News

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…

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.…

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…

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,”…

From the Connecticut DOT. The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing that any trucks that exceed 16 tons are restricted from using the East Haddam Swing Bridge, which carries Route 82 over the Connecticut River in Haddam and East Haddam, beginning on November 11, 2022. Due to the existing condition of the structural steel,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

From Transport Topics. A plethora of upcoming environmental regulations are poised to reshape the trucking industry’s equipment market by further curbing engine emissions and pushing adoption of zero-emission trucks. Passed and proposed rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California’s Air Resources Board will require further reductions in nitrogen oxide and greenhouse gas emissions…