Congressional Capacity
As expected, 2016 has been a slow year on Capitol Hill, especially when it comes to transportation.
April 18, 2016Daily Briefings from Transport Topics
Transport Topics has partnered with Spoken Layer to make one-minute daily briefings available on all your smart devices. Simply say “Alexa, play Transport Topics” or “Okay Google, talk to Transport Topics” to get the day’s biggest trucking headlines.
The ELD Mandate's Carrot and Stick
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration finally released the long-awaited electronic logging device mandate’s final rule in December. The rule states that motor carriers without a current solution in place now have until December 2017 to implement ELDs for any vehicle or combination of vehicles with an actual weight and/or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 10,001 pounds or more. The rule is meant to improve compliance with hours-of-service safety rules.
April 18, 2016Industry: Training Proposal to Worsen Driver Shortage
Many in the trucking industry say the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s proposed entry-level driver training rule has the potential to exacerbate the nation’s driver shortage. The rule requires that students log at least 30 hours of behind-the-wheel training time.
April 18, 2016Tech Training, No-Water Batteries, Portable Lift Systems Among New Products
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The recent annual meeting of the Technology & Maintenance Council included a spacious exhibit hall filled with vendors hoping to lure truck maintenance directors into making purchases for their shops back home.
April 15, 2016Fatal Crashes, Fatalities Involving Large Trucks Declined From 2013 to 2014, FMCSA Says
The number of large trucks involved in fatal crashes decreased in 2014 by 5%, to 3,744 from 3,921 in 2013, according to a report released April 15 by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
April 15, 2016Leaf Spring Vs. Air Ride: Opinions Differ on Suspensions
Maryland-based Ramar Moving Systems hauls specialty items such as art, satellites and, once, a moon buggy.
April 15, 2016FMCSA Orders Some Hazmat Tank Operators Inspected in Alabama to Be Re-Inspected
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on April 15 issued a safety advisory notifying the owners and operators of cargo tanks inspected by two testers in Alabama that they must be re-inspected.
April 15, 2016New North American Trucking Supershow Slated for Atlanta in September 2017
Companies from Canada and Germany said they will launch a new event focused on the commercial fleet and heavy-duty truck market in Atlanta in late September of 2017.
April 14, 2016ATRI Starts Sleep Apnea Online Survey
As the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration continues to accept comments before issuing a rule on sleep apnea in June, the American Transportation Research Institute started a one-month online survey on April 14 that seeks input from commercial truck drivers on a number of issues related to sleep apnea.
April 14, 2016Commenters Raise Concerns Over Proposed Behind-the-Wheel Hours Requirement
Many in the trucking industry say the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s proposed entry-level driver training rule requirement that students log at least 30 hours of behind-the-wheel training time could exacerbate the nation’s driver shortage.
April 13, 2016