RICHMOND – Airgas USA, LLC will title and register 5,300 power units and trailers in Virginia through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Airgas will transition to Virginia as its home-based state this month by titling and registering 661 power units and 900 trailers at DMV. The company then plans to register more than 3,739 more power units and trailers in the second phase of the transition, making 5,300 total units registered in Virginia. Airgas, through its subsidiaries, is the largest U.S. distributors of industrial, medical and specialty gases and hard goods, such as welding equipment and supplies.
“We appreciate that Airgas has selected Virginia to register their fleet,” said Governor McDonnell, “We look forward to seeing their Virginia-plated vehicles carrying our Commonwealth of Opportunity message a“We were impressed with Virginia’s pro-business stance, strong economic growth and desire to keep taxes and regulations at a minimum,” said Airgas National Fleet Manager Tuffy Baum. cross the country.”
“The procedures in place to help businesses like ours easily transition to Virginia as our home state were key factors in our decision.”
The governor issued a proclamation last year that expedites the safety inspection process for commercial motor vehicles traveling the Commonwealth's highways. The proclamation eliminates the duplicative layers of federal and state mandates by eliminating the need for two safety inspections at both the state and federal level. Commercial motor vehicles that meet the federal requirements for annual safety inspections are now also in compliance with Virginia safety inspection laws.
“By accepting the federally authorized safety inspection programs, Virginia affords trucking companies such as Airgas the flexibility to keep fleets moving from state to state without stopping at a Virginia inspection station once a year,” Governor McDonnell said.
Streamlining safety inspection requirements is one example of DMV’s commitment to Virginia being a business-friendly state. Other examples include logo license plates, an online system to conduct transactions with DMV and a tax break on extra-large vehicles.
“Big companies like Airgas have the option of advertising their business wherever they go by putting their logo on all their license plates,” said DMV Commissioner Richard D. Holcomb. “Hauling and trucking companies can also use DMV’s online electronic renewal system to keep their fleets up to date. And they don’t have to pay sales and use taxes when buying trucks and trailers over 26,000 pounds.”
Along with Airgas, Wilson Trucking and UPS selected Virginia to support portions of their registration needs for the companies’ vehicle fleets.