CSA committee to discuss ‘enhancements’ to program
Commercial Carrier Journal, June 12, 2013
A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration subcommittee will meet next week to talk potential enhancements to the agency’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program, with topics centering on the agencies Safety Measurement System and the agency’s intervention and investigative processes, according to an entry in the Federal Register...[More]
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Study: Drivers still distracted, despite tech advances keeping their eyes on the road
Washington Post, June 12, 2013
Your eyes may be on the road ahead, but if you’re on the phone or using a voice-activated app to send a text message, there’s a disconnect between your eyeballs and your brain...[More]
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V2G may boost ROI for electric trucks
Fleet Owner, June 12, 2013
An effort by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to test “vehicle-to-grid” or “V2G” technology on all-electric trucks starting this year may breathe new life into the cost-saving potentials for such equipment, according to Bryan Hansel, CEO for Smith Electric Vehicle Corp...[More]
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NTSB wants stricter safety standards for straight trucks
Commercial Carrier Journal, June 12, 2013
The National Transportation Safety Board released a study last week saying that straight trucks (single-unit trucks) are exempt from many of the safety standards tractor-trailers must comply with and issued a few recommendations to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and other agencies regarding tightening standards for straight trucks...[More]
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ATA Opens Registration for Annual Management Conference & Exhibition
ATA News Release, June 10, 2013
Today, American Trucking Associations announced it has opened registration for the year’s premier trucking industry gathering, the annual Management Conference & Exhibition, scheduled for October 19-22 in Orlando, Fla...[More]
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Driver Safety Becomes Top Priority of Fleet Managers
Heavy Duty Trucking, June 6, 2013
According to a recent survey by GE Capital Fleet Services, the biggest concern for fleet managers is ensuring the safety of their drivers...[More]
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Patchwork policies limit transport efficiencies
Vancouver Sun, June 5, 2013
One would think driving a transport truck full of goods across Canada would be a relatively simple exercise. Not so, when one considers the myriad of legislative beasts at work...[More]
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Roadcheck used to highlight HOS reform, cargo securement rules
Fleet Owner, June 5, 2013
The annual 72-hour “Roadcheck” inspection blitz in action this week – involving over 10,000 federal, state, provincial and local inspectors working at 1,500 locations across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico – is also being used to remind truck drivers of impending changes to hours of service [HOS] regulations occurring July 1 as well as to heighten awareness concerning cargo securement rules...[More]
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Wayne State University Seeks Impact of Differential Speed Limits
Heavy Duty Trucking, June 5, 2013
Years of research have produced mixed views on whether different freeway speed limits for cars and trucks make roads safer, but Wayne State University
researchers are taking a comprehensive approach to answering that question for state officials...[More]
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Oklahoma and Missouri Waivers Added to Growing List from FMCSA
Heavy Duty Trucking, June 4, 2013
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended a regional emergency in areas of Oklahoma affected by a series of tornados that hit the area as
early as May 18...[More]
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US Senate Bill Would Beef Up Customs Operations
The Journal of Commerce, June 4, 2013
Sens. Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Senate finance committee chairman and ranking member, respectively, have introduced a bill to strengthen
trade facilitation and enforcement efforts of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement...[More]
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U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces National Freight Advisory Committee Membersn
USDOT Press Release, May 31, 2013
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced the members of the National Freight Advisory Committee, a diverse group of professionals that will
provide advice and recommendations aimed at improving the national freight transportation system...[More]
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A Long History Shapes the Size and Weight Study
Heavy Duty Trucking, May 30, 2013
The Federal Highway Administration should have a pretty good idea of what to expect as it proceeds with its comprehensive study of truck sizes and weights...[More]
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California’s anti-truck policies affect other states
Commercial Carrier Journal, May 30, 2013
“The trick about keeping drivers is you have to do it all,” Card said, listing high-quality trucks, good pay and respect...[More]
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Florida lawmakers approve slow driver restriction, truck rules
Land Line, May 30, 2013
An effort to keep most drivers out of the fast lane on Florida highways is headed to the governor’s desk. It would also bring the state in line with certain
federal truck rules...[More]
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Mixing Medium- and Heavy-Duty Crash Data Skews Safety Trends, ATRI Study Says
