast was attended by 15 different state towing
associations as well as other industry representatives from all across the country. All engaged in lively discussions,
sharing helpful information. Affiliate state associations, mark your calendars for next year!
INDUSTRY NEWS
TRAA Move Over Safety Video Project
TRAA's Education and TIM Committees have joined forces to undertake a new project! The group is developing a
new safety video that is focusing on Move Over safety. We are looking for video footage, or still photos, of road-
way recovery scenes depicting near misses, motorist not moving over, unsafe tow operator procedures, etc. These
need to be of actual scenes not staged scenarios.
If you have any video or photos that you would like to submit for consideration, please email them to the TRAA
Office at [email protected]. We would like to have all content no later than June 1, 2018. If your submis-
sion is selected, you must be willing to sign a Photo/Video Release Form.
Any questions, please feel free to contact the Safety Video Sub-Committee Chair, Todd Chase at
Thank you for supporting this important safety initiative.
MPTA Newsbreak ~ May 2018 10
Over a week ago, the Minnesota Legislature reached their Third Committee Deadline. The Third Deadline brings
a close too much of the committee work for the 2018 Legislative Session. The House and Senate Tax and Bonding
Committees, the House Ways & Means and Senate Finance Committees are the only ones which operate outside of
the committee deadlines. The numerous omnibus budget bills will receive a final review in the Finance or Ways
and Means Committee before being processed on the floors of the House and Senate. The spending bills will then
be sent to conference committees where the differences in proposals of the House, Senate and Dayton Administra-
tion will be resolved. The legislature has less than 4 weeks remaining in the 2018 Legislative Session. The Legis-
lature is required to complete their work by Monday, May 21st.
Conformity with the Federal Tax Bill remains a major goal of the 2018 Session. However, the proposals presented
by the Dayton Administration and considered by the House and the Senate appear to present significant differences
in how to conform with the federal law and limit negative impacts on Minnesota taxpayers. Chatter-in-the-Halls
of the Capitol is now suggesting perhaps it makes sense to delay passage of any major tax reforms until the 2019
Session. Such a decision could create a frustrating situation for Minnesota Taxpayers and would require signifi-
cant legislative activity at the beginning of the 2019 Session. However, the delay could provide for greater clarity
on the impacts of the federal law and allow for a better product in the end. If a decision were made to delay pas-
sage of a major overhaul of the tax code, the legislature may still consider passage of a much smaller and less cost-
ly tax bill.
A few weeks ago, the Governor appointed Representative Paul Thissen to the Minnesota Supreme Court. Repre-
sentative Thissen was serving in his 8th term as a Representative from Minneapolis, served as the Speaker of the
House from 2012-2013, the DFL Minority Leader and sought the DFL nomination for Governor in 2010 and 2018.
Representative Thissen officially resigned from the Legislature last Friday. Governor Dayton has indicated he will
not call for a Special Election to fill the seat, instead the seat will remain vacant until the November General Elec-
tion.
Specific Bills of Interest to MPTA Membership
HF4459/SF4031 - Sexual harassment definition clarified.
This bill was just introduced and has garnered strong opposition from the business community. The proposal,
which has bipartisan support, would lower the bar of proof for all employees across the state who believe they’ve
been sexually harassed. The proposal is believed to be the first of its kind in the nation and would nullify a stand-
ard set by the U.S. Supreme Court decades ago that has drawn criticism from employment lawyers and even judg-
es for creating a shield of impunity for behavior that might shock many. The bill is Chief-Authored by House Ma-
jority Leader, Joyce Peppin and GOP Senator Karin Housley a candidate for US Senate. The bill will be heard in
the House Civil Law Committee on last Thursday and is likely to receive a vote on the House floor. The path in
the senate is less clear.
MNLars – In March, the legislature provided the Dayton Administration an infusion of $10 million to address im-
mediate funding concerns by MNit and DPS for the MNLars system. The Administration is seeking an additional
$43 million in funding for MNLars. The Senate Transportation budget includes $15 million in additional funding
while the House has decided to provide no additional funding for the MNLars System. Both the House and Senate
provide emergency funding for the Deputy Registrars and proposals to expand services and make corrections to the
MNLars system. Not likely a permanent fix is in the horizon.
MPTA has been working with Represnetatives Baker and Torkelson on legislation allowing towing entities to have
access to MNLARS Data available at a Dealers rate.
2018 MPTA Legislative Update
(continued on next page)
MPTA Newsbreak ~ May 2018 11
Preemption – We continue to explore opportunities to advance legislation dealing with preemption. Proposals
include labor issues and product preemption. At this point, we have failed to identify an approach acceptable to
the Dayton Administration and other opponents.
State “Move Over Law” broadened- Rep Greg Davids has sponsored legislation HF. 3249 and amended to in-
clude towing vehicles. The bill also would require drivers to slow down on streets or highways with only one lane
in the motorist’s direction when passing emergency vehicles- and other vehicles like tow trucks, road maintenance
and utility vehicles- that are stopped on the side of the roadway. Current law only addresses streets and highways
with at least two lanes in the driver’s direction of travel.
