WASHINGTON — A proposed hours-of-service rule that would cut truck drivers’ hours would be very costly and exacerbate a shortage of truck drivers, while putting more trucks on the road, a panel of trucking and logistics executives told a House panel Wednesday. Continue Reading

As talk heats up about electronic onboard recorders and their mandated use, several trucking technologies are releasing lower cost options with fewer bells and whistles to attract customers looking to test the equipment in their fleets–and no doubt to offer affordable choices to smaller fleets if and when their required use is official. Both Rand McNally Co. and Qualcomm Inc. have recently released lower-end Continue Reading

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s electronic onboard recorder mandate was dismissed last Friday based on various omissions in the rule. A federal appeals court stated that it was because the rule did not specify how the devices could be prevented from being used to harass drivers. The Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association was one of the more vocal industry groups in Continue Reading

Several trends, not the least of which are ever-growing equipment costs to keep pace with emissions mandates and safety systems, may contribute sooner rather than later to the development of “low-cost” trucks. Supporters are quick to note that this does not mean cheap, but rather a means for carriers to reap a return on their investments. Already, some carriers are opting for smaller engines and manual transmissions to Continue Reading

Leaders of three trucking companies discussed the effects of hot-topic regulations recently at the Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference in Dallas. One such issue, Compliance Safety Accountability drew praise for the positive effects it would bring about long term, specifically making roads safer for carriers and the public while producing a better driver. Other issues like hours of service and electronic onboard recorders Continue Reading

Implementing the new federal fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty trucks and pickups stands to save fleets, consumers and the nation as a whole billions of dollars in reduced fuel consumption and reduced emissions, which in turn yield a cleaner environment and improved public health, according to an analysis conducted by the National Wildlife Federation. What’s more, the organization says it has determined that the fuel savings will more than cover the upcharge for the pricier technologies required to meet the new standards. The $6,000 to $8,000 more for Continue Reading

Truckers serving the Port of Oakland petitioned the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to delay emissions upgrades for drayage trucks, but the state agency declined. Undeterred, the West State Alliance, which is leading the charge on behalf of the truckers, is intent on ensuring their voices are heard. The next phase regulations calls for 2004 model engines to be retrofit with particulate filters by 2012, followed by 2005-2006 models to be Continue Reading

The anxieties caused by the FMCSA’s new Compliance Safety Accountability performance measurement tool may point at a more fundamental issue, meaning more training and education about the program and what it means may be needed. A recently released report from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) found that nearly two-thirds of the 4,500 drivers surveyed expressed concern about losing their jobs as a Continue Reading

The new federal fuel efficiency standards announced by US President Barack Obama may have some far-reaching effects. After the proposed 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emission goals detailed on Tuesday, the Canadian Trucking Alliance is pushing for Ottawa to adopt a similar set of eco-friendly rules for the trucking industry. Specifically, the CTA wants to accelerate the penetration of new EPA2010-compliant tractors into the marketplace and incentives to retrofit older vehicles with fuel-saving technologies, as well as see lawmakers embrace the Continue Reading

Most stakeholder groups in the trucking industry are cheering the new federal fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty trucks announced Tuesday. With the exception of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Assn. (OOIDA), the new targets for reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions were met with praise. One of the advantages of the plan is to reduce dependence on foreign oil. In order to develop technologies to achieve these ambitious standards, a number of OEMs will be put to work, though several said the new federal fuel efficiency goals align well with Continue Reading