Navistar’s eStar all-electric truck is rolling off the production line to what the company calls “significant interest” in the marketplace. President Barack Obama made a multi-million dollar pledge a year ago to put more “green” vehicles on the road. Already, eStar trucks have been delivered to and Pacific Gas & Electric Company. Navistar plans to deliver more support by expanding its dealer locations into Continue Reading

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is debating whether to require stability control systems for highway trucks in light of research that shows its addition could prevent nearly 3,500 rollover-related accidents and save more than 100 lives annually. Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the University of Michigan indicates that rollovers reportedly occur in Continue Reading

The more than $5 million in grants recently awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) won’t be funding the use of commonplace components to reduce emissions. Instead, the clean diesel grants will support emerging technologies not yet verified or certified by the EPA or the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The $5.6 million in awards will fund port, locomotive and bus projects for Continue Reading

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) continues to challenge the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) supporting documents policy, saying that portions of it are at odds with existing or previously unaddressed policies. Specifically, the latest FMSCA directive calls for carriers to account for hours-of-service oversight activities using electronic communication and tracking systems, which Continue Reading

Last week, Delaware joined 29 other states banning texting while driving, but the New England state took the restrictions a step further by banning handheld cell phone use while the vehicle is in motion. This includes reading or sending emails and browsing websites in addition to texting. Under the law, the first offense carries a penalty of $50, while a second offense carries a fine of $100 to $200. The law is Continue Reading

Of the 29 states that have enacted texting bans, Massachusetts may just be the toughest. The New England state is the latest to ban the latest driving distraction wrought of technology. According to the bill, adults will be fined $100 for the first offense, $250 for the second and $500 for the third. Teen-aged drivers are subject to the same fines, but will also face license suspensions of Continue Reading

Buoyed by the benefits to the environment and reducing dependence on foreign oil, NGVAmerica, a national organization to furthering development and widespread use of vehicles powered by natural gas or hydrogen, is backing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal for certifying natural gas aftermarket vehicle conversion. It’s a step that will help expand the use of alternative fuels, and one that’s Continue Reading

Pursuit of a low-carbon fuel standard could be better for the environment, but worse for personal finances if it plays out according to a recent study sponsored by the Consumer Energy Alliance, a coalition of fuel users and producers. Initially, projects the study, gas prices would jump to $5 a gallon, then $7.50 five years later. The increase is tied to Continue Reading

With a goal of improving efficiency and reducing costs, Dean Foods plans to remove 50,000 metric tons of carbon from its transportation system by 2013, the equivalent of removing 9,500 cars from the road. Taking one step toward that goal, the nation’s largest dairy processor unveiled a new delivery vehicle equipped with a new prototype truck refrigeration system developed by Thermo King. The electric-powered refrigeration units replace Continue Reading

Carriers seeking to place bids on available loads can now do so with an up-to-date ease, thanks to Con-way Multimodal’s launch of a social media tool. By following @ConwayTweetLoad on Twitter, carriers can see the latest available shipments as well as place bids daily. Freight carriers have been able to access the same functionality through the company’s website. However, Twitter allows users a more immediate link to Continue Reading