Federal trucking regulators announced two long-awaited final rules last week, one setting up classroom and behind-the-wheel training requirements for new truck and bus drivers; the other to help motor carriers keep tabs on drivers shopping for jobs after they have refused or failed pre-employment drug and alcohol tests.

Federal trucking regulators announced a final entry-level driver training rule on Dec. 7 that dropped an earlier proposal requiring that new truck drivers complete a minimum of 30 hours of  behind-the-wheel training to become eligible for a commercial driver license.

An Ohio judge ordered Pilot Flying J CEO Jimmy Haslam to give a deposition Dec. 13 in connection with a lawsuit filed against the nation’s largest truck-stop chain by two carriers that have alleged they were victims of a massive diesel fuel rebate fraud.

Federal regulatory officials on Dec. 2 announced a final rule that will create a clearinghouse that would track when a commercial driver fails a drug or alcohol test and require carriers to check an applicant against the clearinghouse database.

In one of her last public speeches as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Gina McCarthy said grass-roots demand for clean air, energy and water will continue to allow the agency to make progress protecting the environment, even in the face of anticipated challenges when Donald Trump becomes president.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. and four East Indian Sikh truck driver applicants agreed to a settlement — with the company paying more than a quarter million dollars — that would no longer force job applicants to submit to hair drug testing if it violated their religious beliefs.

In one of her final public speeches before leaving her post as administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Gina McCarthy said that grass-roots demand for clean air, energy and water will continue to allow the agency to make progress protecting the environment, even in the face of challenges when Donald Trump becomes president.

Efforts of the transition teams to ensure the government continues without a major glitch when President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January have dominated news reports, but whenever there is an entrance, there also is an exit.

Commercial motor vehicle officers reported that 13.2% of trucks and buses examined were placed out of service for brake violations during a weeklong law-enforcement operation, compared with OOS rates of 12.3% last year and 16.2% in 2014.