3 States Issue Winter Waivers to Speed Deliveries of Heating Oil, Propane

At least three states have issued temporary hours-of-service waivers that allow heating oil and propane delivery drivers to work longer hours in order to speed fuel supplies to areas in need.

Authorities in Maine and Wisconsin issued exemptions from typical driving hours that are in effect through Jan. 23 and Jan. 26, respectively. Oklahoma has an exemption in play through Feb. 7.

Officials in Maine cited increased demand for heating fuel due to cold weather as the reason for its waiver. Meanwhile, an executive order from Wisconsin's office of the governor noted below-capacity shipments with intermittent service interruptions earlier this month on the Mid-America Pipeline (East). The pipeline supplies propane terminals in Janesville, Wis.; Dubuque, Iowa; and Rockford, Ill. Oklahoma noted cold weather and stressed propane resources at certain Oklahoma refineries in early January, which delayed deliveries to transportation companies in some instances.

Waivers issued earlier in the month in two other states, New York and Texas,
expired by midmonth. It wasn't immediately clear if the states planned on
extending those emergency declarations.

New City of St. Paul Tobacco Ordinance

Minnesota's MINIMUM WAGE

Minnesota's minimum-wage increases August 1, 2014…

Minnesota's minimum-wage rates rise up to $8 an hour beginning August 1, 2014.  In the coming two years, the new law will move wage rates higher in August 2015 and again in August 2016 when the top rate goes to $9.50 an hour.  In January 2018, the rate will be indexed to inflation based on economic conditions…

DOT Medical Professionals

More Than 30,000 Medical Professionals Now Listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.  The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today announced that 8,000 more health professionals have been added to the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME) since the new system for USDOT medical examinations launched last month with 22,000 providers.  Another 22,500 medical professionals have also initiated the process for gaining their certification.  All interstate commercial truck and bus drivers must pass a USDOT medical examination at least once every two years in order to obtain a valid medical certificate and maintain their commercial driver’s license (CDL).  As required by federal regulation, effective May 21, 2014, all new USDOT medical examinations for interstate truck and bus drivers (both CDL and non-CDL drivers) are required to be performed by a medical examiner who has completed the required training and passed a certification test.  The USDOT medical examination looks at a range of conditions to assess a driver’s ability to safely operate a commercial vehicle, including cardiovascular disease, respiratory and muscular functions, vision, and hearing.  To meet the needs of professional drivers throughout the country, there are certified examiners in every state, and dozens or hundreds in most cities that can be located by visiting http://nrcme.fmcsa.dot.gov/.