Safety

The newly elected governors of Kansas and Ohio have announced their choices to lead their states’ departments of transportation.

After a Dec. 31 report by the Iowa Department of Transportation that shows a $317,000 reduction in the Road Use Tax Fund in 2018, state officials have made recommendations to the Iowa Legislature such as increasing fees or charging taxes to electric vehicle owners.

Advocating for a sustainable solution for the federal Highway Trust Fund will be a top priority for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ new leader.

The largest autonomous vehicle test site in the United States has been acquired by AAA of Northern California, Nevada and Utah, one of the most familiar car-club brands in the country.

Drone-delivery technology company Flytrex announced it has raised $7.5 million in Series B funding, according to a Jan. 8 press release. This round brings the company’s total to $11 million.

In the debate over climate change, the heaviest polluters — think: power plants, trucks and cars — get the most attention from policymakers. New research suggests a broader view might be called for.

A group of eight Midwestern states has launched a system to inform truckers about parking availability along interstate highways. Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin launched the Trucks Park Here program.

Infrastructure and trade loom large for trucking in the year ahead as freight carriers adjust to a slower, but still positive, rate of economic growth in 2019, according to industry experts interviewed by Transport Topics.

Federal trucking regulators are exempting too many motor carriers from electronic logging device requirements and other regulations, creating “confusion and inconsistency in enforcement,” according to the organization representing roadside commercial vehicle inspectors.

To a child, large trucks can seem intimidating and truck drivers might be viewed as tough and unfriendly. A program called Trucker Buddy International helps squash misconceptions by connecting school-aged children with drivers.