Legislation passed 124-0 on House Floor, the bill now goes to the Senate where Senator Michael Goggin is the
Sponsor.
Blue Lights on Tow Trucks- Currently there is a house bill authored by Rep. Brian Johnson H.F. 2857. This bill
authorizes tow trucks and towing vehicles to be equipped with flashing blue lights, if the vehicle is operated by or
under contract with a local unit of government. MPTA is monitoring, has seen some movement, but not sure
where this is going in the 2018 Session.
Sexual Harassment- HF 4459 AND SF 4031 - Bills are pending in the Minnesota House and Senate that would
flood our state’s courts with lawsuits by lowering the bar for employees to bring claims of sexual harassment
against employers.
Minnesota’s employers are committed to providing respectful and professional workplaces. It is one of the many
reasons why our employers are regularly recognized as providing some of the very best working environments in
the nation.
If an employee experiences harassing conduct in the workplace, she/he has a variety of avenues to seek justice
based on the following standard: “Harassment becomes unlawful where 1) enduring the offensive conduct be-
comes a condition of continued employment, or 2) the conduct is severe or pervasive enough to create a work en-
vironment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive.” U.S. Equal Employment Op-
portunity Commission;
The U.S. Supreme Court first issued the “severe or pervasive” standard in 1986. Under that standard, to create the
grounds for a hostile work environment claim, conduct must either be “severe” or “pervasive.” The conduct does
not need to be both severe and pervasive. One or the other is enough. This standard is intended to allow valid
claims to proceed without flooding the courts with claims.
Legislation proposed in the Minnesota House and Senate would change that standard. The bills would make it eas-
ier for employees to bring sexual harassment claims against their employers, specifically by eliminating the
“severe or pervasive” requirement under Minnesota law. If these bills became law, any employee could bring a
claim against her/his employer for conduct that was neither severe nor pervasive.
In addition, the bills would undermine the entire body of case law that courts have developed under the “severe or
pervasive” standard. For example, under the existing standard, conduct is unlawful only if it’s both subjectively
and objectively inappropriate—that is, if the employee herself/himself and a reasonable person find the conduct
inappropriate. Also, the judge must find the conduct inappropriate under the totality of the circumstances.
To lose these standards would open the floodgates to frivolous litigation, detract from the claims of actual harass-
ment victims in need of support, and make Minnesota an employment law outlier.
Evening of May 1st on the House Floor, the language of HF4459 was amended into the House Omnibus Public
Safety Bill. There were four no votes. The negotiations with the House Majority Leader have not progressed very
well. During the floor debate Rep. Peppin (the bill’s author), said she intends to also bring the stand-alone bill to
the House Floor for a debate and vote. This morning I met with lobbyists from the Chamber, Business Partnership
and the Employment Law Attorneys – we are working on a Senate strategy where the bill has not been granted a
hearing and determined we need to increase the grassroots pressure on members of the House and Senate. (More
Specifically GOP members) but all members should be hearing from business owners.
MPTA Newsbreak ~ May 2018 13
The Minnesota Professional
Towing Association Presents
“The Eve of Destruction”
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Member Directory Albert Lea Allen’s Tow & Travel
507-373-3551
Anoka North Star Towing
763-427-4160
Apple Valley Dick’s Valley Service
952-432-2848
Austin Midtown Towing
507-433-7374
Baxter Collins Brothers Towing
Of St. Cloud, Inc.
218-822-5525
Blackduck Bogart’s Towing
218-835-4548
Blaine Twin Cities Transport
& Recovery
763-784-7501
Dan’s Complete Auto Care
763-784-8668
Frovik’s Towing
763-786-9220
Blooming Prairie
Darrick’s Preferred Auto
507-583-9994
Bloomington Chief’s Towing, Inc.
