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6 • AUGUST 1-14, 2021 NATION THETRUCKER.COM Did the COVID-19 pandemic have an effect on your weight? THE TRUCKER TRAINER BOB PERRY I’m taking an unofficial poll: Have the shutdowns and restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic affected your weight? In my coaching calls each week, I discuss weight gains (and reasons for those gains) with drivers. Stress is a consistent contributing factor that comes up — and the added precautions that truck drivers have had to endure over the past year have definitely added to their stress levels. Combine this with added difficulty finding healthy food options. Actually, finding any food options at all was difficult, with many restaurants closing their doors or being inaccessible to drivers. Were you one of the many who experienced weight gain during the pandemic? I’ve read a number of reports indicating that weight gain has been a health concern across all professions during the pandemic, not just truck drivers. Many companies resorted to having employees work from home in order to stay compliant with safety protocols recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This shift to working from home offered easy access to workers’ home pantries — which equaled greater temptation to snack all day. In recent columns, I’ve been writing a lot about general health for drivers, primarily because the DOT Medical Exam re-certification wavier has been lifted. Of course, a healthy weight is always important. My number of calls is increasing weekly because drivers are faced with upcoming deadline to get their re-certification, and solid results happen over time, not overnight. Wanting to lose weight brings with it the temptation to look for fast results, and that almost always means cutting calories. Of course, cutting junk calories is a good idea, but drastically cutting all calories is not a good long-term solution: Crash dieting generally leads to “yo-yo” dieting syndrome. One of the dangers of crash (ultra-lowcalorie) dieting is the unavoidable metabolic slowdown. This slowdown can start within just a few days of cutting calories. You’ll think, “This diet isn’t working!” so you’ll look for a new, more effective diet — and yo-yo syndrome begins. As I mentioned earlier, cutting junk calories is a good idea, and that’s where I SEE TRAINER ON PAGE 26 American Tax Assistance Bureau Your Tax & IRS Debt Specialist We specialize in OTR Trucker Drivers and Owner Operators • Free No Charge consultation! • Unfiled Tax Returns • Federal & State Returns • Tax Liens & Levies • Reduce Your IRS Tax Debt • Reverse IRS Garnishment • Protect Your Assets www.americantaxbureau.org 720-722-4522 iStock Photo Like all Pennsylvania Turnpike annual increases since 2009, the measure is generally required to meet escalating debtservice costs resulting from the PA Turnpike Commission’s payments to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for transit operations under Pennsylvania Acts 44 and 89. PA Turnpike toll increase 5% TOLL INCREASE APPROVED FOR 2022, REFLECTING LOWEST INCREASE IN 6 YEARS HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) in July announced the approval of a 5% toll increase for 2022 for both E-ZPass and toll-by-plate customers. The increase is slated to start at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 2, 2022 and will be effective across the entire system except on the Southern Beltway (PA Turnpike 576) west of Pittsburgh. E-ZPass drivers will continue to receive the lowest toll rates across the PA Turnpike. Non-E-ZPass customers can download the PA TOLL PAY smartphone app to create an autopay account. Like all previous annual increases since 2009, the measure is generally required to meet escalating debt-service costs resulting from the PTC’s payments to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for transit operations under Pennsylvania Acts 44 and 89. This year, however, there is one significant difference: Under those statutes, the PTC planned to make its final annual payment of $450 million in late July. “[This] action is the first time in six years that the rate of increase is under 6%,” said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “Starting in July 2022, our transit funding requirement to PennDOT under Act 44 of 2007 will be cut to $50 million annually. Finally, we are seeing a light at the end of this very long tunnel. In addition to breathing a huge sigh of relief ourselves, it enables us to begin to offer some relief to customers from those heftier toll increases and refocus on essential improvements to our roadway.” Beginning in July 2022, the $400 million in annual transit funding that had been provided by the PTC will be funded by the Commonwealth’s Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax (MVSUT) as prescribed by Act 89 of 2013. Act 89, however, does not eliminate the THE TRUCKER NEWS STAFF commission’s debt, future debt service or funding obligation. Even with this relief, the PTC is still responsible for annual payments to PennDOT of $50 million until June 2057, and it must continue to pay down debt incurred from previous borrowing needed to fund Act 44 payments. “The Act 44 sunsetting spelled out in Act 89 of 2013 is critical if the PTC is to remain fiscally sound as an organization and for the economic vitality of Turnpike-connected communities,” Compton said. “But it’s important for customers understand that, even with the reduced obligation, we are still looking at annual toll increases of 5% from through 2025, 4% in 2026, 3.5% in 2027, then 3% annually from 2028 to 2050.” Because of borrowing required by the Act 44 funding plan, the PTC currently has annual Act 44 debt-service obligations of nearly $400 million. Due to the terms of these bonds, the PTC’s Act 44 debt service will continue to rise even though borrowing has ended. Act 44 debt service will grow to an annual maximum of nearly $600 million by 2038 before it starts to decrease. Because of the PTC’s action, the most common toll for a passenger vehicle next year will increase from $1.60 to $1.70 for E-ZPass customers and from $3.90 to $4.10 for toll-byplate customers. The most common toll for a Class 5 tractor-trailer will increase from $13 to $13.70 for E-ZPass and from $26.60 to $28 for those who use toll-by-plate. The cashless toll for a passenger vehicle at the westbound Delaware River Bridge will increase from $6.10 to $6.50 for E-ZPass customers and from $8.20 to $8.70 for toll-by-plate customers. The PTC also approved the toll-rate SEE TOLLS ON PAGE 8
TruckIns_Oct_2020_FullPg 9/11/20 2:52 PM Page 1 THETRUCKER.COM AUGUST 1-14, 2021 • 7 OOIDA is the only organization that you can count on to provide you with a complete range of truck insurance at an affordable price – and to use the resources generated from our programs to continue fighting for your rights and interests as a professional trucker. OOIDA is your Association. If you currently have your truck insurance through a company other than OOIDA, chances are you’re doing business with a company that is actually working against your interests. So why would you insure with a company that works against you? Call OOIDA today about your insurance needs and find out what we are doing for you and your career! 1-800-715-9369 ooidatruckinsurance.com
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