Boose and Grossman Applaud Repeal of PUCO Mandates

Release:

COLUMBUS—State Representatives Terry Boose (R-Norwalk) and Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City) today applauded the decision by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to rescind the revised regulations on private commercial vehicles operating in intrastate commerce.

Initially intended to take effect on January 1, 2011, the PUCO extended motor carrier safety regulations to include private intrastate vehicles with a weight of between 10,001 and 26,000 lbs. Included in the new regulations were rules that require drivers of these vehicles to maintain log books and medical certificates. Furthermore, these vehicles would have been subject to inspection by the state of Ohio, and the operations of the companies that use these vehicles would have been subject to review from the PUCO’s safety compliance auditors.

“At a time when we need to be reviewing the way our state does business and ensure that our small businesses are not drowning in red tape, I’m very pleased to see the PUCO reverse its decision,” said Grossman. “We simply could not afford to impose even more regulations on our small businesses when they are least able to afford them.”

“In order to encourage job creation and business growth, we first need to reduce the strain on local businesses,” Boose said. “In line with the passage of the Common Sense Initiative, the decision by the PUCO to rescind the new vehicle mandates is yet another step toward a more business-friendly environment in Ohio.

In February, Boose and Grossman introduced House Bill 82 to match Ohio’s hazmat requirements to the federal standard and repeal the additional regulations that are not required by the federal government. This legislation was aimed at alleviating some of the burden caused by the new motor carrier vehicle regulations on businesses.