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Welcome
The Michigan
Movers Association is a non-profit association that represents movers
and service providers. Our goal is to foster, develop and promote
the highest standards of conduct and service to the public and to
members engaged in the transportation and/or the storage of property.
The MMA is committed to bringing together organizations that provide
services to our industry with our member moving companies. We believe
membership in MMA is enhanced if our members know they can find
a full range of service providers through our member network, are
kept apprised of moving innovations, and understand regulatory issues
that impact the moving industry in Michigan.
Mark your calendars!!! The
MMA Fall Leadership Conference will be held September 26-28 at
the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, MI. www.doublejj.com.
You will be receiving the registration brochure in July. This
conference promises to be educational, relaxing and of course,
FUN! If you would like to make your reservations in advance please
call 1.800.DOUBLE JJ (368-2535). Prices are as follows:
Loft Hotel - $89
Thoroughbred Room - $109
Family Cabin Sleeps 4 - $149
Log Home Sleeps 6 - $289
A Possible Economic Slowdown and
Its Impact on Oil Demand
Economic analysts became concerned
about the durability of the U.S. economic expansion earlier
in 2007 due primarily to the apparent weakness in the housing
market and the possibility that this weakness would spread to
other sectors of the economy. By August 2007, U.S. economic
policy makers, households, and firms became even more concerned
about the economy as financial market conditions deteriorated.
Last Friday’s Employment Report released by the U.S. Bureau
of Labor Statistics reported a small decline in U.S. non-farm
payroll employment, the second disappointing monthly report
on employment in a row. This report resulted in economic analysts
marking up their assessments of the chances of a recession in
the United States during 2008. Their fear is that with unsettled
financial markets and increased uncertainty regarding job prospects,
households and businesses will cut spending, resulting in a
decline in economic activity – a recession.
Against this backdrop, it is natural to consider the impacts
of a recession, should it occur, on petroleum markets and petroleum
demand. When we posed this question to one of our resident economists,
we received an answer typical from practitioners of that discipline:
“It depends on whether households, firms (including oil
producers), and economic policy makers anticipate an economic
contraction and what actions households, firms and policy makers
take in response to this concern.” Not clearly understanding
the implications of this open-ended response, we asked him to
expand on it.
A recession in the United States economy will have a significant
effect on the demand for petroleum products. However, as oil
prices have moved from $3 per barrel in the early 1970s to $90
per barrel today, U.S. firms have found more energy efficient
ways to produce goods and services. In addition, as oil prices
have risen, firms have chosen to move production abroad to areas
where the costs of other factors of production (primarily wages)
are lower to offset the increase in the price of energy so that
they could remain competitive in their delivery of goods and
services. Statistics aside, since the use of energy is an integral
part of the production of nearly all goods and services in an
advanced economy such as the United States, a decline in U.S.
economic activity would result in a decline in energy use. But,
by how much? CLICK
HERE FOR FULL STORY
MMA Michigan Legislative Watch
List
The Michigan Movers Association is monitoring
several bills for the members of the Association. If a MMA member
would like a particular bill placed on the watch list, or would
like additional information concerning specific legislation, e-mail
MMA Director of Government Relations Vanessa Crocetto at vanessac@eurich.com.
Legislative Watch
Michigan Public Service Commission
Information
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Unified Carrier Registration Program
The 2005 Transportation Reauthorization Act, called SAFETEA-LU,
eliminated the Single State Registration System (SSRS). SSRS was
a
fee-based permit program that applied to all interstate for-hire
trucking companies.
In place of SSRS, Congress mandated that USDOT/FMCSA establish
the Unified Carrier Registration program. UCR differs from SSRS
in that it applies to ALL interstate commercial transportation using
vehicles that meet the definition in Section 390.5 of the Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. It applies to for-hire, private,
and for-hire exempt carriers, including farmers and agricultural
operations. It also applies to leasing companies, freight forwarders,
and brokers.
Persons subject to UCR must register each calendar year, starting
in
2007. Below is information explaining how to register for 2008.
Questions about the program should be directed to the Michigan Public
Service Commission at 517-241-6030. You can also register on line
at
www.ucr.in.gov.
Registering
Instructions
2008
Registration Form
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