History & Milestones

1940s

1946 Beginning of Maine Motor Transport Association. Initially called the Maine Truck Owners Association (MTOA)
1947 Construction of the Maine Turnpike begins
1948 First Truck Rodeo competition
1949 Maine Truck Owners Insurance Trust formed

1950s

1950 A convention was held at Mount Kineo Hotel on June 29 through July 1. Rates were $12/day and included meals
1951 MTOA sponsors legislation requiring mandatory fines for overloading with graduated fines range from $10 to $500
1953 Maine Turnpike starts construction on 66-mile stretch from Portland to Augusta on its way to Fort Kent
1955 Mud flap law passes legislature to reduce the spray of water and mud to improve highway safety
1956 ICC issues long-awaited brake regulations for tractor and trailers
The Federal Aid Highway Act, passed in 1956, authorized the creation of 41,000 miles worth of interstate highways. This legislation, championed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, put $25 billion in funding towards a 20-year construction plan. Without this law, a fundamental to the history of trucking, and the highways it built, the national trucking industry would be very different today.
1957 Size and weights debated at State House – Industry seeks gross weight limit of 60,000 lbs and 50 feet in overall length
1959 MTOA members run a “welcome wagon” load of Maine products to Alaska to welcome them to statehood

1960s

1961 MTOA offices move from Masonic building in Portland to large space on Congress Street
1962 MTOA forms Pension Trust for members
1963 Truck height in Maine increases from 12.5 feet to 13.5 feet
1964 MTOA members assist in caribou-relocation by bringing 24 caribou from Newfoundland to Mount Katahdin
1965 David Harmon, Hunnewell Trucking of Portland, becomes youngest elected MTOA president at age 32
1967 MTOA introduces bill to refund taxes on fuel on the Maine Turnpike as seen as double taxation combined with tolls
1968 Trucks haul 25% of nation’s freight and 61% of freight value

1970s

1971 Highway YIELD sign changes from black/yellow to red/white
1977 Interstate carriers no longer required to display their state’s PUC number on the sides of their trucks
1978 MTOA changes name to Maine Motor Transport Association (MMTA)
1979 US Senator Ted Kennedy introduces federal legislation to abolish collective ratemaking in the trucking industry

1980s

1980 President Carter signs gas rationing bill into law
Deregulation increases competition in trucking industry – more carriers enter the market
1981 Dick Jones hired as MMTA Executive Director
1982 MMTA moves office from Portland to 51 Water Street in Hallowell
MMTA membership reaches 168
1983 Fuel taxes increase 10 cents
1986 Maine Truck PAC established
1987 First Truck Driving Championship to run two courses
MMTA membership reaches 300
1988 MMTA moves to Western Avenue in Augusta
1989 Hazardous communications law goes into effect

1990s

1990 Extension of I-95 north of Houlton promoted by MMTA
1991 Workers’ Comp Trust begins operations
1992 Dick Jones retires from MMTA replaced by Dale Hanington
1993 Maine enters the International Registration Plan
1994 The title of MMTA President changed to Chairman at annual meeting
Virgil Beane becomes Chairman
1995 Mainer, Mark Corriveau, is crowned Grand Champion at National Truck Driving Championships
1996 MMTA celebrates 50th anniversary of service to the trucking industry
1997 Electronic tolling (Transpass) implemented on the Maine Turnpike

 

1998 – MMTA Mobile Safety Unit placed into service to train CMV drivers and to teach the public about the trucking industry

First National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

1999 – MMTA membership reaches 1,000

2000s

2002 – FMCSA established minimum requirements for new entrants into the trucking industry

2003 – MMTA members get ready for the new hours-of-service regulations that go into effect at the end of the year

2004 – Maine adopts mileage-based exit-numbering system on the interstate; Maine Turnpike Authority rules prohibiting trucks from far left lane (on three-lane highways)

2005 – Last MMTA Convention to be held at the Black Point Inn

2006 – 53 foot trailers allowed on all Maine roads for the first time. Maine team wins National Truck Driving Championship.

2007 – TWIC card introduced for drivers who need unescorted access at a port

2008 – I-295 from Gardiner to Topsham closes for three months for complete rebuild

2009 – MMTA honors first female Driver of the Year, Deborah Seelow from Hartt Transportation Systems

2010s

2010 – Dale Hanington retires from MMTA; Brian Parke replaces him as President and CEO

2011 – Senator Susan Collins secures provision allowing six-axle, 100,000-lbs. trucks to travel on all federal interstates in Maine for 20 years