Used Class 8 prices surprisingly increase from September

From Transport Topics. The average retail price for a used Class 8 in October climbed as expected year-over-year, but surprised with a very modest upturn compared with September’s price, ACT Research reported. ACT’s preliminary data, which it will finalize with numerical values later this month, showed the year-over-year average retail price was 14% higher, with…

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Secretary Pete Buttigieg touts FLOW data initiative

US DOT logo

From Transport Topics. More than half a year after the launch of an information-sharing forum meant to facilitate communication between freight stakeholders, the country’s top transportation officer gave it a resounding endorsement. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg touted the Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) supply chain forum, established to respond to ongoing freight bottlenecks that disrupted…

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Small business optimism drops for first time since June

From Bloomberg via Transport Topics. Optimism among U.S. small businesses retreated in October for the first time in four months as the sales outlook worsened, while some measures of inflation accelerated. The National Federation of Independent Business overall optimism index fell to 91.3 last month from 92.1, the group said in a report Nov. 8.…

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Diesel prices static as supply concerns emerge

diesel guage

From Fleet Owner. The U.S. average price for diesel fuel still can’t decide what it wants to do, but the market may decide soon enough. Supply concerns heading into the holidays and winter are starting to creep into the conversation about fuel, meaning prices might be headed north more than this week’s slight increase. Even…

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Distracted car drivers are a growing risk to safe truck drivers

From Fleet Owner. Professional truck drivers hold one of the most dangerous occupations in the U.S. While more driver-assistance technology is making trucking safer, the biggest safety problem fleets face on the road is smaller than the trucks they operate: distracted passenger car drivers. “As you all know, distracted driving is a serious, serious problem,”…

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Buttigieg presses safety at ATA’s MCE

From Transport Topics. Before wrapping up his visit at American Trucking Associations’ annual conference, Secretary Pete Buttigieg offered his views on a career in the industry. Asked why an individual should pursue trucking, the secretary told reporters, “I think the message is this is a career with great earning potential and great importance to the…

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Federal Reserve hikes rates again, but hints at pullback

US Capital

From Transport Topics. The Federal Reserve pumped up its benchmark interest rate on Nov. 2 by three-quarters of a point for a fourth straight time but hinted that it could soon reduce the size of its rate hikes. The Fed’s move raised its key short-term rate to a range of 3.75% to 4%, its highest…

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NTTC, ATA reaffirm support for e-hazmat papers

truck with flatbed on highway

From Fleet Owner. National Tank Truck Carriers and American Trucking Associations reaffirmed their support for utilizing electronic shipping papers in hazardous materials transportation in comments filed Oct. 23 in response to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s request for information regarding hazard communication alternatives. The two trucking associations first petitioned the agency to “without…

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Fuel costs top list of trucking industry issues

ATRI logo

From ATRI. The American Transportation Research Institute, the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research organization, released its 18th annual Top Industry Issues report, identifying the leading industry concerns including fuel prices, the driver shortage, truck parking, driver compensation, the economy and for the first time, speed limiters. “ATRI’s list is a true reflection of what it was…

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