Government

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.

An index of U.S. manufacturing activity improved in October, the Institute for Supply Management said Monday.

U.S. construction spending rose 0.8% in September, the largest increase since September 2008, the Commerce Department said Monday.

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.

For the past three years under federal hours-of-service regulations, fatal crashes involving heavy trucks have declined, last year reaching the lowest level since the U.S. Department of Transportation began keeping the records.

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.