Transport Topics, May 30, 2013
A new American Transportation Research Institute study of large truck crash data shows divergent trends among medium- and heavy-duty trucks, with smaller
commercial vehicles and intrastate motor carriers involved in a greater number of crashes compared to larger trucks and interstate motor carriers...[More]
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FHWA Hosts Size and Weight Study Session
Heavy Duty Trucking, May 28, 2013
The Federal Highway Administration is kicking off the public phase of its two-year study of the truck size and weight issue...[More]
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FMCSA interviewing carriers about EOBR harassment issues
Commercial Carrier Journal, May 28, 2013
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration May 28 announced an Information Collection Request to study the issue of driver harassment relative to the
use of electronic onboard recorders for use in its formation of an EOBR rule...[More]
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Travel Time Reliability 2030: Innovations and Strategies for Today and Tomorrow
TRB E-Newsletter, May 28, 2013
TRB’s second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) has released a project brief that summarizes SHRP 2 Reliability Project L11 (Evaluating Alternative
Operations Strategies to Improve Travel Time Reliability)...[More]
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Texas to Hold Freight Listening Sessions in Juney
Transport Topics, May 24, 2013
The Texas Department of Transportation will hold 10 listening sessions around the state in June to help it identify freight-related issues to enhance the
state’s economic competitiveness...[More]
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OOIDA files 2nd lawsuit against FMCSA over DataQ appeal process
The Trucker, May 24, 2013
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, OOIDA, filed a second complaint with the U.S District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Circuit against the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration with regard to its safety records and the DataQ appeal process...[More]
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Interstate 5 Bridge Collapses in Washington
Transport Topics, May 24, 2013
A section of the Interstate 5 bridge in Washington over the Skagit River collapsed, sending two vehicles into the water, Bloomberg News reported...[More]
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Foxx Says Top Priorities at DOT Would Be Safety, Efficiency, Infrastructure
Transport Topics, May 23, 2013
Transportation Secretary nominee Anthony Foxx told a Senate committee Wednesday that, if confirmed, his top priorities would be on improving safety,
efficiency and infrastructure...[More]
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American Public University offers transportation and logistics management degree programs
Fleet Owner, May 23, 2013
The American Society of Transportation and Logistics (ASTL) has granted an academic waiver to American Public University (APU) for its undergraduate and
graduate transportation and logistics degree programs...[More]
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Carriers favoring sign-on bonuses, performance-based driver pay
Commercial Carrier Journal, May 22, 2013
Nearly half of carriers are offering sign-on bonuses, compared to only 12 percent two years ago, consultant Gordon Klemp told trucking fleet executives today
during the 2013 CCJ Spring Symposium in Birmingham, Ala...[More]
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Truckload of concerns after lawmakers OK higher speed limit
Chicago Tribune, May 22, 2013
Illinois drivers soon could roll along rural interstates at 70 mph after House lawmakers Wednesday approved a higher speed limit on nonurban highways despite
safety concerns and a possible veto showdown with the governor...[More]
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Deep dive into economic forecasting yields upbeat news
Fleet Owner, May 22, 2013
Capsulizing his latest predictions on where the U.S. economy is headed, Bill Witte, senior consultant with transportation-forecasting firm FTR Associates,
said “my baseline forecast is [that we’ll see] more of the same for 2013 and then better [performance] in 2014...[More]
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Log Mandate Could Push Late Adopters of Technology
Heavy Duty Trucking, May 21, 2013
The pending mandate for electronic logging could pave the way for more mobile productivity systems in smaller fleets, said Norm Ellis, vice president of
sales and marketing for Qualcomm’s Omnitracs...[More]
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FMCSA Waives Trucking HOS Rules for Oklahoma Tornado Relief Efforts
Transport Topics, May 21, 2013
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has temporarily waived truck driver hours-of-service rules for drivers who are helping recovery efforts from
the major tornado that hit near Oklahoma City on Monday...[More]
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Running an Alternative-fueled Fleet
Heavy Duty Trucking, May 21, 2013
Want to get a handle on alternative fuels? Talk with someone who uses them...[More]
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Regulations, Drivers, Truck Capacity Focus of Shipper Meeting
Heavy Duty Trucking, May 20, 2013
Shippers must work smarter and cooperate closely with their carrier partners to offset expected losses in truck capacity caused by government regulation,
according to presentations at the 11th Annual Transplace Shipper Symposium held earlier this month in Dallas...[More]
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Flat volumes and ample capacity collide with higher spot rates; is HOS to blame?
