Despite Mandate, Hair Testing Rule Still Months Away
A proposed rule that would allow trucking companies to conduct government-certified pre-employment drug testing using hair samples likely will not be publicly released until the end of 2017 or early 2018, according to a top official with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
March 20, 2017Indiana DOT Awards Contracts for I-70 Upgrades
Repair work to highway lanes and bridges along the Interstate 70 freight corridor east of Indianapolis is expected to last through the end of the year, the state Department of Transportation announced this month.
March 20, 2017Idaho Transportation Department to Hold Hearings On Heavier Trucks
The Idaho Transportation Department will hold public hearings next week to take comments on allowing trucks up to 129,000 pounds on U.S. Highway 95 and sections of state Highways 3 and 8 in Latah County.
March 20, 2017Letters: Entry-Level Driver Training, Cost Containment
Readers discuss the regulatory side of entry-level driver training and the best way to maximize profit is containing costs.
March 20, 2017Editorial: A Useful Discussion on Safety
Last week, we cheered the apparent demise of a federal regulatory provision regarding hours of service. Now we’d like to salute a positive development: a recent discussion on truck safety before a Senate subcommittee.
March 20, 2017Opinion: Effectively Utilizing Telematics Solutions
The electronic logging device mandate for tracking hours of service has brought a lot of attention to truck telematics, and many experts are providing advice on how to prepare for that transition. But one aspect of telematics that few are addressing is how underutilized most existing systems are. In my estimate, only three in 10 fleets are utilizing their telematics system to the max.
March 20, 2017160 US Carrier Bankruptcies Idle 4,510 Trucks in 4th Quarter
The freight-hauling capacity of at least 4,510 heavy-duty U.S. trucks evaporated during the last three months of 2016 as 160 fleets shuttered their doors and quit the industry, according to a study by investment firm Avondale Partners.
March 20, 2017Truckload Driver Pay Inches Up in 4th Quarter
Salaries for truckload drivers rose at the low rate of 0.04 point in the fourth quarter year-over-year, according to the latest National Transportation Institute index (or 0.03% on a preliminary basis), the slowest in 2016.
March 20, 2017White House Seeks Public Input on Reorganizing Federal Agencies
The White House is asking the public to weigh in on its plan for enhancing efficiency throughout federal agencies, according to an executive order President Trump signed March 13.
March 20, 2017Trump’s ‘Skinny’ Budget ‘Just the Beginning’ of Process, Says Secretary Chao
Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao followed up on the White House’s so-called “skinny” budget to reassure the public about the department’s commitment to safety amid proposed cuts.
March 17, 2017