Government
Transport Topics government and regulatory coverage keeps managers of a highly-regulated industry aware of the policy decisions that can shape their businesses. Covering both the legislative and regulatory aspects of policy-making, at both the state and national levels, the news in this category includes looks at infrastructure, hours of service, emissions rules, funding measures, leadership appointments, and more. Readers can follow what’s happening in Congress, at the Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Administration, and in state and local governments.
Letters: 3PLs, Brokers & Shippers, Quality Counts
Are third-party logistics providers a necessary division in the trucking industry? My opinion is “yes.” We are a group of people who work hard to keep customers and drivers happy, at an agreeable rate.
September 7, 2009FMCSA’s Bad Solution
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has proposed “fixing” the underperforming revenue aspects of its Unified Carrier Registration agreement by shifting more of the financial burden to the nation’s law-abiding trucking fleets.
September 7, 2009Registration Fees to Rise
Registration fees that trucking companies and freight brokers must pay will more than double to as much as $83,000 in 2010 under a plan put forward by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration last week.
September 7, 2009Economists Express Optimism as Factory Activity Improves
Some key manufacturing indicators showed gains last week, a sign the economy is shifting from recession to expansion, several economists said. However, they warned that the turnaround is uneven, which makes business statistics confusing and trends difficult to track clearly.
September 7, 2009TMC to Hold Annual SuperTech Competition
Eighty-two maintenance technicians will compete for national industry honors, while fleet managers grapple with clean-vehicle technology options and universal equipment warranties at SuperTech and the fall meeting of the Technology & Maintenance Council.
September 7, 2009Freight Seen Remaining Weak Until Consumer Spending Rises
Fleets shouldn’t expect a pickup in freight business anytime soon, because wary consumers remain reluctant to spend and shippers continue to stock less inventory, fleet executives and industry experts said.
September 7, 2009Truckload Gains in August after Poor Second Quarter
After a grim season of second-quarter truckload earnings reports, robust August postings on a key freight load board hint the month just ended might be a turning point for the truckload sector.
September 7, 2009Public Citizen Again Challenges HOS Rule
Advocacy groups led by Public Citizen, once again taking the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to court over its driver hours-of-service regulation, said increasing allowed driving time and allowing a reset of weekly hours have led to more fatalities caused by fatigued driving.
September 7, 2009Diesel Rises 0.6¢ to $2.674 in Sixth Consecutive Increase
U.S diesel prices continued their summer-long climb last week, inching up 0.6 cent to $2.674 a gallon, according to the Department of Energy retail fuel survey.
September 7, 2009Intermodal Traffic Falls for Week
Intermodal rail traffic in the United States fell 15.6% last week from the same week a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said in its weekly report.
September 4, 2009