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.
Congress Trims Road Funding in Stimulus Bill Compromise
Congress late last week was poised to pass a $789 billion economic stimulus package, which included less guaranteed funding for roads and bridges than industry officials had hoped for, but it also contained money for diesel engine retrofits and a tax break for buying new equipment.
February 16, 2009Diesel Dips 2.7¢, Marking 28th Decline in 30 Weeks
Driven by a freight-scarce economy, abundant fuel inventories and predictions of continuing economic distress, the average price of U.S. retail diesel drifted down another 2.7 cents a gallon to $2.219 last week, its fourth straight decline and the 28th in the past 30 weeks.
February 16, 2009Navistar Urges Trucking to Back Gradual Phase-in of 2010 Regs
ARLINGTON, Va. — A top Navistar Inc. official said the company is pursuing its own solution to meet the 2010 U.S. emission standards, because it doesn’t believe the fuel savings claimed by competitors will justify the higher costs and more complicated systems associated with the new engines.
February 16, 2009Fleet Execs Confront Dealers on Padded Bills, Estimates
ORLANDO, Fla. — Fleet executives complained bluntly about what they said were padded bills for repair services, unreliable estimates and failures by service operators to offer realistic completion times.
February 16, 2009Less-Than-Truckload Pricing Fades in 4Q
Less-than-truckload pricing dwindled during the fourth quarter, contributing to an increase in operating ratios toward the break-even point, according to a survey of results from publicly traded companies.
February 16, 2009Knight Praises Trucking’s ‘Green’ Measures
ORLANDO, Fla. — Kevin Knight, chief executive officer of Knight Transportation, touted trucking’s efforts in recent years to become more environmentally friendly, and said the industry should work to improve its green message to the public.
February 16, 2009Postal Service, UPS Team Up to Make Online Returns Easier
UPS Inc. and the U.S. Postal Service have agreed to work together to make it easier for consumers to return goods purchased online, a move that more closely aligns the nation’s mail delivery system with the largest commercial package carrier.
February 16, 2009Oil Drops Below $34 a Barrel
Oil prices fell to near a five-year low Thursday, dropping almost $2 to below $34 a barrel as inventories rose to a seven-year high, Bloomberg reported.
February 12, 2009Opinion: Choosing Truck-Driving Instructors
Last January, our company launched an “instructor-of-the month” program. We began by inviting directors of truck-driver training programs to nominate individuals, and then we interviewed the winning instructors.
February 12, 2009Consumer Confidence Index Declines
U.S. consumer confidence declined this month, according to the Reuters/University of Michigan’s final monthly consumer sentiment index released Thursday.
February 12, 2009