GRAPEVINE, Texas — The truck driver shortage dominated the discussion here at the Truckload Carriers Association’s annual meeting, tempering an otherwise mostly positive outlook for the industry and the overall economy.

Carriers, shippers, associations and other trucking-related organizations last week honored the millions of drivers who move goods as part of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.

This is an excellent time to stop and remember all of the people who work together to make trucking the thriving, core industry that is so vital to keeping the nation’s economy humming along.

SALT LAKE CITY — Wal-Mart Transportation driver Gary Harms and his wife, Roni, never figured they would need to schedule time for late-night celebrating after an awards banquet honoring contestants in the National Truck Driving Championships here ended.

A few fleets made modest increases in driver pay in the second quarter as they and compeitors refine standards for performance-based compensation and sign-on bonuses, according to industry experts and officials.

SALT LAKE CITY — For the hundreds of men and women skillfully navigating big rigs here last week in the National Truck Driving Championships, the chance was not without a great deal of sacrifice.

American Trucking Associations recently released a report citing numerous studies showing that passenger vehicle (car) drivers are principally responsible for between 70% and 75% of fatal car-truck crashes.

A federal administrative law judge cleared the way for a trucker to resume driving for a Boise, Idaho, refrigerated carrier, nearly three years after he was dismissed around the same time he asked that repairs be made on his truck.