Safety
Transportation businesses face a host of dynamic risk issues that can significantly impact their financial and operational health. The news in this category focuses on the latest safety and security initiatives, resources and regulations and addresses topics that include fleet safety, claims administration, driver hiring and retention, risk management and compliance.
DOT Provides Software to Transfer Freight Data
The Department of Transportation is distributing free software the agency said will help create a central Web portal through which shippers, carriers and third parties can automatically exchange data about freight movements.
September 14, 2009Highway Bill Prospects Are Dim As Congress Returns to Session
When Congress went back into session last week, the prospects for passing a long-term highway bill appeared to be dimming as other issues continued to dominate the legislative agenda.
September 14, 2009Obama Faces Sept. 17 Deadline for Tariffs on Small Vehicle Tires Imported From China
President Obama must decide by Sept. 17 whether to accept the recommendation of the U.S. International Trade Commission to impose tariffs on passenger and light-truck tires made in China, the second-largest U.S. trading partner.
September 14, 2009Intermodal Traffic Sees Slight Gain
Intermodal rail traffic in the United States increased 0.2% last week from the same week a year ago, the Association of American Railroads said in its weekly report.
September 11, 2009DOT Freight Index Falls Year-Over-Year in July
The Department of Transportation’s freight transportation services index fell year-over-year in July by the most in 20 years, but showed an increase from June, DOT said Thursday.
September 10, 2009Economy Shows Improvement, Fed ‘Beige Book’ Says
The U.S. economy showed signs of stabilization in late July and August, though trucking and transportation industry reports were mixed, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday.
September 9, 2009NTSB Bans Employee Cell Phone Use While Driving
The National Transportation Safety Board has instituted a policy banning texting and talking on cell phones by its employees while they are working, the Associated Press reported.
September 9, 2009DOT Launches Freight Management Software
The Department of Transportation has released a new software application that it said will help the transportation industry to deliver products more efficiently.
September 8, 2009Penske, Freightliner to Host SCR Seminars
Penske Truck Leasing said that it will join truck manufacturer Freightliner in a two-month North American tour of seminars about selective catalytic reduction technology.
September 8, 2009E&MU: Regular Check-Ups Prevent Costly Fixes
Ken Eggen at Tango Transport in Shreveport, La., knows that one size doesn’t fit all. That is why he has separate preventative maintenance checklists for each of the three engine models his fleet runs. He goes a step further and sits down with his shop managers quarterly to pick through those checklists and make adjustments.
September 8, 2009