Business

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee last week approved Anne Ferro to lead the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

WASHINGTON — A cap-and-trade climate bill would dramatically increase the cost of diesel fuel by as much as 88 cents a gallon, an American Trucking Associations official told a Senate committee last week.

The Department of Transportation last week said it will withdraw its controversial driver hours-of-service rule and write new regulations as part of a deal in which a coalition of advocacy groups agreed to suspend its federal lawsuit challenging the rule.

Three freight trade groups will gather Nov. 15-17 in Anaheim, Calif., in search of fresh perspectives on key transportation industry issues, including financial, economic and market conditions.

AB Volvo said that it is reorganizing its North American truck business by combining its two brands —Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks — into a single new entity called North American Trucks.

U.S. diesel prices continued to surge as the national average rose another 9.6 cents a gallon to $2.801 last week, the highest level in nearly a year, the Department of Energy said.

WASHINGTON — Several senators introduced legislation last week that would offer incentives to states that ban texting while driving, an issue Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said has become his cause.

Both houses of Congress  on Oct. 29 approved a second continuing resolution that would continue to fund the nation’s surface transportation programs until mid-December.

The freight recovery paused in September as American Trucking Associations’ tonnage index dipped 0.3% from the month be-fore after recording larger gains in July and August.

After several initial delays and glitches, freight hauling and government officials say the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program is moving along smoothly at U.S. ports, and they project additional security measures could be incorporated in coming years.