Budget Panels Reject Obama Proposal, Retain Highway Trust Fund Firewall
Budget committees in Congress have approved draft versions of spending-revenue plans for next year that reject an Obama administration proposal to remove the firewalls that have traditionally protected the Highway Trust Fund and other transportation-related funds.
April 6, 2009U.S. Seeks Consensus on Border Before Obama’s Visit to Mexico
The Department of Transportation will develop a proposal to reopen the United States to trucks from Mexico before President Obama visits President Felipe Calderon there later this month, a spokeswoman told Transport Topics.
April 6, 2009LTLs Ward, Saia Reduce Pay as Freight Volumes Decline
Two regional less-than-truckload carriers announced across-the-board pay cuts because of deteriorating freight volumes and prices, Saia Inc. by 5% for salaried employees and drivers, and Ward Trucking Corp. by 8.9%. Both companies said executives’ pay was cut even more.
April 6, 2009Jury Finds Freight Broker Liable for $23.8 Million Fatality Award
An Illinois jury has awarded $23.8 million in damages against leading freight broker C.H. Robinson Worldwide in a dual-fatality 2004 truck accident case involving a motor carrier hired to haul a load of potatoes.
April 6, 2009So Far, So Good
It’s wise not to get too giddy, but it definitely appears things are improving for the economy — and for trucking.
April 5, 2009FedEx Cuts 1,000 Jobs in $1 Billion Savings Plan
FedEx Corp. will cut 1,000 jobs under a plan to save $1 billion in costs, Bloomberg reported.
April 3, 2009Obama Names Nominees for Two DOT Agencies
President Obama named two nominees to lead agencies within the Department of Transportation, the White House said.
April 3, 2009Unemployment Rate Jumps to 8.5%
The U.S. unemployment rate jumped to 8.5% in March from 8.1% in February, making it the highest level in 25 years, the Labor Department said Friday.
April 3, 2009ISM Services Index Shows Continued Contraction
The U.S. economy’s service sector continued to contract in March, the Institute for Supply Management said Friday.
April 3, 2009Intermodal Falls 15.4% for Week
Rail and intermodal traffic both fell last week compared with a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said.
April 3, 2009