Transportation 3

The Oregon Employment Department intends to initiate formal proceedings to repeal an administrative rule prohibiting the application of the Oregon For-Hire Carrier Unemployment Tax Exemption to owner-operators that obtain their equipment through motor carrier- and motor carrier affiliate-sponsored equipment acquisition programs, sometimes referred to in the industry as “leaseback” arrangements.  A taskforce comprised of industry players, with the advice and guidance of counsel and represented in large part by the Oregon and American Trucking Associations, advanced a vigorous and proactive effort to secure the repeal of the rule.  The repeal of the rule is crucial to protect the long standing utilization of leaseback arrangements by Oregon motor carriers and owner-operators.  The Employment Department resisted the efforts of the task force, but the Governor’s office ultimately intervened.  The formal repeal of the administrative rule is expected to occur at the end of the next legislative session.

 The Oregon For-Hire Carrier Unemployment Tax Exemption provides that the term “employment” excludes “transportation performed by motor vehicle for a for-hire carrier by any person that leases their equipment to a for-hire carrier and that personally operates, furnishes and maintains the equipment and provides services thereto.”  ORS 657.047(2) (emphasis supplied).  The soon-to-be repealed administrative rule defined the term “their equipment” to include only equipment “independently furnished by the service-provider, neither leased nor purchased from the for-hire carrier or from any entity affiliated with the for-hire carrier.”  OAR 471-031-0200 (certified as effective on Dec. 13, 2010).