Federal, News
FMCSA denies company’s exemption for under-21 pilot program
FMCSA has denied a trucking company’s request to let it use under-21 permit holders for the agency’s apprenticeship pilot program.
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Podcast: Will the free market solve truck parking?
Tyson Fisher brings us an update on the truck parking crisis, including plans for tens of thousands of paid truck parking spaces nationwide.
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News
Peterbilt seeks SuperFans to celebrate producing 1 million trucks
Peterbilt is searching for five SuperFans to help it celebrate having produced 1 million trucks. The company expects to reach that milestone in mid-January. As part of its celebration, Peterbilt is searching for five SuperFans, one of which will win a specially tricked-out Peterbilt Model 567 Heritage truck. Peterbilt drivers and fans in the United […]
Fuel prices, News, State
Effective Nov. 1, California diesel tax rate will more than double
The first of November marks the start date for significant changes in fuel tax collections in California. Currently, the excise components making up the tax rates are 27.8 cents for gas and 16 cents for diesel. As of Wednesday, Nov. 1, the excise rate on gas will increase by 12 cents to 39.8 cents. Another […]
News
Per diem rate remains at $63 for 2018
The transportation workers’ special standard per diem rate remains unchanged at $63. Outside continental U.S is $68 per day, also unchanged. That means truckers can continue to declare a $63 per diem dating back to Oct. 1, 2017, when the 2018 per diem rates became effective. Some truckers are unsure when they can use the […]
News
House bill aims to address mistreatment of port truck drivers
U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Calif., announced a bill on Thursday, Oct. 26, that she says will address a broken employment system that forces thousands of port truck drivers into illegal lease-to-own contracts that require drivers to work under severely unfair conditions. Reps. Napolitano and Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., were joined by truck drivers from the Ports […]
News, Safety & Security
New inland port in north Georgia will move thousands of trucks away from Atlanta
Truckers hauling freight in and out of the Port of Savannah in Georgia will be diverted to a new location near the Georgia-Tennessee border at around this time next year. The new inland port is expected to take approximately 50,000 trucks off Georgia highways in highly congested areas. Expected to open in Chatsworth, Ga., in […]
Elections, Fuel prices, News
ELECTION 2017: Louisiana voters say ‘yes’ to protecting new road revenue
Voters in Louisiana have approved an initiative to protect new transportation funds raised in the state. Constitutional Amendment 3 was approved with 54 percent in support and 46 percent in opposition. As a result, any new fuel tax revenues in the state could not be used for purposes unrelated to transportation and infrastructure. Specifically, the […]
Analysis, News
FHWA seeks state DOT applicants for failed tolling program
Despite its lack of success, the Federal Highway Administration is accepting applications from state transportation departments for three spots in the Interstate System Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Pilot Program. The program allows up to three states to collect tolls on existing highways. On Oct. 20, FHWA posted a notice of solicitation for applications in the Federal […]
News, State
Washington I-405 express toll lanes challenged as failure
An express toll lane pilot project on a stretch of Interstate 405 northeast of Seattle is being branded a failure by a group of state lawmakers. The project converted high-occupancy vehicle lanes and a general-purpose lane into express toll lanes, or ETLs, in September 2015. The project along a 17-mile stretch of I-405 between Lynnwood […]
News, Safety & Security
Bill combating human trafficking detailed
A recently filed report from Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., provided some details regarding a bill that would designate a human trafficking prevention coordinator within the Department of Transportation. The Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act, or S1536, was introduced by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., in July and passed the Senate in September. On Oct. […]
Analysis, News
Climate change significantly affects Midwest infrastructure, report says
Hurricanes devastated entire cities this year, including significant damage to infrastructure. Is climate change to blame, and can we do something about it? According to the Midwest Economic Policy Institute, the answer to both questions is “yes.” In the United States, temperatures are rising and extreme weather is more commonplace, according to a 2015 Environmental […]
