Editorial

Now that the comment period on the latest twist in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s long, drawn-out trek to a permanent hours-of-service rule has expired, it’s time for the agency to reaffirm its support for the very successful regulation that already exists.

While we’re thankful fuel prices have moderated a bit of late, this year’s oil cost spiral apparently has taken a notable toll on the overall economy, raising concerns that the national recovery is being sapped.

It was heartening to hear last week from a bipartisan group of heavy-hitters in the U.S. Senate that they were prepared to lead the charge to get a transportation funding bill through Congress.

There’s no doubt that the failure of some shippers and consignees to promptly load or unload trailers is a serious issue for the trucking industry. Because of this, most fleets have added detention rules into their contracts with their customers, detailing just how long it should take for a trailer to be loaded or unloaded.

The news from the Obama White House that it has no intention of pursuing a new tax regime based on the number of miles vehicles travel is most welcome for the trucking industry.

When we read or watch news reports concerning the devastation caused by natural disasters, we usually are able to relate to the tragedies on a human level.

Rapidly rising fuel costs are increasing concerns among analysts that the economic recovery could be jeopardized as consumers are pinched by rising prices at the pump and for other goods.

It took years for the trucking industry to get Congress to place responsibility for intermodal freight chassis road worthiness in the correct place. In 2005, legislators specified that the providers of the equipment — and not the fleets that were using them to move freight — had to ensure that the units met all safety standards.

The truck-involved fatality rate on the nation’s highways has hit a new low in the latest data provided by the Department of Transportation.

While the U.S. economy continues to look better and better in many ways, there are some pretty powerful reasons for truckers to remain cautious, or at least watchful in the coming months.