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.
Letters to the Editor: Fuel-Protests, Fuel-Intermodal, Fuel-Surcharges, Troopers in Trucks, Border Pilot Program
The only way fuel prices will ever come back down to reasonable levels is for our nation’s truckers to park their rigs for three to seven days. Even drivers for major companies would need to park and refuse to drive.
June 4, 2008FMCSA Warns About Anti-Smoking Drug Chantix
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued an advisory warning that the popular prescription smoking-cessation drug Chantix may adversely affect commercial drivers’ ability to operate their vehicles safely.
June 4, 2008First-Quarter Productivity Upgraded to 2.6%
First-quarter U.S. worker productivity rose 2.6% from the previous quarter, up from an earlier estimate, the Labor Department said Wednesday.
June 4, 2008Opinion: A Clearinghouse for Drug and Alcohol Info
Just days after a new report recommended improvements to drug-testing programs that could better identify illegal drug users and keep them off the road, Reps. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), John Mica (R-Fla.) and Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) announced their intention to introduce legislation aimed at establishing a national clearinghouse of positive drug-test results.
June 4, 2008Canadian Provinces Nearing Accord on Speed Limiters, OTA Says
The Ontario Trucking Association said that a joint meeting this week of the Ontario and Quebec government cabinets moved them closer to accord on trucking issues such as implementing speed limiter legislation and allowing for longer combination vehicles.
June 4, 2008GM Closing Four North American Plants
General Motors Corp. is closing four North American truck and sport utility vehicle plants, in light of high fuel prices that are pushing consumers to smaller vehicles, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.
June 3, 2008DOT Seeks Proposals to Fight Border Congestion
The Department of Transportation said Monday it is requesting proposals for innovative new approaches to reduce traffic tie-ups at some of the nation’s most congested border crossings.
June 2, 2008ISM Factory Index Improves, But Still Shows Contraction
U.S. manufacturing levels improved in May but continued to show contraction, the Institute for Supply Management said Monday.
June 2, 2008U.S. Xpress Completes Pinner Purchase
Truckload carrier U.S. Xpress Enterprises said its Xpress Global Systems subsidiary finalized its purchase of Pinner Transportation. Terms were not released.
June 2, 2008Iteris Reports Higher Income for Quarter, Fiscal Year
Iteris Inc., which makes lane-departure warning systems for the trucking industry, reported its fiscal fourth-quarter profit improved from a year ago.
June 2, 2008