News from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission

Matt Skinner, Public Information

Phone: (405) 521-4180, FAX: (405) 521-6945  m.skinner@occemail.com

 

December 23, 2004

 

OKLAHOMA JOINS WITH OTHER STATES TO ‘INSURE’ NEW YEAR IS A SAFE ONE FOR MOTOR CARRIERS AND DRIVING PUBLIC

(Motor carrier officers will begin special enforcement effort New Year’s Day)

 

Oklahoma Corporation Commission Motor Carrier Enforcement Officers will join their counterparts in 37 other states beginning New Year’s Day in a program aimed at making sure trucking companies have the insurance required to safely operate on Oklahoma’s highways.

 

“Oklahoma is part of a compact of 38 states which work together under the Single State Registration (SSR) program,” explained Commission Chairman Denise Bode.  “Beginning on New Year’s Day, the designated authorities in each of the 38 states stop and check trucks to be sure they have their SSR for the new year.”

 

Commissioner Jeff Cloud said the program’s bottom line is protection of motorists.

 

“The SSR program promotes highway safety and maintenance of proper insurance,” noted Cloud. “Under the program, truckers registered through a participating state are required to keep a copy of the SSR in each vehicle.  This document cannot be obtained without the proper insurance.”

 

Commission Vice-Chairman Bob Anthony added that the single state registration program is another example of benefiting industry by streamlining government regulation while maintaining regulatory oversight.

 

“This cooperative program allows a trucking company to file its annual registration in one state, rather than having to acquire decals in each state in which that company does business,” Anthony said.  “Yet it still allows each state to maintain its regulatory oversight of the trucks running on its highways.”

 

Notices were sent out in September by Oklahoma and the other states reminding all motor carriers of the need to renew their SSR.  Trucking companies should be aware that officers will also be checking for any unpaid fines owed the state. Any motor carrier with questions about the program can call the OCC’s Transportation Division at (405) 521-2251. 

 

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(All OCC advisories and news releases are available at the Commission web site www.occ.state.ok.us)