952-888-2201
Brooklyn Park Cardinal Towing
763-535-1202
Citywide Service
763-424-4900
Burnsville Captain Towing
952-856-2901
Cannon Falls Siewert’s Towing
507-263-4791
Coon Rapids Highway 10 Mobil
763-757-6789
Detroit Lake
Aggressive Towing & Recovery
218-287-2344
Duluth Dukes Towing
218-722-8885
Duluth Mrs. Mac’s Towing
218-393-7377
East End Towing
218-349-3991
Eagan Mark’s Towing
651-454-1533
Eden Valley Jack’s Towing
320-453-6560
Elk River Collins Brothers Towing
763-241-9177
Excelsior Williams Towing
952-446-9650
Faribault Glenn’s Service LLC
507-334-4202
Fergus Falls Beyer Towing
218-205-6137
Forest Lake Dan’s Towing
654-464-5551
Harold’s Towing & Recovery
651-464-5313
Golden Valley Feist Automotive
763-544-5512
Hutchinson Modern Towing
320-587-4603
Inver Grove Heights
South East Towing
651-451-9721
Ironton
AutoSmith Service Group
1-218-545-5715
Lakeville Marek’s Towing & Repair
952-469-3182
Loretto Loretto Towing
763-479-1943
Mankato Affordable Towing
507-388-8697
All American Towing
507-345-5005
Maple Grove
Chase Towing & Transport
763-315-3995
Marshall
Pulver Towing
507-828-5720
Medina Kelly’s Wrecker Services
763-473-0558
Melrose Shaggy’s Towing
320-256-7855
Minneapolis Blaine Brothers
763-780-5130
Miller Towing
612-827-5591
Schmit Towing
763-253-1568
Moorhead Aggressive Towing & Recovery
218-287-2344
Ed’s Towing Service
218-233-7740
New Brighton Freeway Towing
651-633-5525
Statewide Towing
651-633-4262
Oakdale Twin Cities Transport
& Recovery
651-770-0152
Absolute Towing & Recovery
651-337-2149
Owatonna Dean’s Westside Service
507-455-1950
Sweet Towing & Repair
507-451-3424
Plymouth Plymouth Automotive
763-544-3202
Frankies Towing Co
763-595-0321
Ramsey Bee Line Towing
763-568-0858
MPTA Newsbreak ~ May 2018 14
Member Directory Red Wing Midway Auto
651-388-8296
Siewerts Garage
651-388-9163
Rochester CSC Towing
507-289-8344
Rochester Towing, LLC
507-288-7317
Pulver Towing
507-282-3851
Rogers Burdas Towing
763-428-9911
Sauk Centre Centre Towing Inc.
320-352-1500
Savage Allen’s Service Inc.
952-894-1000
Scanlon Blaine Brothers
218-879-6681
Shakopee Shakopee Towing, Inc.
952-445-0030
Spring Lake Park Citywide Service
763-432-4550
St. Anthony Twin Cities Transport
& Recovery
612-789-4245
St. Cloud Collins Brothers Towing
Of St. Cloud, Inc.
320-257-5525
Andy’s Towing
320-251-5691
St. Francis
Ark Towing & Recovery
763-434-1686
St. Paul
Twin Cities Transport & Recovery
651-642-1446
Stewartville Tri-State Towing
651-439-5744
Stillwater Stillwater Towing
651-439-5744
Tyler Bruender’s Corner Mart
507-247-5587
Virginia
Armory Shell Towing & Service
218-741-6050
Waseca Bocks Service Inc.
507-835-5407
Tesch Service Center
507-835-4610
Willmar
Ed’s Service Center & Sales
320-235-5945
Winona
Borkowski Towing & Salvage
507-452-9073
Zumbrota Bergs Towing & Repair
507-732-5613
IOWA Sioux City
Meier Towing Inc
712-258-0609
NORTH DAKOTA Bismarck Berg’s 24 Hour Towing
701-663-6491
SOUTH DAKOTA Big Stone
The Shop, Inc.
605-862-8215
Sioux Falls
Ace Towing Inc.
605-332-2173 WISCONSIN
Ashland
Tomlinson’s 24 Hour Towing
715-682-2717
Baldwin Day & Nite Towing, LLC
715-684-3359
Balsam Lake
Lake Services Unlimited
715-857-5753
LaCrosse
Goldbeck Towing Service
608-781-4869
Independence
Kabus Auto Body & Recovery
715-985-2252
Roberts Jerry’s Towing
715-749-4450
Superior Lake City Towing
218-722-7781
ASSOCIATE
Auto & Equipment Sales
AW Direct
Tom Welsh 608-662-3350
Tom’s Auto Sales
Ryan Tubbesing 651-482-8795
Twin Cities Wrecker Sales
Rod Pellow 651-488-4210
Zip’s Truck Equipment
Paul Rottinghaus 1-800-222-6047 Financing/Leasing
Water Street Funding
Tim Olson 763-742-7898
Health Insurance
Haas Managed Benefits
Bill Haas 763-421-6153 Insurance
Midwest Insurance Service
John Hall 651-439-5939
Salvage/Auction
Copart Inc
Scott Gilles 763-432-7258
Uniforms
Cintas
David Marta 763-425-6666
MPTA Newsbreak ~ May 2018 15
MPTA Board Meeting
May 15, 2018
6:00 pm Dinner
6:30-8:30 pm Meeting
MPTA Office
2886 Middle Street
Little Canada, MN 55117
Light Duty Tow School
May 16, 2018
7:30am Registration
8:00am to 4:30pm Hands-on Training
MN Dot Building
35E & Maryland Ave
St. Paul, MN
** Save The Date**
The Minnesota Professional Towing Association Presents
“The Eve of Destruction”
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Elko Speedway
Elko New Market, MN
Upcoming
Events
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