Presence of Autonomous Vehicles Felt in US
WASHINGTON — Technology is changing the transportation landscape as freight carriers move toward self-driving vehicles and public officials look for new ways to develop infrastructure and prepare for what could be a major shift in traffic patterns and driving behavior.
January 17, 2019TRB Panelists Outline Benefits of Freight Data
WASHINGTON — Analyzing and visualizing data can help state departments of transportation and planning organizations better understand traffic flow, safety concerns and capacity needs, according to a group of panelists assembled at the Transportation Research Board’s annual meeting Jan. 16.
January 17, 2019Parcel Lockers, EVs Combine for Energy Savings in Final Mile, Researcher Says
WASHINGTON — Electric trucks and vans show great promise for energy savings in making suburban deliveries for companies such as UPS Inc., according to an Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientist who presented her findings to a forum at the Transportation Research Board’s annual meeting.
January 16, 2019Former Transportation Secretary Mary Peters Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
WASHINGTON — Mary Peters, one of two secretaries of transportation during President George W. Bush’s tenure, was recognized with a lifetime achievement award at the annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board.
January 16, 2019High Court Rules Independent Contractors May Bypass Arbitration, Challenge Fleets in Court
In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 15 limited the ability under federal law for motor carriers to force disputes with owner-operators to be resolved in arbitration, a ruling that could cause an increase in future class-action lawsuits by truck drivers.
January 16, 2019Homebuilder Sentiment Gauge Rises From Three-Year Low
Sentiment among U.S. homebuilders rose for the first time in three months amid a decline in borrowing costs, a sign that housing may stabilize in the year ahead even as the industry remains in a broad slowdown.
January 16, 2019State Freight Plans Don't Reflect Uniform Metrics, Expert Says
WASHINGTON — State freight plans indicate various levels of detail regarding the ways freight is discussed and measured, according to a transportation expert from Northwestern University.
January 16, 2019Home Sales Fall in December; Price Growth at Six-Year Low
U.S. home sales slumped in December, while prices inched up slightly, marking the smallest annual increase since the end of the last housing crash in 2012, according to data from brokerage Redfin.
January 16, 2019FMCSA Says Rate of Truck-Occupant Deaths and Fatal Crashes Continues to Climb
WASHINGTON — Federal trucking regulators expressed concern over increasing numbers of large-truck-involved fatal crashes in work zones and a continuing increase in the number of fatalities of large-truck occupants.
January 15, 2019State DOT Leaders Urge Federal Action on Long-Term Infrastructure Funding
WASHINGTON — Congress and the White House should focus on crafting a long-term highway bill over the next year that would ensure certainty in funding for big-ticket projects around the country, a group of state transportation leaders said Jan. 15.
January 15, 2019