OTA Institute: Ensuring Compliance - Navigating Authorities and Creating Effective Fleet Policy Manuals

May 21, 2024 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (EDT)

Description

The OTA is hosting a two-part training on Ensuring Compliance: Navigating Authorities and Creating Effective Fleet Policy Manuals on Tuesday, May 21. Led by industry experts Alex Karcher, Shareholder and Lea Keiffer, Paralegal at Roetzel & Andress, this comprehensive workshop is designed to equip attendees with practical strategies for maintaining regulatory compliance and optimizing fleet management practices.

Part 1: Mastering Authority Management
Tuesday, May 21, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

In this engaging session, participants will delve into essential topics related to authority management, including:

• Understanding IFTA/IRP and Intrastate permitting requirements: Gain insights into the intricate nuances of these regulatory frameworks, ensuring a solid grasp of compliance essentials.
• Demystifying UCR audits: Explore the rationale behind year-end UCR audits and learn proactive measures to streamline the audit process.
• Effective recordkeeping for IFTA: Navigate the complexities of recordkeeping, including the distinction between bulk fuel and tank purchases. Roetzel & Andress experts will also share invaluable insights and best practices, enhancing participants' understanding of recordkeeping obligations.
• Practical tools: Discover questionnaires developed by Roetzel & Andress, enabling participants to assess their IFTA compliance readiness and identify areas for improvement.
  

Part 2: Creating Effective Fleet Policy Manuals 
Tuesday, May 21, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

This dynamic session focuses on the development and implementation of robust fleet policies, covering:

• Creating a comprehensive fleet safety manual: Over the course of approximately two hours, delve into the key components of an effective fleet safety manual, including risk management strategies, accident prevention measures, and driver training protocols.
• Drug and alcohol policy compliance: Navigate the regulatory landscape surrounding drug and alcohol policies, ensuring alignment with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
  

Individual sessions are $149 for OTA members and $199 for non-members. Attend both sessions for $249 for OTA members and $399 for non-members. All sessions will be hosted at the Ohio Trucking Association headquarters in Westerville and include lunch. Attendees can attend one or both parts of the compliance training.

Location:
Ohio Trucking Association Training Center
655 Cooper Road
Westerville, OH 43081

About the Trainers:
Alex Karcher is a Shareholder with Roetzel & Andress. He specializes in advising companies involved in surface transportation within North America.

Truck companies, freight brokers, manufacturers and shippers depend on Alex’s services to ensure compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (as well as state equivalent regulations). They also seek his representation in Department of Transportation (“DOT”) safety audits, as well as his assistance with mock audit services, safety training, contract drafting, and corporate governance. Moreover, when clients are involved in merger and acquisition activities, they often entrust Alex to serve as DOT special counsel for due diligence purposes.

In addition to his legal services, Alex also oversees fleet administration and brokerage licenses for over 275 companies across the country. He diligently obtains and administers the necessary permits and registrations to ensure operational integrity for these companies. This includes obtaining intra- and inter- state operating authorities, providing vehicle titling and registration services, administering IFTA, IRP and state-specific fuel and highway use accounts, overseeing UCR, PUCO, intrastate and Federal and Uniform Hazmat Alliance renewals, and filing 2290 heavy vehicle use taxes, to name a few.

Lea Keiffer is a paralegal with Roetzel’s transportation team and has been serving in various roles within the trucking industry for over 20 years. 

Prior to obtaining her paralegal credentials, Lea served as a Safety Manager for a large asset-based carrier. Upon becoming a paralegal in the mid-2000s, Lea joined a well-known Columbus transportation firm where she oversaw a volume-based traffic citation defense team where she managed hundreds of CDL traffic cases at one time. 

In the interim, Lea has become particularly adept in fleet administration, and now works with Alex Karcher to provide the administrative and legal support required to comply with IFTA, IRP, state-specific fuel and highway use tax accounts, title work, and registration requirements for nearly 100 motor carriers who rely on Roetzel for those services.

Refund Policy:
Our refund policy is as follows:

• You will receive a 100% refund if you cancel more than 10 days before the training.
• You will receive a 75% refund if you cancel more than 3 days before the training.
• You will receive no refund if you cancel less than 3 days before the training.
• No shows are responsible for 100% of the registration fees.

Time

Part 1: Mastering Authority Management
Tuesday, May 21, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Part 2: Creating Effective Fleet Policy Manuals
Tuesday, May 21, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Attendees can attend one or both sessions.