DC Velocity, May 17, 2013
Trucking volumes are flat and capacity is relatively ample, yet spot market truckload rates are rising...[More]
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Michigan DOT Recommends Lifting Hazmat Ban on Ambassador Bridge
Transport Topics, May 16, 2013
A study by the Michigan Department of Transportation has recommended lifting the ban against trucking some hazardous materials across the Ambassador Bridge,
the busiest crossing along the U.S.-Canada border...[More]
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DOT secretary nominee set for Senate committee hearing
Commercial Carrier Journal, May 17, 2013
The Senate’s Committee on Commerce will be questioning Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx Wednesday, May 22, as part of the preliminary stages of the required
Senate confirmation process for members of the president’s Cabinet...[More]
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N.C. House Votes Unanimously to Ban I-95 Tolls
Transport Topics, May 17, 2013
The North Carolina House voted unanimously to ban tolls on any existing interstate highway, which would end the state’s plan to toll Interstate 95...[More]
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GAO says transportation ID card program needs more work
Commercial Carrier Journal, May 15, 2013
The Transportation Worker Identification Card Program is floundering after millions of investment over more than a decade, a congressional committee stated
last week...[More]
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ATA Urges DOT to Allow Hair Drug Testing
Transport Topics, May 14, 2013
American Trucking Associations said it has urged Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to allow carriers to collect hair samples for drug testing...[More]
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Secretary's office punts speed limiters back to NHTSA
Land Line Magazine, May 13, 2013
The DOT’s Office of the Secretary has punted a notice of proposed rulemaking for speed limiters on heavy trucks back to the agency that submitted it...[More]
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What You Need to Know About Wide-base Singles & Offset Axles
Heavy Duty Trucking, May 13, 2013
Everything you need to know about switching from dual wheels to wide-base singles you can learn at a playground...[More]
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Going paperless to drive up driver efficiency
Fleet Owner, May 11, 2013
Two fleets that serve the oil & gas industry in different ways have made their operations more efficient to gain substantial cost savings by investing in
info-tech solutions that reduce the amount of paperwork and calling in required of truck drivers...[More]
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U.S. Department of Transportation Announces New Connected Vehicle Test Bed Affiliation
ITS JPO Press Release, May 10, 2013
The U.S Department of Transportation has released a memoranda that helps to create an affiliation of 5.9GHz Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC)
infrastructure device makers, operators of Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I ) installations, and developers of applications that use V2I communications...[More]
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Aiming to gain true “real time” data from trucks
Fleet Owner, May 9, 2013
One of the main thrusts of fleet software and telematic system going forward is to create true “real time” delivery of data regarding engine speed, braking
events, etc. – including making such information more widely available on a range of electronic devices, especially commercial-grade hand held devices...[More]
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ITS America Members Honored by White House as 2013 Transportation Champions of Change
ITS America E-Newsletter, May 9, 2013
The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) today congratulates three of its members, Michael Pack from the University of Maryland Center
for Advanced Transportation Technology Laboratory (CATT Lab), Dr. Thomas Dingus from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and Bernie Arseneau
representing Sue Groth from the Office of Traffic, Safety and Technology, Minnesota Department of Transportation, for being named 2013 Transportation
Champions of Change...[More]
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Big Data: Getting drivers to use less fuel, increase performance
Commercial Carrier Journal, May 9, 2013
Fleets historically have digested information in the back office before they shared the results with drivers...[More]
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